{"id":4471,"date":"2020-09-27T06:56:26","date_gmt":"2020-09-27T06:56:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/websterart.com\/wordpress\/?p=4471"},"modified":"2020-09-30T15:36:42","modified_gmt":"2020-09-30T15:36:42","slug":"city-and-smith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websterart.com\/wordpress\/2020\/09\/city-and-smith\/","title":{"rendered":"City, Smith and a leather hat"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sue and I had planned to leave for Lovers Leap on the 18th after getting our new canopy installed. We were going to hook up with Chad who would have just finished up a week at Yosemite with Annie, Brian and Liz.\u00a0 However, Chad was on his way down two weeks ago and couldn’t get past Centralia due to bad smoke from the Eugene Oregon fires.<\/p>\n

He stopped by our house to drop off a coat of mine. I was sewing my new leather hat<\/a> and we discussed options. I mentioned that the City looked relatively smoke free…and we could possibly bring our plans back to life by going there. I had plans to climb with Kena on Sunday but was free after that.<\/p>\n

So off we went Sunday night, crashing at midnight up a dirt road on Swauk pass, then getting to the City Monday at 6pm. Highlights of the City were my cruise up Private Idaho, and a couple 9 and 10b slab leads at Lost World. Sun and smoke were a problem, but it was still awesome as always.<\/p>\n

We climbed hard until we woke up Wednesday, 9 days later and realized we needed a rest day, plus that\u00a0 BLM road was getting irritating in my two wheel truck. The ruts are a full two feet deep. But rather than a rest day, we decided to spend it driving closer to home. We drove to Smith, arriving at 10pm to a half empty Grasslands. I led Outsider and second pitch of Pack Animal while Chad led two 11’s at Morning Glory: Zebra seam and Lion’s Chair. Not sure of those names…<\/p>\n

He also led Pack Animal Direct, which I fell off of at the top. It was totally covered in Guano. The Covid shutdown has brought back the nesting birds. I had to rest following him up Karate before the traverse. I blame that on the lack of gym power. Can’t be that I’m getting older.<\/p>\n

I got home Friday. Today I sewed a beaded hat band for my new leather hat, which survived the two week road trip in perfect shape. I chose to use a pattern size of Medium, since I was in the low side of that hat size at: 22.6 inches. Turns out, that made a hat too small. But my experience with leather phone cases told me that leather can always stretch…though shrinking is less likely. Almost twice a day I had to sponge water on the hat opening and wear it too tight. Finally, it is starting to remember my big head.<\/p>\n

Just in case though, I ordered a hat stretcher from Amazon. It was really awesome seeing Sue today. We are both very independent people…but absence does make the heart grow fonder. I wish dad was alive to see my hat and hear all the family news. He would be proud. Pictures to follow later .<\/p>\n