Dec. 6 - Arthur's Pass National Park

December 6, 2008
Arthurs's Pass Village
mostly clear with cool wind, about 66

I tell ya, there's not much "foreplay" with these mountains -- they just rise up straight out of the plain, and you almost instantly go from driving in open fields to moving through a steep valley with snow-capped peaks. The rock is volcanic and has a grey color, like the Ebbetts Pass area, or Mt. Dana.

The climb up to Avalance Peak, which is my goal for tomorrow, is 1100 meters in 2.4km. if you do the math, that's a steep fucking climb!

The guidebook talked about multi-day tramps, but the area appears limited to me in terms of lack of lakes, impenetrable forest, and tons of greywacke...so I'm going to move on after tomorrow.

Esoteria:
The average kiwi dude -- wears big, muddy rubber wellingtons with super-short rugby shorts, and an old t-shirt. this is standard attire. compare to the average SF dude...i wonder what that would be? (prolly some lawyer dude...)

the same main street -- well, the quaint little villages that you come across everywhere are lined with retailers who at first blush appear to be independents...but then you see the same stationery store, health products outlet and pharmacy on every main street.

"clean as you go" -- this is something I learned when I was a bartender. I maintain a clean and well-ordered ride at all times. however, i defend myself from charges of being anal by arguing that neatness is, in fact, technique: it is infinitely easier to find something you are looking for when you can see all of your gear and you consistently store stuffin the same place. Interestingly, this habit used to tbe ther first thing that would go out the window when i was partying.

epicurus - I embrace most of his philosophy. Epicurus eschewed the public light, instead choosing to lead a contemplative life under the radar. He maintained compounds where he would have an extensive garden, and would entertain friends with philosophical discussion. Epicurus was one of the first great philosophers to NOT believe in an afterlife, and he believed that pleasure in this life should be the highest goal. (However, Epicurus called for moderation over excess; arguing that the negative consequences of the latter, on net, reduced the value of the pleasure derived. Epicurus believed that friends are the most important thing in life (he did not have children).

dusty floormat -- I have never, ever seen so much dust come out of a floormat....on the 20th beating, my floormat was still exploding in huge plumes of dust.

Barack Obama -- he's got a tough job ahead...I worry that people may put too much faith in the man initially...his election was and always will be a historic moment for all humankind. but to expect that everything wiill be OK right away is foolish. We are in a severe economic downturn, the likes of which no one has ever seen. The day in, day out volatility of the stock markets says is unprecedented and, honestly, probably only leads downward. serious economic problems was the reason that i called off my baja kayaking trip. I cant remember there ever being this level of uncertainty to life. this is the world we live in.

play up the American bit -- in England, yanks are not popular. but here, it's all good...New Zealanders are New Worlders, too. Thus, while I initially thought that i'd adopt the accent here, ive taken to playing up my american-ness...people love it.