The First Saint John Retarded Hiking Adventure

So, as time goes in I am finding it harder and harder to stay away from the woods. When I was in China I was definitely unable to which resulted in a number of extra sketchy hiking adventures, some even bordering on the retarded. There were three instances when we did not know if we would make it out of the woods by nightfall, and on all of those occasions everyone involved was quite relieved when we finally made it.

Since the Shantou Videos are finally online I highly recommend the OMFG series and the

Another Retarded Hiking Adventure series.

Well, the main outlet of my life used to be skiing, then, I injured my back. Then the main outlet in my life was the martial arts, since I had managed a way to somehow continue them with the injury. Right now, since I am still not allowed to carry more then 10 lbs, nor am I allowed to bend my back in any way, my martial arts outlet has been cut off. Don't let this fool anyone, I still have every intention of making it to the Fall Grading in Toronto the weekend before my finals. Take that MBA... Anyways, so that outlet has been removed. I have been writing a great deal, and I have some other tasks that have been occupying my time, but, I need more. I need that fresh air and the natural beauty that I can see, but have not yet touched.

Thus brought about the first Saint John Retarded Hiking Adventure... let's call it SJRHA for short. Heh... try saying that one time fast... SJRHA...

It starts with the people involved. There were two of us to undertake this challenge, myself, and a companion from the MBA Class. It just so happens that this companion is also from

Calgary, and it just so happens that he lives across the street from me here. Since the orientation started we have been closely linked, partly because of the convenience of walking to and from school together, and partly just because of compatible personalities. Had gone to Uptown Saint John the night before with the MBA Class, and now we were up for an adventure. My companion wore his rubber boots, despite the lack of rain, and I wore my runners.

We took off into the woods near his apartment. We did not have a real goal, but in the beginning we were sort of aiming towards the University. The first part of the hike was arduous as we were near the light filled edge of the forest, but soon we broke through to open woods with a lifted canopy. The canopy was not that high, but the trees were beautiful. I could not identify them all, but there was a large number of Maples and Birches. The ground sloped upwards and we followed that path. Outcrops of rock were covered in moss, which can be seen in the photo

album, I will put them in the blog if I can get the internet to cooperate. The leaves littered the ground and made it a most beautiful sight. The sun lit up the leaves and woods, and it was something that could be seen in a movie... uhh... if it were a little darker it would be a horror movie, but we tried not to think of that.

As moved on and in the distance we could see the forest changing. The Maples and Birches were turning into Pines and Cedars. I tried to see everything and to take it in, but there was too much. I have hiked in a number of different woods, but this is different from them all. In trying to make out everything I was well aware of my surroundings, and as my foot was about to strike the ground I noticed a hint of movement. I quickly changed where my foot would fall to avoid standing on the source of the movement. Laying on the bed of leaves rested a small snake. I do not know if he knew I could see him or not, but it was cold and he did not look like he had the strength to move.

We were careful not to step on him and we decided to leave him be. It was now evident that the forest was changing. It did not daunt us. I still had a general idea as to where we were so we carried on.

It was a calm day, and no matter what forest we

were in, it was beautiful. We could slope down another hill, but on the far side of the ravine we could see more trees. If we went down, we would have to go back up. We decided to skirt the ravine. We continued through the easy woods and gradually were faced with harder and harder obstacles. Trees had fallen to block our path, and jagged branches made impassable walls. I was told that the forest in this area was largely impassable, and at that point I was beginning to believe it... but only beginning.

On we went. We noticed more and more moss and the ground becoming wet. Water openly flowed down the hill and as we followed the only available path before us we found the ground becoming squishy. My companion was wearing rubber boots... I was not.

We did not know where we were really, but, I sort of kind of maybe a little bit knew where we were... maybe sorta. We continued on and then with a stroke of luck, we could see a house (note the picture at the beginning of this entry, damn I wish that house was not in that photo... but I am glad we found it.) Seeing the house we at least had a direction. We were going to make for the house when disaster struck. Remember all of that water we saw gently running down the hill under the moss? Well, it was pooling, in a marsh.

For those of you who are wonder... of course I fell in the marsh... as is the ultimate Karma, for the one in the runners. My companion also was in the water, but it turns out that his rain boots were a little more, let's say, waterproof, than my runners. Crap.

Did did make it out of the marsh. It was a long walk around hopping from solid tree to solid tree, with any slip meaning up to your calves in decay, but it was doable. On the other side there was solid ground. We landed there and we hiked up and away. We found some houses, and skirting their backyards, that actually back onto the beautiful ravine from which we came, we found ourselves in the "nice" part of Millidgeville. On the roads now we continued down to the K-Word River.

After we had our fill looking as water and boats we turned homeward bound. It was a long walk, and by the time we made it home my back and leg were furious, but, it was worth if for the First SJRHA.

p.s. I might not talk about Saint John yet, but I have posted a few photos from Uptown where the older buildings are...