The Dream of an Unattainable Future

I've been lucky during my life to travel more than anyone I have ever met. And yet, I wish to travel more. I am addicted now. 

My love for travel is rooted deeply, way back in kindergarten. We travelled to the destroyed Glacier House, part of the original Rogers Pass route of the railway. This is the earliest point that I can recall that I was obsessed with seeing something bizarre and beautiful. This was where nature was reclaiming the area that humans messed up for it, and I couldn't pry myself away from it. I spent quite a while exploring the ruins of the old hotel.

Over the years, I travelled to dozens of locations, some of which are gone or closed (cue that Beatles song). I've been to all sorts of places too, not just one type. I've lived in a Parisian Art-Deco mansion, rode the elephants at Disneyland (and World), been at the top of the world's tallest mountain (Mauna Kea, in height, not altitude), navigated the highest swamp in the world, seen the midnight sun, walked the great wall, flown a plane, witnessed a waterspout in Oregon, driven through a sandstorm, been irradiated at the oldest nuclear power plant in the world, timed Old Faithful, driven the world's longest continuous highway, and I'm just now beginning University. I've done a lot in my life. A lot more than a lot of people. 

What does the future hold? I don't want to know. Exploration to me is the key to happiness, not even knowing what you don't know, to the point where what you learn is completely unexpected. 

Unfortunately, I haven't had this option as I have pretty boring parents (despite that list of things I've done). They don't believe in taking any risks. If the trail doesn't look like it's maintained, they don't hike it. Had I been with a friend while hiking the Awini Trail through the Pololu, I would have carried on to Honopue valley, a secluded and difficult to access valley seldom seen by anyone. We stopped after Honokane Nui, because my mum didn't want to come along. This was a turning point for me, I decided that adventure is my sort of thing. Very few people hike beyond the next valley, Honokane Iki. I plane on doing so once I have the money to fly to Kona (which I already do, I simply need enough to survive after buying a plane ticket). My parents will disapprove. Highly. I don't care. I love the outdoors, I want to experience things.

At this point, I'd like to make it clear that, no, I don't believe I am invincible as do many young adult males of my breed. I want to stay alive long enough to see where this out-of-control world is going. 

So what is truly my greatest goal in life? Hamakua coast. That's about all I can say. If things go the way I want, it will be all the way from Waipio to Pololu or the other way around. What does this entail? 

Ten to twenty days in hell, to put it mildly. There is only one account of anyone else ever doing this hike, and it took them twice the estimated time of seven days. There is no trail (although many have been built, most are destroyed by nature). What else?

A partner: be it a girlfriend who actually appreciates hiking as much as me or a friend who is nearly as insane as I am. I just need a partner, or multiple partners. Hiking alone isn't safe. Nothing is safe when you're alone. 

To conclude this, I'd like to say that it is a dream. Not a terminus in sight. A dream. Hiking a route that no one else ever writes about will be difficult, to say the least. This is the only unexplored tropical rainforest in the fifty states, and it is dangerous. I will need a good troop. One day, this will happen. Not today, or any time in the next five years. 

The Best Food in Kamloops

If I ever go on a date while in university, which so far, seem incredibly unlikely, I know where to take them. If it's the morning (if you know what I mean), Hello Toast is my first pick. This place serves gargantuan plates of steaming hot premium food. It's the coolest restaurant I've ever been in, super happy, friendly staff (who are all friends or family), and it's bustling and efficient. Go there if you want breakfast.

On the other hand, if it's only my first date with that special person, I'd make a reservation at Taka Sushi. Despite their empty website, call them up and drop by to get a menu. The prices are a little higher than the average Sushi joint, but holy cow, this place exceeded all expectation. Smiling, polite and sociable staff love making the evening a good experience. Order the ebi sunomono, it's phenomenal. 

There is snow. Not much, but a little bit of snow. Not in Kamloops. Above Kamloops. Well, actually, Aberdeen has snow. Kamloops doesn't. No fair. My parents visited this weekend, and other than the fact that my mum is in need of some glasses everything went well. We got up to Peterson Creek Park without a hitch, and it was beautiful. I'll be going back there to do some climbing sometime soon.

