This blog is not going to be about medical school, so if that is what you are looking for you will have to wait.  No, this blog is about still having a life while going to medical school.  It is possible, and life is good.  

Since I started here I have been able to continue playing soccer (just pick up a few times a week), play games (we had one game night, there will be more), and dance (I finally went out last night, but now that I know where to go I think it will become more regular).  I also found a group of women that like to bike and we have been taking a ride every Saturday morning.  Last weekend we decided to combing that ride with a camping trip in the nearby redwoods.  

After frantically packing and grocery shopping the night before, we set out from campus Saturday morning at 8am.  It had rained the night before and the fresh scent of the lemon tree filled my senses as I stepped out the door.  Everything was damp and smelled almost tropical despite the chill.  As we rode away the morning sun warmed us and a full arched rainbow framed the hill that was our destination. 

As we climbed the terrain changed rapidly.  What was flat and open was replaced by steep climbs and trees stretched their branches over our heads.  The single lane road wound it's way back and forth gaining elevation slowly; we steadily pedaled making slow progress in our fifteen mile 2500 ft ascent.  

As we climbed not only did the trees close in, but so did the clouds.  The fresh, damp morning began to darken and the thickening fog made the forest road feel almost eerie.  Working hard to climb, we didn't feel the chill until we reached the top of our climb and emerged from the sheltering trees.  The wind picked up and spitting rain started to soak through our clothes.  It was the first rain I had seen since I moved here.  Today?  Really?

But we pushed on.  Another eight miles along the top of the ridge would take us to the turnoff for the state park where we planned to meed up with our "support vehicle".  At one point, having stopped to add layers, I lost sight of my companions, their figures completely cloaked a short distance ahead in the thickening fog.  For a moment, until I closed in an could again distinguish the familiar form of rider on bicycle, I felt completely alone.  As we neared on our destination we started to rethink the situation.  The ride was still fun, but we were cold, wet, and ready to be warm.  At the turn-off we had a choice.  Six miles to the campsite where we may or may not find our friends waiting for us with dry clothes and food, or eight miles to continue the loop back down the hill to home and a hot shower.  The increasing rainfall made our decision and we turned towards home.  As we descended the rain let up and the sun teased us, peaking momentarily through the clouds.  'It's clearing up' we thought.  So we turned around and headed back up, only to find that as we climbed we re-entered the cold wetness that we had just left behind.  What a mean trick!  So we turned once again and rode away from the cloud that was stubbornly hugging the hill.

Though we were tired, the descent was, I think, worse than the climb.  I am no speed-demon on a bicycle (or elsewhere for that matter) and the unrelenting downhill slope required almost constant breaking.  The wind created by the speed bit through our soaked clothing and my wrists started to tire from the constant pressure.  But as we went down there was also a notable change in temperature and the clouds began to part revealing the pure blue sky that has been a constant since I moved here.  We stopped once to re-fuel (almonds and cheddar bunnies) and once for a photo-op, I just couldn't resist.

By the time we got back to campus we had almost dried out.  The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day.  We headed off to our respective homes for a much needed hot shower and a quick lunch, but we had one problem.  Our friends had been unreachable for the past few hours and were likely awaiting us at the campsite that we had been due to arrive at several hours before. We had been satisfied with our long morning ride and I think were a bit reluctant to head back up into the clouds.  But with no other way to contact our friends we piled into a car and headed back out the same way we had five hours before.  It went quickly in the car, though the winding climb felt even windier at 25mph.  At the top there was still a slight sprinkle, but noticeably decreased from the morning, and when we finally arrived at our campsite the sun finally broke through.  

We found our support crew napping in a tent with a box of anatomy flashcards at their side.  (and despite our worry they weren't upset, just excited that we were finally there).

They were a little confused when we arrived dressed in dry jeans and t-shirts and instead of a pile of bikes they saw a shiny, white Subaru.

 

But it was a happy reunion and, inspired by the change in weather, we decided to take a hike.  

I wont detail the hike for you, just say that it was beautiful, fun, and educational as well.  We sang songs, built forts (nice work Luz and Natalie),

 and explored nature. (yes, that is a banana slug, how does it taste Ricky?)

After the hike we built a fires and cooked a gourmet dinner of rice, beans and chicken fajitas.  Ah car camping, isn't it wonderful?  We then crammed into two two man tents and drifted off to sleep after a long, tiring, but fulfilling day.  Then, after a morning bowl of oatmeal, we descended back onto campus and into reality.  Back to the books.