EXPLOSION EXPLOSION

So I'm still pretty sore from climbing the other day. It's weird, cuz there were only really two short steep pitches, so when I almost died, I must've gotten so tense that I'm still recovering from it.

Best fruit smoothie so far, check it:
Fresh fruit - pineapple, stawberries, kiwi(organic)
Frozen fruit - blueberries, blackberries, raspberries (all organic)
Fruit Juices - Grape(organic), cranberry(organic), orange
Magnificent, as usual....

I'm pretty sick right now and this time around, I'm emphasizing fruits and liquids more than garlic and spices. Drank 3 large glasses of mostly organic fruit juice this morning and had 3 large glasses of that smootie. Ate a bunch of salad, gonna eat some more. Plus I'm gonna eat some more solid fruit too.

Anyways, onto our feature presentation...


Located on Vancouver Island's East coast, north of Campbell River, Seymour narrows has a reputation as the fiercest, and arguably, the most dangerous area for nautical navigation in North America. According to Captain George Vancouver, "one of the wildest stretches of water in the world". Gaping whirlpools and other neat stuff. However, probably the most dangerous aspect is Ripple Rock, an underwater, twin tower which reached a height of 3m below sea level. This rock lays claim to having sunk more than 120 vessels and taking the lives of at least 114 people. So after decades of deliberation, petitions, etc, the government finally agreed to step in. Their solution? Blow it to smithereens, of course. Two failed attempts at drilling from above Ripple Rock led to an incredibly elaborate masterpiece of design in which tunnels were drilled and they basically went up the asshole of the Rock and laid 1,400 tons of explosives. The all-day/all-night op took 75 men 27 months to complete at a cost of 3 million dollars (probably not adjusted for inflation). The tunnel went 150m down, 800m under the ocean, and back up in two100 feet columns up each tower.

What followed in 1958 was the biggest non-nuclear explosion EVER! Debris was shot 1000 feet into the air, pulverizing an astounding 370,000 tons of rock (or 700,000 tons, depends which numbers you believe, prolly a conversion problem) and creating a 25 foot tidal wave.


So work is going alright these days. Prep is definitely better than dishwashing. It's definitely bearable for the time being. I seem to have adjusted to it mentally, and although I think I'm still lacking some mental power, I think ithis is forcing me into a social context, which is probably healthy, plus this guy who's training me is sucha goldmine of local outdoor knowledge.