I just completed the largest biology assignment we've had all year in 15 minutes, whereas smaller ones have taken me two hours in the past. I love this course, even if I'm aiming for a low sixties grade with the final.

Orange Juice and Onions

Happy belated Halloween!

Well, sorry, I didn't feel like posting last night. I was pretty depressed feeling. My computer ate an entire NRSC science paper I had worked on for four hours. 

I have discovered two sets of two foods that should never be found on the same plate (or cup): Dr. Pepper and chocolate, and orange juice with raw onions (please do not ask how any of these things came about).

Watching Jurassic park, all I can say is as follows: Wow, there were a lot of screw ups in that film. First one is where the people are sitting in the helicopter. Next, when they land, there are already Jeeps parked there, then the Jeeps arrive. Ok, enough of this, but lets finish by declaring that at no point are the jeeps attached to the track, nor is there any sign of a track mechanism on the bottom when rex flips over the Ford Explorers. At least they spared no expense. Spared no expense. 

Stir fry is awesome, it's the lazy man's (ie, me) way of feeling like a gourmet (ahem, not gourmand, not yet). If you ever come to Canada, drop into a Superstore and buy some no name chocolate. 99c for a whole full sized bar, and it's not bad stuff. Affordable to the "gourmet" university student.

Another day is over in the life of a pointless pile of proteins and DNA. 

Photo of the Day: 31/10/13

Spooky Water, Poipu, Kauai County, Hawaii
Happy Halloween! Be safe, have fun, and get lots of candy. March 2012.

Photo of the Day: 30/10/13

Hanakapaai Falls, Kauai County, Hawaii
Located along the Napali Coast in Hawaii, definitedly worth the five hour hike and blistered feet. March 2012.

Photo of the Day: 29/10/13

Arches, Waimea Canyon State Park, Kauai County, Hawaii
Amazing arches as seen from a beautiful waterfall in Hawaii. Look for the goat. March 2012.

Photo of the Day: 28/10/13

Kalalau Valley, Kauai County, Hawaii
The most photographed valley in all of Hawaii, and certainly deserving the title. I will be hiking into this valley some day once I have the means to do so. March 2012.

My First Job

No, I do not have a job, as the title implies. However, I am starting my search for one. Seeing as I'm not part of the co-op program at Thompson Rivers University this year, I am ineligible to get co-op work term job. However, I'm fine with that. Basically, it means I won't have homework, I'll just have a good old job... if I get a job. So far, the chances are slim. I have two options: Manning Park Resort (and work for the summer in the campgrounds of the visitor centre), the Government of Canada or Parks Canada. That's it so far, however, those are the ones that interest me the most. 

I do not want a job while in university, simply because I want to be able to focus on studying and doing my work, and not having to dodge curve balls thrown by retail employment. It is my dream never to work in retail. Ever. In my entire life. Unless it is the gift shop in a National Park Visitor Centre. 

Let's talk about today for a bit instead of next year. Today, I went for a hike, like most weekends. What was different was that today I went somewhere I hadn't gone before, which I haven't done in about two weeks (that's a long time in Colin hiking time). Sage trail in Kenna Cartwright Park (which is now marked out clearly by me in Google Maps, your welcome) is a beautiful little trail that is very much a workout with a few good views. With an average slope of 7.4%, a maximum slope of 37.0%, elevation change tallying up somewhere near 1,020 feet, and a nice short distance of just under four miles, I think it was a nice hike. Maybe I'll try running it some time to kill myself. 

Elevation profile of Sage trail in Kenna Cartwright Park.

All in all, if you're in Kamloops, stop in at Kenna Cartwright Park and see what it has to offer. Views, exercise, natural beauty, history, anything really.

Photo of the Day: 27/10/13

Poipu Coastline, Kauai County, Hawaii
These are lithified sand dunes near the hotel district in Poipu. March 2012.

