My fingertips are still a little too raw to type much about the climbing road trip my wife, friend Brian, and myself took down to Bishop, CA over Thanksgiving weekend. We had a great time playing on the boulders, meeting up with friends from our local climbing gym, as well as meeting other talented folks.
I even managed some sketches and a painting.
On the night we arrived, we met up with some friends for a second Thanksgiving dinner (we had a huge family dinner on Wednesday night). I don't know if I've ever mentioned this, but my good painting buddy Jimmy G, whom I've mentioned throughout my blog, is also a good climbing buddy). We had a (few) nightcap(s) back at his room where he lent me a sketchbook to scribble in while we all told entertaining stories.
Justin's two dogs, Lu and Little Dog.
Overly excited. (Thanks for sending these sketches over, Jimmy!)
A view from above the Happy Boulders. Volcanic ash settled, hardened, and became the flatland you see here. Jimmy G sat next to me and painted a far more successful composition!
Alex got a little tipsy at the local dive when she dropped this little gem.
"Buttermilk Country" - Oil on linen panel, 8x10 inches. My hands couldn't take any more abuse for the day, so I set up the paints and squeezed in this hour and a half painting just as the sun made its descent behind the White Mountains.And of course, pictures were taken.
Wanna see the photos in all their splendor? Alex put together a great slideshow here:
Bishop Climbing Trip.
The rock there was extremely sharp, and combined with the holiday weight I somehow put on overnight (okay, okay, the past few months), it made things a bit painful. Actually, I had a great time, probably some of the most fun I've had all year, but it was also a big eye-opener as to just how out of shape I am. So I've made a pre-New Years resolution to cut my internet time in half. By more if possible. And I'm going to introduce some cardio to my routine. By next year I hope to float effortlessly up the sharpest rocks imaginable. I'm calling my new ambition, Project Adonis.
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4 comments:
Great paintings and sketches--the trip sounds like it was a lot of fun!
Project Adonis ? Like, the greek god of constant Life/Death/Rebirth, that somehow symbolise the cycle of nature ?
Awesome sketches and photos here, Mike ! Love the drunk Toppo and the landscape painting. And the photos, ha, they are killer, man ! I enjoyed watch Alexandra and you on Alex's sideshow.
I'm also very happy to have declined your invitation to do some indoor climbing in Berkeley a month ago... Once I saw the actual shots ! :P
But that's very impressive and the site is, wow ! Gorgeous !
Thanks for sharing that with us.
Au revoir,
J.
thanks Anthony, it really was! By the way, I love your blog. This trip inspired me to cut down my blog subscriptions by 50, yet I immediately subscribed to yours when I saw it. So thanks for posting here!
Julien - It's way way way simpler than you think: Adonis was in great physical shape, like most Greek Gods! hehe.
I'm glad you looked through the slideshow - I knew you'd enjoy it. :) And really, indoor climbing is not nearly as scary. You would've had fun - maybe next time??
Great sketches and it really seems you are enjoying life and sunshine. Thanks for sharing the goods sir-s
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