Aikido Summer Camp Day 1

Well, I just finished dinner and in about an hour the first classes start for my week of Aikido Summer Camp in the Rockies. I have a nice room at Colorado Mountain College and (as you can tell) I have Internet access to boot! Getting here was quite the adventure. I decided to follow the Google Map's directions between Gunnison and Glenwood Springs which took me over to Mt. Crested Butte, past Gothic, and over Schofield Pass. Well, I won't go into too much detail other than it was some of the scariest mountain driving I have ever done in my life and once I finally got over the pass, and then past a warning sign that the mountain road requires expert 4wd with a high base, I came to a creek and thank-goodness there was a woman resting who told me that my SUV would not make it. I turned around and drove back over the pass, past Gothic and back through Crested Butte. I then took Kebler Pass to C-133 which took me through Carbondale and then it was a quick trip to CMC. I spent and extra hour and half and only went 40 miles round trip on my little detour. I learned a couple of things; 1. Never trust Google Maps when planning a trip in the Colorado Rockies, it can take you places where you don't belong 2. I am not expert off-road driver and I don't really want to be one. The scenery was spectacular and I was able to take a couple of photos, one of a large water fall coming off the mountain.



Tonight's classes are being taught by Saotome Sensei, Doran Sensei, and Ushiro Sensei. I don't know if I'll feel up to going to the 6:30 class tomorrow morning but I'm going to try to blog every day of Summer Camp. While waiting in line, I met a number of delightful people from Arizona; one a public librarian from Scottsdale Sharon and Todd.

UPDATE: I just got back from this evening's classes and I enjoyed all three master instructors. I couldn't hear very well (granted my hearing is poor anyways) but I thought Saotome Sensei say something interesting, "Violence occurs when you are not confident in yourself". Neat and nice way to began the this week of Aikido budo.