No climbing today. Wedding only.

The wedding of Craig and Lotus.

This post is more for my own memory than anything else. Aknowledgements will be imcomplete. But thank you to all the special people who cast this spell.

Sandra and I talked the next morning about how we had all worked on so many details for so many months to make a majic moment. The majic doesn't last forever, but it leaves something special behind.

How to cast a spell: Prepare the space.




Aunty Lorelle showers the ground with rose petals.





Fill the air with the sacred ritual music of the Gamelan.







Bring together the beautiful bride and the nervous, terrifiedbut happy groom.





Perform the ceremony





Bring together fabulous guests from around the world.





Easy!





Now Jools from Panic Hair Bazaar performs her special girls majic.













I was quite busy for the day but I did get to take a few photos. You know, can't trust the professionals and all that.






































Mother and Daughter



Lotus and her Grandmother, Molly phoenix.











I can't take my eyes of this girl!

































Kirsten and Willow












The very fabulous wine from Mike Olsen of Cypress post.








The banquet team.









127 guests, plus the Gamelan and the band, Astrid and the Asteroids.
















The kids have thier own party.







It's a bake off. Sandra made cheesecake, Martha made tarts.



Can you believe this cake?



Willow, the Maid of Honor.



Dear friends.








I was there too.



The ruck.















The lovely guests.










































The perfect spell.

Buckeye

Buckeye butterfly (Junonia coenia)

Upside Down North Roads

During the VCC Northern Ireland Ride last weekend I had the opportunity to ride several bicycles that were fitted with upside down North Road handlebars - classic swept-back bars mounted upside down in order to achieve a lower hand position. Personally, I love upside-down North Roads. Unlike many other handlebar set-ups designed to achieve an aggressive posture, I've always found them comfortable and intuitive. So it surprised me to learn from others on the ride that this set-up tends to be a "love it or hate it" sort of thing, with many falling firmly into the latter category.






Apparently, those who do not like the bars report that they make a bike's handling twitchy - almost providing too much leverage for comfort. That intrigues me, because that same feeling of leverage is what makes me feel in control of the bike - able to manipulate it and "place it" as it were exactly as I want.





I also like the ergonomics: My wrists just seem to naturally plop down onto the gripping areas as they do on regularly mounted North Roads, but the low placement of my hands enables a much more aggressive position than on a typical upright bike. It's almost like riding with drop handlebars, except with access to standard brake levers in the drops.






Interestingly though, I noticed that all the upside-down North Roads on the VCC ride were set up with the gripping areas pointing down, whereas in the US I usually see them set up with the gripping areas more or less parallel to the ground. I cannot tell which I find more comfortable.






Setting a bicycle up with upside-down North Roads is the best method I know of achieving an aggressive yet ergonomic hand position without resorting to drop bars. I am curious what your thoughts on them are.

500 Summits!

It has been in the works since 1975 and last week early on a Saturday morning, mountain guide George Dunn reached the top of Mount Rainier for the 500th time! He climbed with his wife Nancy, son Jeremy along with friends Phil Ershler and Eric Simonson.

On the way up they had to fight through some tough wind and lightning, but were able to push on to the summit, helping George break his previous record of 499 summits! This is by far the most anyone has ever climbed Mount Rainier and he doesn't seem like he will be slowing down anytime soon.

George has been guiding for the past 35 years and has led many climbing trips throughout the world. His knowledge of climbing and of Mount Rainier specifically is a great asset to all of us here. He is currently a co-owner of International Mountain Guides, one of three guide services that operate full time here on Rainier. Our congrats go out to George and his family on this terrific achievement.

For more information about guided trips on Rainier check out these links, and for more information on Georges climb, including photos and videos click here.

Battery Park and north, then back via Brooklyn Bridge

Iris reticulata by the hundred in park by the Hudson

Looking across to New Jersey

Nice plants, shame about the sign

Massed crocuses sun-worshipping

Some fantasy sculptures in the park

Looking back across the bridge

My route