A Productive and Boring Day

That's about all I can say about today. I accomplished only a few things, doing laundry, shopping, biology homework, and cleaning. Other than that, literally nothing happened. Congratulations. That was the most boring day ever. On the other hand, I found an amazing cover of Macklemore's "Can't Hold Us" by Pentatonix.

I wish I could sing like that. Something to work towards, I guess. On the other hand, time to go back to studying for the second dendrology midterm, which I want to ace, and I'm not on the road to that yet. So today is a short blog entry, sorry to anyone who is weird enough to waste their time reading this crap.

Photo of the Day: 26/10/13

Alakai Swamp, Kauai County, Hawaii
After Pearl Harbour was bombed, Alakai Swamp seemed like the ideal place for a telegraph route to the Unite States. Today it demonstrates its ability to consume man's creations. March 2012.

The Drama of the Mysterious Life of Anyone

I hate life. That is a fact I cannot leave behind. Somehow I'm the happiest person I know. I never see anyone else just walking down the hallway at university smiling. It makes me sad.

Happiness is what makes me survive. I have a battle inside that is basically a fight between "just give up" and "hey tomorrow is still around the corner." Even though I have way more on the "just give up" side of things, I chose not to. Even though they're not in the forecast, so many things are possible. One day I could fall in love. One day I could get a job that gets me outside. One day, perhaps, I could travel somewhere for my job, outdoors, with the person I love. Who knows. The mystery is what drives me on.

I remember when my last relationship was about to begin, right before our first date. I was scared, I almost called it off (I already had a month before but then finally decided to do it), but the mystery of wanting to know what was on the next page of my life drove me to go. This is why I take opportunities.

This mystery is driving me in my current endeavour, attending university. The reason I don't party and drink is because I don't want to miss a single moment of this life that I have been given. I'm not religious, and I don't believe I have a second chance. Choices I make now affect me in the future. 

The point of this is, never close the book. Keep it going, if only to know what is happening tomorrow.

Photo of the Day: 25/10/13

NaPali Coast, Kauai County, Hawaii.
Taken from a long beach at the base of the cliffs. March 2012.

Photo of the Day: 24/10/13

Road outside of Poipu, Kauai County, Hawaii.
This stretch of road was extremely vivid in colour and made me realize how beautiful even the destruction that humans cause is. March 2012.

Photo of the Day: 23/10/13

Hanapepe, Kauai County, Hawaii.
A beautiful little corner of town. March, 2012.

INTERNET SILENCE

Announcement (22 Oct. 2013):

I will be entering an unknown period of silence on the internet to upgrade my computer for the first time since I purchased it in 2010, when it was already the older model. I have a 2009 15" MacBook Pro i5 8GB, and with the release of OSX Mavericks for free, I am taking this opportunity to hopefully fix the shitty performance of this fine machine. 

Until then, no new journal entries live (I will post them once my computer is sorted out under the appropriate date), only photos of the day until October 31st, at which I may enter total silence. 

The thing I am looking forward to most in this is simply a faster, and nicer working environment. OSX 10.6.8 is getting old and clunky, and I have a feeling Apple just wants to stop having to support the wide range of older operating systems still being used by the masses, and I'll certainly answer to the call. Tabbed Finder? Absolutely. Why hasn't anyone else done this yet? No one knows. Tags within a file system? No hesitation.

Anyways, I'll be posting some time in the next few weeks once my computer is all sorted out. Thank you for those who bother reading any of this.

Colin J. S.

Photo of the Day: 22/10/13

Mt. Cheam, Chilliwack, British Columbia
This photo was taken from Chilliwack Airport in November of 2012, the first time I ever went out in a small aircraft. One of the best moments of my life, I hope to do it again some time.

Photo of the Day: 21/10/13

City of Langley, British Columbia, Canada
Taken a year ago, this shot is of downtown Langley, taken from a friend's plane. Taken with a Canon T2i.

Dr. Pepper and Cotransport Nightmares

Today, I am writing my first midterm for Biology 1110. I predict that the outcome of this exam will be less than optimal, possibly dismal. Resistance is futile. Prepare to be assimilated. 

