Monthly Archives: August 2021

A shift in July plans – Climbing on my Birthday!

Standard

Monday, 12-July-2021


The original plan for my Birthday this year was to climb Devil’s Tower.

That… didn’t quite happen exactly when it was planned, though I’m still holding out home that I’ll be able to make it happen in early September… but that doesn’t really help Birthday-Ben, does it?

No, no it does not.

Thankfully, being on the East Coast, I had friends and family to help me celebrate!



Honestly, there aren’t really many pictures of the adventures. Too busy adventuring, don’t’cha’know?

But to give a quick overview:

I headed into Boston for the day – Daniel and I had planned on climbing at Rumney, or maybe North Conway, but unfortunately the weather in New England is an unpredictable as it is fickle… and whereas it had originally been pretty and clear, the sky had opened up and rain was pouring down as I drove in.

We’d discussed renting mountain bikes, but… rain. Mud. Rental place not being down with letting bikes out.


So instead we just took a chill day – we got a nice cup of coffee and a pastry (after I had a fancy birthday breakfast, a-la Mom!), and then headed to the climbing gym! I finally got to lead again, for the first time in months!

Then, adding good to better, we went to dinner! Nice Boston Italian, out with friends…

<Muah>

Absolutely beautiful!

A shift in July plans – Visiting Home

Standard

Wednesday, 07-July-2021 through Wednesday, 14-July-2021


After the funeral, I couldn’t bring myself to fly back to Oregon immediately. It didn’t seem right… I had the opportunity to work remotely, and my family was grieving… why wouldn’t I stay for some time?

I went to visit my Aunt first, but after spending a few days with her I headed back to my childhood home, to spend time with my Mom, Stepdad, and Sister.

It’s been so long since we’ve all lived under the same roof… it felt good, if a little strange. We’re all the same people, even if a few years have gone by… but we definitely interact a bit differently. A bit more calmly, I like to think.

Anyways, we had a good time. We worked, we ate, we chatted, and we enjoyed spending time together.