Humble Opinions

click for photo album At last I attended the Ice Climbing course offered through the U. Calgary Outdoor Centre . Quite a day. First task was a wonderful walk through the King's Creek gorge off Highway 40, just before the gate where the highway is closed for the winter. The gorge is probably on 20 metres at its widest spot with very steep snowy slopes up either side. A beautiful creek runs through the gorge. It's mostly covered with ice and snow of course right now. Water on my boots quickly turned to ice and fixed my laces in place. About 20 minutes walk from the road we came to where a spring from high up the canyon had formed a huge ice butte - our learning site. Crampons are big steel spikes clipped to the boots. The purpose of the toe spikes is to grip the ice when kicked hard into the ice wall. The purpose of the heel spikes is to gouge pieces out of your calf muscles when you stumble on a slope. (I didn't succeed at that part, but I did ruin a go...

I had a relatively quiet day today. I had a fairly late night just round the corner at the King Henry VIII pub on 8th Avenue - a little reward for myself for completing all my assignment grading yesterday. So I got up late and then had to collect a pair of mountaineering boots from the outdoor centre on campus. Mid-afternoon I walked East down 9th Avenue to the IronWood Stage & Grill , about 10 blocks from my place, for the fortnightly Blues Jam session.  My new friends, Bob and Susan have a daughter, Jaime, who is the head chef at the IronWood.   I meant to go two weeks ago, but never made it.  Jaime told me I had to try the steak sandwich.  It was more than pub grub - a truly excellent piece of rare meat with garlic Portobello mushrooms and onion and chipped potato and a wonderful Mexican black-bean soup.  The owner, Patrick, wasn't in this afternoon. Patrick used tobe the manager at King Henry's. Now he apples his decade of experience booking bands and running a b...

It's -20c outside right now. It seems that's quite normal in many parts of Canada at this time of year. I'm surprised that I'm handling it quite well. At least for the little time I have to be on the street. It's only about two blocks from my apartment block to the c-train, and another 100 metres from the University station to my office. It was a little more brisk this evening walking the four blocks from Verne's Bar to the apartment block. I met with my new friend, Kurt Norlen, for a drink at Verne's this evening. Verne's is owned by three guys, Ian, Trent, Clint. Ian is a consumate host - he seems to know everyone in the hospitality trade in Calgary. Ian was at the dinner party at Dennis & Robyn's house a couple of weeks ago. He started in the bar trade as a barman in the Canadian building at Expo'88 in Brisbane. Trent is a blues/country guitar player and song-writer who spends most of his time making contact with visiting/traveling mins...