In the last few weeks there been a progressive downturn in snow conditions...its been consistantly up in the 50's so the the snow has been melting at an astronomical rate...there is about a 2 hour window at 10am between solid ice and super slush that allows for some decent riding but either side of this just kinda sucks...though riding in slushy conditions is a hell of a good work out!..
i was informed that in an effort to save money (on the mountains part) i was going to be laid off a week earlier than i had planned to leave..(go billy!)...so instead of doing the job i was trained to do i was transferred upstairs to the cafeteria to sit on my butt for 8 hours and ring up food.....which wasnt all bad as many a person benefited from my incompetence/lack of will...and i myself got free food all week aswell :)
i also moved out of my house to avoid paying the rediculous rent....and camped out on a freinds couch in their tiny studio apartment for week and a half...this didnt prove as bad as it sounds..... i found out that due the double shifts i work i really am hardly ever home besides sleeping...and sometimes not even then what with the saying of goodbyes process..
I left Mammoth monday morning bright and early to drive down to LA.....and the first thing we did in "civilisation" was go to the mall!....the first time in 5 months....was very restrained given the severe lack of funds and only got a pair of shoes...steal of a deal for $50.....tuesday i spent the entire luxurious day stretched out on the sand by the Hermosa beach pier drinking tequila sunrises and enjoying one last day of summer....i even went swimming (freezing but it had to be done)...
Wednesday was the mission down to Dana Point to Matts cousins tattoo shop *Raygun tattoo* for the much anticipated snowflake....took the best part of 4hours from start to finish but the end result...two matching, pretty in colour snowflakes... was worth it....before back to the beach for a paddle for one last time in the eastern side of the Pacific...and off to the airport....
After re-packing my horrendously overweight bag i managed to score with a window seat in an aisle with NOBODY else....so could fully stretch out.....managed about 8 hours sleep before being wide awake at 8am PST (3am NZST).....
went through 4 levels of security more at akld than when leaving LAX.... and.... had a bag left behind due to "security reasons"...which actually is rather convenient because now the airline is responsible for getting it to wellington :).....Greeted by Libby and Bruce at airport in overcast raining weather, paddle in the western side of the pacific.....stuff face with Vogels toast, butter and vegemite and danae is one contented little monkey....welcome home, good to be back in new zilind.....