My problem is that I hate studying. Even when I am studying, I don't remember anything because I'm not enjoying myself. I figured out why while I was writing an English in-class assessment essay on the first day of English 1100. I won't type out the entire essay, it's long and boring, and earned me a 5/5. I'll summarize it as best I can, however:

Essentially, while writing this essay, the bad side and good side of my ADHD came out: I realized that due to my ADHD, I couldn't focus on anything that didn't truly grasp my interest. I have never cared about biology. I never will. However, as soon as he mentioned enzyme inhibiting nerve agents, I had to research it, because the history of chemical weapons is something that fascinates (as well as horrifies) me. I have started developing a technique to make everything interesting in some way. How did I really realize all this?

Last year, in geography, which is by far the best high school course, I always had my tablet out. I would Wikipedia everything Mr. C would say. Everything. With that, I earned my 98% in the class, because I enjoyed reading it, and I went more into depth. Even though I didn't remember the deeper details of the whole thing, I would more readily be able to recall the simpler parts. Basically, if I'm not interested, I will never revisit it.

So, today, I'm sitting her in the last few hours before a midterm exam starring at my textbook and Wikipedia-ing everything I don't care about and finding something that I do care about. If you have ADHD, try it. 

I have a slight and sinking feeling that I'm going to fail this test. If I do, then so be it. I learn more on tests than studying, I learned that in physics last year. If only re-tests were a reality in university. 

Tomorrow I have my last midterm of the first half of semester. That would be wonderful; however, second-half midterms begin next week. University, for the first month says sweetly, "Don't worry, child, quizzes are few and far between" but fails to mention that once midterms start they don't end until about three weeks before finals. Then finals begin, and everything goes to hell and people start drinking too much coffee.

Time to change topic: Marijuana.

Pot. Cannabis. I don't care what you call it, it's gross. For some reason, for English we have to find (and cite in MLA format) ten articles about marijuana that don't have the words drug, pot, marijuana, cannabis, prescription or medicine in the title. I think that's impossible, personally. Not going to happen. But, of course, Joel has made it worth five percent of our overall grade in the course. I need a B to be honourably discharged from the English course next semester, so I can't give it up.

In response to what happened this morning on the test, I utterly failed. There is no way in hell I passed. On the other hand, I am becoming more and more confident in calculus. Maybe I'll become a calculus major and teach calculus to people who will go on to teach calculus.

A Bad Case of Nostalgia

Today I went for a hike up Mt. Dufferin in Kenna Cartwright Park, just beside the university. I’ve never hiked the trail I hiked today. The friend who I hoped would join me ditched and went home to Chase for the weekend, but that was her family’s choice. Can’t hold that against her. 

In the end, I’m glad I went alone. The entire way I was engulfed in aromas, sounds and senses that threw me back, sometimes more than ten years. Walking along the trails, I crushed up some Big Sage and Partridge Foot to remind myself of the first days helping my dad build out cabin in Eastgate, and crushed up Pine Needles to remind myself of travelling to Fort Steel and Christina Lake. 

The biggest one, though, was the frost on the ground. Kamloops is starting to get cold, I’m expecting snow early next month if not sooner. This morning was the first morning of frost on campus. Hiking at four o’clock, I came around a bend to see the ground caked in ice and frost. I just stopped and thought a minute. What did it remind me of?

Kamloops, being in a different climate than Langley (my hometown), feels colder earlier. I was having a sort of “flashback” of something but I couldn’t put my finger on it. It was some time around January I think - late january. Myself and my girlfriend, who lived outside of Fort Langley, would walk the four-kilometres into town every time I visited. That time, we chose to walk to the old ferry terminal across the island that was replaced by a giant toll bridge only a few years before. The terminal is (and was already at that time) in great disrepair. 

The sun was setting when we were out there and the sky became a brilliant pink. The photo still has a special meaning to me, I don’t think I’ll ever forget the brisk air, the smell of trees and the quiet putter of the city in the background. Today I experienced that again and realized that I will never have that feeling in that situation, no matter how much I want to, ever again. That hit me hard. I realized that being in university, now being in charge of most of my own life, a door has closed on that part of my life, I can only look back on it now, not relive it as it was.