August 24, 2005 - Transitions

I truly enjoy sleeping under the stars. I have a nice tent but was happy that it could stay safely in the car. Though I do enjoy it, I don’t ever last the night unscathed.


King and I had some adventures today. We started the day at the base of Surrealistic Pillar, a classic climb at Lover’s Leap (a place filled with classics!). King opted to do the much more difficult direct start variation. I was happy to be following. What was wonderful was that we did this climb in order to reach the base of the next project, Traveler’s Buttress. Speaking of classics, this climb is listed in the well-known book, 50 Classic Climbs of North America. I had tried to do this route several years ago and was denied by foul weather (and gastric issues). I promised myself that I would be back.

Feeling somewhat less prepared than last time (I apparently left my good arms back at camp), King was generous enough to lead all the difficult pitches (which resembled what I imagined greased pig wrestling to be like). All in all, we both survived the trip up as well as down.

It was a fantastic two days of climbing and the only reason I could tolerate saying good-bye was that I will be hanging out with King again in a few days…at his wedding.

I headed to San Jose to meet my dear friend, Trang. I was very much looking forward to seeing Trang, which made the drive seem longer (even though it was my shortest driving leg yet). I knew that I was in a different part of the Country by reading the street signs. Just a few days ago, as I was driving through the Nevada desert, I grew used to seeing signs that read, “Next Services 85 miles”. As I entered the San Francisco Bay Area, I spotted a sign that warned, “Next Services 2 Miles”. I have a feeling that sign was meant to warn the motorists that there wouldn’t be another Starbuck’s for 2 miles and that they should be prepared with a Venti and not just a Tall latte.

I did make a necessary pit stop on the way down the San Jose (in addition to yet another gas stop). I picked up a yummy snack at In-N-Out Burger. I have a fondness for this place because of their yummy burgers and their neat fresh french fry cutter (a poor employee, usually of high school age, has to place fresh potato after potato into this press and mashing them into perfect fry shapes). But, what I appreciate most about In-N-Out Burger is their unwillingness to branch out into other types of food (ie. the McBreakfast Burrito). Instead, they just keep doing what they do well. And, the customer need only decide how many beef patties and whether they want cheese or not.



I’ve known Trang for well over a decade and am very thankful that we have become very good friends. True friendships are those that persist even though it may not be convenient (such as living 3000 miles apart) and Trang is one of the truest.