End Pavement

Thanks to Rabbie Burns for the best poem of hopeful melancholy ever.

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou’d the gowans fine,
But we’ve wander’d monie a weary fit,
Sin auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl’d in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
Sin auld lang syne.

And there’s a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie’s a hand o thine,
And we’ll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne

Happy new year! Let’s spend as much of it outdoors as possible. ;)

If my calculations are correct, and if Wikipedia’s article on the topic is correct, then today at 16:22 Pacific time will mark the official Winter Solstice. The daylight hours will slowly begin to increase again in the inexorable march toward spring.

While I’m looking forward longingly to a season or so from now — to warmer hiking, to baseball games, to the bike training — it’s a good thing to appreciate what’s here already.

As winter weather goes, Southern California isn’t exactly the most wintery place in the world. In fact, as I write this, it’s partly sunny with the temperature in the low 50s and an expected high of 66°F. The “Winter Hike” means something very different than what folks in most of the country are used to.

You can see our gorgeous mountains clearly. A bit sobering that they always used to be that way, but never mind that for the moment — it would be a crime not to enjoy the amazing vistas. Stop and take a breath.

I’ll be writing occasionally about Breathing on this site, both as a physical act and as a philosophical statement: Breathing on Purpose, which is still vital no matter what time of year it is. That air you suck in climbing up a hill is colder than the spring or summer variety, but it’s just as good for you. Better, probably. Cleaner.

Spring would not mean anything if there were no winter. No matter what your particular religious beliefs (or lack thereof), no matter what festivals or feasts or traditions you celebrate this time of year, don’t you think it’s also important to recognize this amazing astronomical event? To celebrate these short hours of light, because they are so precious?

Happy Solstice, everyone.

See About for more information on this site. It is being developed at the end of 2006 for debut in early 2007.

Much like The Trolley Dodger is doing for the Dodgers and baseball posts that used to go on celsius1414.com (my personal website), End Pavement will do the same for the outdoors, cycling, hiking, and related topics. Like the old baseball content, I won’t be transferring much if any of the older outdoors stuff here either, but if you’d like to check it out, as there is a ton of stuff there, here are some links to get you started on:

• Outdoors
• Cycling
• Hiking