[A Rider Brother Journey: This is part of a ten-part serialization of the story of a special hike I made with my Brother in 1989. It is based on a journal entry I made on August 19, 1989. It was recently revised into this semi-haibun format.]
The full text of the story to-date.
After endless switching back and forth we eventually reach the valley floor. The sun has been behind clouds for much of the day but as we reach the highway it comes out with a big smile. With tired bones we hike along the highway. We get a ride in the back of a truck to the bridge. Gord jogs to the car while I wait at the bridge with our gear. When we reach back home it is a joy to see everyone again and to tell of our journey. Gord cooks a nice pot of miso with the puff-balls from our packs.
648.
puffball miso...
a bit of mountain in
each mouthful
2006-04-30
2006-04-29
Part IX: Hungry & Tired
[A Rider Brother Journey: This is part of a ten-part serialization of the story of a special hike I made with my Brother in 1989. It is based on a journal entry I made on August 19, 1989. It was recently revised into this semi-haibun format.]
The full text of the story to-date.
It is now mid-afternoon and our thoughts are toward getting back home. We are feeling hungry and our feet, ankles, and legs are very, very tired. I had earlier severely buised my shin and my left knee is quite sore. The road eventually winds back to the South. This time we take a fork in the road that leads down the mountain and past a saw mill about half-way down. There is switch back after switch back and the way is quite steep. We are struck by evidence of recent torrential flooding as several switchbacks are completely washed out.
647.
the way down
is easier than the way up--
cloudy afternoon
The full text of the story to-date.
It is now mid-afternoon and our thoughts are toward getting back home. We are feeling hungry and our feet, ankles, and legs are very, very tired. I had earlier severely buised my shin and my left knee is quite sore. The road eventually winds back to the South. This time we take a fork in the road that leads down the mountain and past a saw mill about half-way down. There is switch back after switch back and the way is quite steep. We are struck by evidence of recent torrential flooding as several switchbacks are completely washed out.
647.
the way down
is easier than the way up--
cloudy afternoon
2006-04-28
Part VIII: The Road Back
[A Rider Brother Journey: This is part of a ten-part serialization of the story of a special hike I made with my Brother in 1989. It is based on a journal entry I made on August 19, 1989. It was recently revised into this semi-haibun format.]
The full text of the story to-date.
After a bit of lunch we enjoy the fruits of our efforts for a while and then its time to head back down. We depart shortly after 2:00 pm. We discover that a large section of the mountain to the southwest is clear cut. The going is therefore incredibly easy. The view to the West is spectacular and we can see all the way up the river valley. We eventually reach the limit of the clear cut. Fortunatey we find a road that leads back down the mountain.
646.
the road we find
is the one from the start:
mountain side
The full text of the story to-date.
After a bit of lunch we enjoy the fruits of our efforts for a while and then its time to head back down. We depart shortly after 2:00 pm. We discover that a large section of the mountain to the southwest is clear cut. The going is therefore incredibly easy. The view to the West is spectacular and we can see all the way up the river valley. We eventually reach the limit of the clear cut. Fortunatey we find a road that leads back down the mountain.
646.
the road we find
is the one from the start:
mountain side
2006-04-27
Part VII: The Planting
[A Rider Brother Journey: This is part of a ten-part serialization of the story of a special hike I made with my Brother in 1989. It is based on a journal entry I made on August 19, 1989. It was recently revised into this semi-haibun format.]
The full text of the story to-date.
The rock clearing at the summit has numerous cracks in it, one of them in the very centre is "doubled". We remove a couple of small chunks of rock from it, dig it out, and place the capsule in the small crevice. We cover it back with dirt, rocks, and moss. We then put in place a large, flat rock and cover it with a pile of other rocks. Hopefully, it will mark the spot for us some day in the future and it may conceal the capsule somewhat. Off in the distance is the sound of thunder.
645.
summit cairn:
a brass seed is planted for
a future reaping
The full text of the story to-date.
The rock clearing at the summit has numerous cracks in it, one of them in the very centre is "doubled". We remove a couple of small chunks of rock from it, dig it out, and place the capsule in the small crevice. We cover it back with dirt, rocks, and moss. We then put in place a large, flat rock and cover it with a pile of other rocks. Hopefully, it will mark the spot for us some day in the future and it may conceal the capsule somewhat. Off in the distance is the sound of thunder.
645.
summit cairn:
a brass seed is planted for
a future reaping
2006-04-26
Part VI: Summit
[A Rider Brother Journey: This is part of a ten-part serialization of the story of a special hike I made with my Brother in 1989. It is based on a journal entry I made on August 19, 1989. It was recently revised into this semi-haibun format.]
The full text of the story to-date.
It seems like forever that we have been tramping through the bush. We are relieved as the trees thin out and we finally reach what we believe is the summit at exactly 1:31 pm. There seems to be other summits to the East and we later discover one further to the West. This summit consists of a large flat out-cropping surrounded by pines on all sides. Here and there around us are clearings that treat us to amazing panoramic views.
644.
how the views
take our breaths away--
summit clearing
The full text of the story to-date.
It seems like forever that we have been tramping through the bush. We are relieved as the trees thin out and we finally reach what we believe is the summit at exactly 1:31 pm. There seems to be other summits to the East and we later discover one further to the West. This summit consists of a large flat out-cropping surrounded by pines on all sides. Here and there around us are clearings that treat us to amazing panoramic views.
