The Vines, The Burns and The Beer

Ahhh what a relaxing weekend, if not for that it once again went by so quickly. Too much, and probably too similar to most other people's Canada Day long weekend to really spend too long dwelling on it, and so missing it.

It involved plenty of beer, friends, hops (not the kind related to brewing, nor tiny jumps or rabbit like movements), fire, sun, and sand. The only real oddity in there is the hops, which grow as a climbing vine on, and over the fence between here and the neighbours to the east. The thing about them is that the vine has little spines, sort of like those of a raspberry bush, but more dense, all turned in one direction giving roughness in one direction and a smooth feel in the other like a cat's tongue.

Well, when you walk quickly through one of said vines carrying say, a garden lantern broken by a poorly controlled soccer ball, it tends to grab your skin and rip it open, occasionally leaving marks across your torso looking at times remarkably like finger nail scratches. And they burn for a while, and they inspire questions, all of which are handled with the consumption of some beer.

Of course the beer consumption tends to lead to other random, completely preventable, stupid injuries, moreso in the presence of fireworks and bonfires. But again, no need to be repetitive of the numerous other long weekend shenanigans.

And now its back into the hustle and rush of trying to get everything lined up for my ass and ten thousand dollars worth of equipment and supplies to get out to Edmonton leaving Friday with the first rays of light. On top of this, I get called on to spend 12 hour days amongst the steel factories of Hamilton, and get my hands stained by chemicals that make me look like I was at a loss for toilet paper or a good leaf. In short, definitely looking forward to a hike in the mountains, and the next long weekend.