Just back from my run, and what should I see parked in my front yard but a Nimitz-Class Aircraft Carrier — the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). In fact, there is a whole battle group out in the harbour. Seafair is here in full force. As for my workouts — just started back up after 2 weeks resting post-Donner. Now training for the 24 Hour Mountain Bike Race down in Tahoe at the end of the month.
Not much doing today. Little bit of a cold, trying to whip it. Good time to finish my Nevada holiday story. After the Donner Lake Triathlon I went geocaching up on Mt. Rose with Matt, found petroglyphs in the Virginia Hills — thousands of them, older than the Paiute Indians, possibly 5,000–8,000 years old. The best one was of a man with his arms stretched out and a very pronounced erect penis. I will have to do more research on them when I get some more time.
After that, headed to the Black Rock Desert. Still had one day of holiday left, why waste time?
Just back from a 25-mile bike ride on my favourite loop — Myrtle Edwards, ship locks, Golden Gardens, Fremont, Gas Works, Burke Gilman, UW, Ravenna Park. Was able to slingshot out of Golden Gardens all the way to UW. Found a geocache called Under, Over, and In. The no-car thing is working out and helping me do more things outside. Meanwhile: Mariners are working on the Blue Jays — 5-0 in the second!
Glacial outburst on Mt. Rainier today. Worth watching.
In my quest to chill out from work, I accidentally stumbled upon a free world music concert at the Seattle Centre — Mapathe Diop doing Sabar Rhythms from Senegal, plus South Africa's Mahotella Queens and Nigeria's Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe. Let the music flow over me in a trance. Really needed it after the week I just had.
That week: a Saudi Prince showed up at the hotel unannounced. Then the impossible — a whole other branch of the Saudi royal family arrived, with the women and kids, and a full U-Haul truck of West Coast purchases. Two of us loaded every cart we had — maybe 2 tons of cargo, through a rotating door, up difficult ramps, 300 pounds per cart. The Saudi women took over and sorted it all with remarkable efficiency. Word has it the Prince also bought 12 Cartier watches next door at Pacific Place. God help them if they find REI. God help me if they find REI, because then there won't be anything left for me.
A water main burst on the 47th floor at the Westin. Water down the emergency stairs all the way to the basement. As long as it's not raining blood and the elevators aren't saying "GET OUT NOW," it can't be all that bad. The sound of the water was actually kind of peaceful — like Yosemite.
On my run I noticed every building in my neighbourhood has a website. Everything from Pigs on Parade to Real Networks. I guess I do live in a dot-com world. Running count: 47 geocaches found.
Woken this morning by a man in the middle of the street shouting "Rock and Roll will never die!" and "Steppenwolf rocks!" at 1pm. Rock and Roll may never die, but you sure are if you don't get out of the street. First day of Hempfest. Ran past untold numbers of burned-out hippies who arrived with no plan for shelter. I am an ardent supporter of all things NORML, but pot should not be the central core of one's being. It's about more than that.
My expedition to REI was thwarted by the rain — streets were rivers, Denny Avenue was a torrent, it even flooded the bar next door. 1.53 inches downtown by 8pm. I went out and unblocked my culvert drain, unlike my neighbours. The pre-race briefing for the 24 Hours of Tahoe says: lots of dust, bees, and bears. There is only one way to find out.
Just back from the race and a wild road trip — still trying to digest my communion with the space-time continuum. Drove 900+ miles across California after the race. There is a big fire outside Reno, sky blacked out with smoke, sun blood red, ash falling like snow in 100-degree heat. This must be what a nuclear winter looks like.
The 24 Hours of Tahoe was wild. I had never done anything like that before. The course was physically demanding and I suffered a good beating. Still, I already miss the pain. There is something to be said about putting yourself on the line and coming through it a better person. A purer experience I could not have hoped for.
Also placed my first geocache: the Travertine Geocache at Travertine Hot Springs outside of Bridgeport, California — my favourite hot springs. Put it about .25 miles from the parking area. Go check it out.
Also used the government rebate cheque to buy a 1 oz gold coin and take the money out of circulation. The government wants us to spend it but I think it's some sort of scam. I just want to keep my own and weather out the winter storm.
Today at work I felt like the United Nations. In one tower the Prince was checking out with all his stuff. At the same time I was helping Israeli guests with their Sabbath observance. Both sides were demanding on my time and effort, but in the end the money was good. Throw in Finland, Germany, Australia, Singapore, France — stir in an additional Frenchman — and you get an idea of my day.
It's Bumbershoot, and my neighbourhood is once again crawling with people. Everywhere they are — in the bushes, in the bars, in the streets. The tourist season will be over by September 15th, and then it will be slow and quiet. Then I am sure I will complain about that as well.