You know, one of the problems with pursuing a relatively active hobby like fencing is that people expect you to be active. So, tomorrow I'm supposed to go marching up the Grouse Grind with my fencing group. On the off chance that you've never heard of the Grouse Grind (And, really, how could that be? On any list of "Fun Things to Do", it's right up there with being water-boarded.), it's probably the antithesis of hiking. It's steep, ugly, crowded, and, to put it mildly, all around hideous. 2,800 feet of no-fun, straight up.

So, why am I doing this? Amazing what one will do in the name of sociability.