Friday, 11:00 a.m. On the road. O Canada!
1:00 p.m. Scold dog for barking at border patrol.
3:00 p.m. Greetings from Squamish! We were supposed to meet up with Andrew’s parents in Vancouver, but there was a kerfuffle and we detoured for a weekend in the mountains instead. This part of B.C. always reminds me a bit of Norway, though the road signs have words like “Sḵwxwú7mesh” rather than “Sogn og Fjordane.” (Sounding out road signs in languages I don’t speak is a particular hobby of mine.)
4:00 p.m. I’m reminded why I never got much writing accomplished while I was working in the Himalayas–too much to see and do. (Well, that and eighteen-hour work days.) But I’ve sent Andrew off bouldering for the afternoon, while I hang out at the cabin and work on novel edits. It was hard giving him the car keys. I taught him how to climb.
7:00 p.m. Edit one scene, read four chapters of Insurgent. Rinse and repeat.
9:00 p.m. Refuse to share with Andrew my butter chicken from Howe Sound Brewery.
Saturday
Hike report for Stawamus Chief:
View of Mount Garibaldi from the North Gully, Stawamus Chief
Average Grade: 11%
Description: The Chief is the massive rock buttress that towers over Squamish and is a popular rock-climbing destination. The hiking trail goes up the backside, and there are three summits, each higher than the last.
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Climb about a bajillion steps, or at least a couple of thousand-feet worth of an insanely well-constructed trail. Haul the dog like a suitcase up steel ladders and chains bolted into slabs of bedrock. Praise dog for being such a good boy. Summit center then north peak of the Chief. Marvel over views of Howe Sound, Mount Garibaldi, and the Tantalus Range. Wait for knees to fall off on scramble back down.
View of South Summit from Center Summit of Stawamus Chief, Squamish, B.C.
Atop Center Summit of Stawamus Chief
6:00 p.m. Post-hike coma. Lament lack of massive novel edits. Freak out as I recall I’m supposed to write something for crit group this week.
7:00 p.m. Read more Insurgent.
Sunday, 12:00 p.m. Finish iPad pass on the novel, hooray! Make final to-do list of loose ends that need tying up.
Double hooray!
P.S. I sold a short story to Wily Writers, which is a pro-paying market. I am thrilled. I will be podcast.
