Half Dome

We decided to hike Half dome. It is 14 miles round trip, and gains 4800 vertical feet. Having hiked and climbed on Half Dome in the past, I decided it would be easier if we backpacked in and spent the night. We camped out with friends in the Valley on Friday night, then they hiked up to attempt it in one day, and we started off on our two day adventure.

We have been wanting to get started with overnight hikes for quite some time. This seemed like an auspicious way to begin our family backpacking adventures. The hike starts out in the valley floor, and winds around half dome to climb the back side via some very steep cables. The distance from valley floor to the top is a little over 7 miles. The backcountry camp is about 4.3 miles in and over 3000 feet up.

Around Midnight

After dark it is easier.  Listening to music, working out and remembering who and what I am.

"Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day"

Meanwhile back in the year One --- when you belonged to no-one ---
you didn't stand a chance son, if your pants were undone.
`Cause you were bred for humanity and sold to society ---
one day you'll wake up in the Present Day ---
a million generations removed from expectations
of being who you really want to be.

Skating away ---
skating away ---
skating away on the thin ice of the New Day.

So as you push off from the shore,
won't you turn your head once more --- and make your peace with everyone?
For those who choose to stay,
will live just one more day ---
to do the things they should have done.
And as you cross the wilderness, spinning in your emptiness:
you feel you have to pray.
Looking for a sign
that the Universal Mind has written you into a better Play.

Skating away on the thin ice of the New Day.

And as you cross the circle line, the ice-wall creaks behind ---
you're a rabbit on the run.
And the silver splinters fly in the corner of your eye ---
shining in the setting sun.
Well, do you ever get the feeling that the story's
deep and real and in the present tense?
Or that everybody's on the stage, and it seems like
you're the only person sitting in the audience?

Skating away on the thin ice of the New Day.

Thank God for Jethro Tull.  Midnight brings a new day.

And If I could quote the Brandenburg Concerto in a blog, I would. But Bach is too much for html blockquotes.  Just end up with broken code, I would.

I remember.

two for the road

We are checking out now, but I thought I'd see how easy it is or isn't to blog pics.  These are from this a.m.

On the Road Again

Last day of the trip.

I let the littles play in the pool last night until 11pm.  Way past bedtime.  Then we went up to the room and stayed up until almost midnight reading.  Bad parent.  But they had been cooped up for two days straight, and I owed it to 'em.

Got up early this morning and did a workout, russled up the sleepyheads, had breakfast, practiced violin in the room, and now am letting them swim and hottub it before stuffing them in the car for the last 600 miles.  

I just noticed that I am blogging under a palm tree.  Life is just too weird.

Time to get in the pool with the kids again.  I can definitely wait to get on the road again.

First. Post. Ever.

Sitting by the pool in Palm Desert after a 12 hour(!) drive.  Kids splashing.

I am going to join them.