It’s been a while since I’ve been back to Massachusetts… I think it was for Dillon and Liz’s wedding, wasn’t it? That’s sounding right… though I frankly can’t believe that was only six months ago. These last few months have felt like forever, and it was high time that I got back East. The rock was calling, family and friends beckoned, and I hadn’t seen my Grandma in far, far too long…
Sunday, 24-Apr-2022
Man… how longs it been since I drew back a bowstring?
I think… Hood River, maybe? I’ve been to the shooting range a few times in the last few years, but the archery range? Yeah, man… I can’t think of the last time I’d been.
I had Sunday free. A few tentative plans, but overarchingly I was free to set my own timelines. I chatted with Daniel, Liz, the whole crew, and we came up with a slightly ambitious timeline for the day… starting off with me stopping by an old haunt from when I worked down in Stoughton at Artisan.
Ace Archers, out in Foxborough.
Back in 2014/2015, when I was working South of the City, I’d stop in at Ace every few weeks… sometimes more, if the week was going well. I’d rent a bow, shoot a few arrows, and feel fancy and like a slightly-less-accurate Robin Hood. Just as suave though, of course.
It was neat – the place hadn’t changed a bit in the years since I’d been. They didn’t have my info on hand anymore, to the surprise of no one, but soon enough I was checked in and launching arrows downrange. Wasn’t even half-bad, if I may say so…
It’s been a while since I’ve been back to Massachusetts… I think it was for Dillon and Liz’s wedding, wasn’t it? That’s sounding right… though I frankly can’t believe that was only six months ago. These last few months have felt like forever, and it was high time that I got back East. The rock was calling, family and friends beckoned, and I hadn’t seen my Grandma in far, far too long…
Saturday, 23-Apr-2022
For the last few years, my Mom and Stepdad have been working on a gaming convention with their friend group. It was going to have its first year in 2020, but then… well, 2020 happened. Then 2021 was still 2020, effectively, so that also super didn’t happen.
Then, in 2022, it wasn’t quite 2020 enough for it to not happen. So instead – it happened!
The convention isn’t quite the type that I’ve been to before. This one was more focused on boardgames, along with a healthy sprinkling of tabletop RPG games, instead of the more generalized “nerd conventions” that I’ve historically been to… so it was a really interesting chance to get to explore and see this side of the whole culture.
I explored, saw a little bit of the behind the scenes aspects, and appreciated some impressively detailed set pieces and foam-crafting. Played a few games, did a little bit of people watching, and enjoyed the chance to see a little bit of the world creeping back after the pandemic lockdown of the last few years.
It’s been a while since I’ve been back to Massachusetts… I think it was for Dillon and Liz’s wedding, wasn’t it? That’s sounding right… though I frankly can’t believe that was only six months ago. These last few months have felt like forever, and it was high time that I got back East. The rock was calling, family and friends beckoned, and I hadn’t seen my Grandma in far, far too long…
Friday, 22-Apr-2022
Jeeze… how long has it been since I’ve climbed at Rumney?
I mean, it’s where I learned to climb, man! Rumney, Quincy, Hammond Pond, The Gunks, North Conway… okay, it’s one of the places I learned. Joshua Tree should be in there too, maybe Black and White boulders… Red Rocks…
Okay, Other Ben, I get the point. But still!
I definitely learned to lead sport at Rumney, that’s a clear statement. Back when Kasia and I had a borrowed rope, with borrowed draws, and the guidebook was out of print so we just sort of climbed on a wing and a prayer? Those were the good times.
How I survived those good times alive, I’ll still never know… do I have a blog post about the time I ran out of draws 7-clips in, and traversed to another climber to borrow two of his? No? Maybe?
I learned lessons at Rumney. Good lessons, to say the least, and lessons that I’ve been lucky enough to carry across the globe since those carefree, halcyon days.
Since then, Rumney’s grown and expanded, just like the rest of us.
It’s become more popular, more official, and new zones have been purchased and opened up for public use. New guidebooks have been published, and new parking lots graded and opened.
Truth be told, I kind of felt like a small-towner going to visit a old friend who’s been killing it in the big city. I mean… I remembered when I used photos of the guidebook to find routes! Now there’s apps, fancy guidebooks, and actual signage! Huge new swaths of rock, being developed and climbed by folks I knew back in 2009!
Daniel and Brian took the day off from work with me, and we drove North, as early in the day as we felt viable. See… you don’t want to get there too early, because then the rock is still cold and damp from the evening frost and morning mist… but the later in the day you arrive, the less climbing there is!
We got there just in time for the hail to hit Daniel as he worked his way up a route… Which, you know, isn’t actually the worst thing while rock climbing. I mean… we had helmets on, and it was cool enough that we had long sleeves too… so we were pretty well armored against any pain or injury. And the nice thing about hail? It doesn’t make the rock wet!
So… Daniel just sorta kept climbing. Like a boss.
Brian and I followed suit, and an amazing day on the rocks was had by all. We started off at Buffalo Pit, a new area that I hadn’t been to before, and then dove down to Below the New Wave… somewhere that (I’m pretty sure) has been around since before I started climbing at Rumney.
Both spots were amazing, and both spots saw us sending a glorious number of really run routes… and I even climbed a bit harder than I was expecting, which was a super nice ego boost!
And, of course, as is tradition, we hit up Tilton Diner on the way home. I can’t believe how long it’s been since I’ve climbed at Rumney, then gorged on amazing burgers and milkshakes… but you know what? It felt like I’d never left.
Routes climbed!!
Buffalo Pit: Lonesome Buffalo (5.8) Sunnyside Up (5.10c) Mr. Buffalo to you (5.4)
Below the New Wave: Bullwinkle Goes Ballistic (5.10a) Into Air and Pleasant Danger (5.8) Son of Sammy (5.8+) Couch Potato (5.9) Sixth Sense (5.6)
