Hanging Out
Posted by cgmride | Filed under Life
Having some time away from structured training and daily rides doesn’t equate to spending all of my days on the couch sucking down one coffee after another. Of course I have spent some quality time on the couch, and have enjoyed several quality cups of brew; but I am also enjoying having the opportunity to get out and experience that which I don’t get to during the hight of the riding season.
With my brother not having school on Fridays, we decided to make the most of his day off last week. After a sleeping in, we headed into downtown for some errands and a trip to one of Bend’s finest coffee shops. While he tackled a few to-do’s, I tackled the best latte in town. With our to-do’s ticked off, and riding high on my delicious brew, we rolled over to the Taco Stand for a quick lunch. Around Bend, the Taco Stand has become almost iconic. Inside an older deteriorating building, which is well of the beaten path, Bend’s population has found one of the best inexpensive ways to conquer hunger by means of the all-mighty burrito. As with most locations offering up quick Mexican food, the portions are large, and you could surely eat something other than a burrito, but I don’t know why. The flour tortillas are bursting at their edges with fresh ingredients that satisfy all but the biggest of appetites.
Having eaten our fill of Mexican, we returned home in order to pick up some climbing gear. While my brother never really took to the world of competitive sports, he has found abundant joy in climbing mountain after mountain, and rock face after rock face. I decided to join in on the fun for a day. With all the gear in the back of our Subaru, we rolled out to Smith Rock State Park where we meet up with a few mutual friends for an afternoon of climbing. I should note that it has been many years (like at least eight), since the last time I pulled on a harness or climbing shoes. While I thought I knew what snug fitting shoes felt like, pulling on a pair of “appropriately” sized climbing shoes was just the first of many surprises that would come my way that afternoon. After cramming my feet into the impossibly small shoes, and getting over the initial shock of how tight they fit, I found a world of enjoyment.
Lots of vertical rocks, and lots to accomplish here are Smith Rock State Park. The views are not too bad either...
One of my "appropriately" sized shoes. While they felt more torture devices at first, I got used to the feeling, and enjoyed the extra traction on the rocks.
We spent the afternoon tackling several different pitches and routes and climbed right into dusk. While my afternoon began with modest ambitions, and a chief aim of spending time with my brother doing something that he enjoyed, I left the state park with so much more. We made out way out of the park as the sun was sinking beyond the horizon, reaching the car just before the last rays of sun-light disappeared. The hike out left me anxious for more. An afternoon of challenging climbs, great time spent with friends, and a new found hobby were just the way to recharge my batteries.
As it turns out, spending time away from the bike is not as hard as I thought it might be. And with a new found hobby, I still have plenty to learn and plenty to keep me active while taking a break from the endless kilometers of tarmac which I plan to overcome in the coming season.
It was a long way to the top, but I made it. This is a shot on my favorite pitch from Friday afternoon, and I can't wait to try out some new routes.
Between now and resuming structured training in a few short weeks, you can be sure I will be making a few more climbing trips with my brother.
Keep the Rubber Side Down,
C-