644.
how the views
take our breaths away--
summit clearing
2006-04-25
Part V: Middle of Nowhere
[A Rider Brother Journey: This is part of a ten-part serialization of the story of a special hike I made with my Brother in 1989. It is based on a journal entry I made on August 19, 1989. It was recently revised into this semi-haibun format.]
The full text of the story to-date.
We eventually convince ourselves to take a shortcut and plunge into the moderately thick brush. We pick our way through scrub and rock outcroppings. At what seems to be about half-way, we suddenly discover huckleberries. They are nice and sweet and we spend no little time enjoying them!
643.
middle of nowhere...
we dine on berries at
a grizzly's table
The full text of the story to-date.
We eventually convince ourselves to take a shortcut and plunge into the moderately thick brush. We pick our way through scrub and rock outcroppings. At what seems to be about half-way, we suddenly discover huckleberries. They are nice and sweet and we spend no little time enjoying them!
643.
middle of nowhere...
we dine on berries at
a grizzly's table
2006-04-24
Part IV: A Detour
[A Rider Brother Journey: This is part of a ten-part serialization of the story of a special hike I made with my Brother in 1989. It is based on a journal entry I made on August 19, 1989. It was recently revised into this semi-haibun format.]
The full text of the story to-date.
Our choice of going South appears wrong after an hour or so of walking. Instead of going straight up to the top, the road winds around the mountain and to the East. Way down below to the South is the valley...we are so high up the mountain that the river can no longer be seen. We seem to be going away from the summit but it never gets out of our site.
642.
mountain trail--
we get further along, but
no closer to the top
The full text of the story to-date.
Our choice of going South appears wrong after an hour or so of walking. Instead of going straight up to the top, the road winds around the mountain and to the East. Way down below to the South is the valley...we are so high up the mountain that the river can no longer be seen. We seem to be going away from the summit but it never gets out of our site.
642.
mountain trail--
we get further along, but
no closer to the top
2006-04-23
Part III: Puffballs
[A Rider Brother Journey: This is part of a ten-part serialization of the story of a special hike I made with my Brother in 1989. It is based on a journal entry I made on August 19, 1989. It was recently revised into this semi-haibun format.]
The full text of the story to-date.
Our efforts up the steep side of the mountain eventually result in bringing us to a bit of a plateau and a forestry road. We choose to follow the road in a southerly direction as we feel that it will lead us to the mountain top. Along the way we find puffballs. Gord says we should collect them and we'll make miso soup with them later.
641.
another puffball
in the road...my pack gets
a little heavier
The full text of the story to-date.
Our efforts up the steep side of the mountain eventually result in bringing us to a bit of a plateau and a forestry road. We choose to follow the road in a southerly direction as we feel that it will lead us to the mountain top. Along the way we find puffballs. Gord says we should collect them and we'll make miso soup with them later.
641.
another puffball
in the road...my pack gets
a little heavier
2006-04-22
Part II: Brambles
[A Rider Brother Journey: This is part of a ten-part serialization of the story of a special hike I made with my Brother in 1989. It is based on a journal entry I made on August 19, 1989. It was recently revised into this semi-haibun format.]
The full text of the story to-date.
Early this morning we set off in fog rising off the river. We choose to head straight up the steep western slope. The climb starts off easy but soon we are clambering almost vertically up a broken rock face. After several hours of steady climbing we encounter a wide clump of tangled branches hanging over the cliff edge. We can either go straight up or work our way back down. We decide it is less dangerous to go forward. We go hand-over-hand through the tangled mass, trusting the branches, some dead, to hold our weights. One slip and we will hurtle straight back down.
640.
we put our lives
in the hands of brambles...
hot morning
The full text of the story to-date.
Early this morning we set off in fog rising off the river. We choose to head straight up the steep western slope. The climb starts off easy but soon we are clambering almost vertically up a broken rock face. After several hours of steady climbing we encounter a wide clump of tangled branches hanging over the cliff edge. We can either go straight up or work our way back down. We decide it is less dangerous to go forward. We go hand-over-hand through the tangled mass, trusting the branches, some dead, to hold our weights. One slip and we will hurtle straight back down.
640.
we put our lives
in the hands of brambles...
hot morning
2006-04-21
Part I: Brass Capsule
[A Rider Brother Journey: This is part of a ten-part serialization of the story of a special hike I made with my Brother in 1989. It is based on a journal entry I made on August 19, 1989. It was recently revised into this semi-haibun format.]
The full text of the story to-date.
It is Friday evening, August 18, 1989. We are visiting our folks in British Columbia, Canada. A high mountain overlooks the town to the North East. My brother Gord and I prepare to ascend the summit. We pack a small brass cannister with time capsule items including a folded sheet of parchment with messages, a dollar, two shiney new 1989 pennies, and three dried beans.
639.
summer evening...
more than beans and pennies
sealed in brass
The full text of the story to-date.
It is Friday evening, August 18, 1989. We are visiting our folks in British Columbia, Canada. A high mountain overlooks the town to the North East. My brother Gord and I prepare to ascend the summit. We pack a small brass cannister with time capsule items including a folded sheet of parchment with messages, a dollar, two shiney new 1989 pennies, and three dried beans.
639.
summer evening...
more than beans and pennies
sealed in brass
2006-04-20
2006-04-18
2006-04-16
2006-04-15
2006-04-13
2006-04-11
2006-04-10
2006-04-09
2006-04-08
2006-04-07
2006-04-06
2006-04-05
2006-04-04
2006-04-02
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