skiing at eldora

Our first family ski vacation was a smashing success.  Of course when you have charming accommodations with staff eager to please, loads of fresh powder, and children who can't get enough of the slopes, you've got the right ingredients for just that.  Boulder Creek Lodge

The day we arrived, Paul took a photo of the outdoor patio where we were told we could smoke whatever we pleased this being Colorado and all.

This is the same patio the day we left.  The snow started as we went to bed our first night and was still falling when we left.

This footbridge led from our hotel to the main part of the small town of Nederland. We enjoyed a curry out the first night.  We ate in our hotel the next two nights as we were tired from plowing through all that powder and happy to stay warm and cozy in our room with delicious pizza from a place at the end of the footbridge.

The slopes were a winter wonderland.  Although there were plenty of people up there with us, races with teams from all over Colorado even, we often found ourselves alone.  Paul is a far better and more adventurous skier than I, but we were able to enjoy the same runs as I could stick to the centre where other skiers had sort of groomed the slope and he could enjoy untouched snow on both sides of the runs.

Both days that we skied, the temperature stayed below freezing.  The second day, the wind picked up and made for some blizzard like conditions as the snow from the trees was blown into the air in places.  

This is Luke at the first slope he mastered.  It is almost flat and he did a lot of 'walking' on his skis.  They started him with just one ski going in circles to help him get used to the feel of things.  By lunch, his group moved over to a bigger slope with a longer magic carpet.

The first magic carpet.

This slope is so shallow and the powder so thick that he can't get going very fast.  It worked well for him though as he was able to get very comfortable with the feel and movement of skis.  We don't have any other video of him because our cameras (phone, camera and GoPro) all suffered from the severe cold.  Their batteries just couldn't manage.

Luke got quite cold but still managed a smile.  

Timothy started on this slope but was soon on the regular greens, riding the chair lifts like a pro.  

After his lesson the second day, he and Paul went up together.  Paul noted that Timothy is quite fast.

Paul enjoying some untouched, fresh powder.

Powder this deep means that skiing is a real work out, but it also means that falling doesn't really hurt.  Paul managed the whole trip without a fall, and I only went down once, when I was completely stopped and watching Timothy ski.  I got off balance and tipped over like a tree.  Getting up is hard for me because my knees don't bend enough anymore to get my weight centered so I can push myself up.  Paul rescued me.  I came close to another fall when I got turned backwards in the powder.  Fortunately, I managed to stay upright; otherwise, I might have needed a shovel to dig myself out!

Driving down the Boulder Canyon on our way home.

boating at horsetooth

Our neighbours Diego and Amy have a boat that they keep at Horsetooth, and we joined Diego and Henry for an outing over Labor Day weekend.

 We brought food and enjoyed a picnic on a beach on the east side

It was fun to watch Henry drive as Diego pulled in the anchor and stowed the ropes.   Timothy was keen to have a go as well.

Then a lazy 'nap' at one of the coves on the west side.

FISH!

Our neighbours, Diego and Amy and their twins Olivia and Henry made two trips to the cabin with us this August.  On the second trip, we had a fishing extravaganza.  Diego, Timothy and Luke all caught their first fish ever.  It's impossible to determine which of them had the biggest look of surprise and delight on their face when it happened.  Paul, Henry and I all caught fish as well.  The barbless hooks meant that removing the fish from the hook and returning them to the lake was easy.

Paul easily caught the largest

Timothy not only caught his fish but he helped land several fish, getting good at timing with the net.

Luke was the most persistent of fisherfolk in our family.  If someone was fishing, he was either fishing as well or waiting to help with the landing.  He and Timothy took turns netting the catch.

keystone

Once again Jenny and Neville stayed with the boys and let us take a break, this time in Keystone.

Our first course was The Ranch with sweeping vistas, narrow fairways and a rough that meant never seeing your ball again.  Our cart was gas powered because the elevation gains are too much for the electric powered carts.  Walking the course is impossible, probably prohibited.  The original ranch (1930's) is still around.

My game didn't improve or worsen with the help of this refreshing beverage, but my mood certainly lifted 

The 9th hole.  Par 3

This is the 18th hole of The River course.  Just after we teed off the horn for thunder/lightening blew.  We finished the game.

Along with golfing, we cycled along the Snake River the day we arrived and enjoyed the local pubs.  We managed to talk about things other than just the boys and thoroughly enjoyed our time together.  Thanks Jenny and Neville!

ironic

I recently posted this photo on Facebook, and a friend of mine in England commented: "You live in Disneyland?"  A different friend of mine who lives in Fort Collins followed that comment with this:   

Disney and Fort Collins

Ironice, eh?

community

This banner used to hang on my grandmother's balcony.

Our neighbours threw a block party to celebrate the Fourth of July.  We've been told by other neighbours that this is the event of the year, and we were not disappointed.  People oraganize their travels for this.  It takes place at a T intersection down the street and around the corner from us.  Four houses pool their money and hire/rent the following:

1. a smoker to cook  chickens, corn and a whole hog, split in half
2. a cotton candy machine
3. two kegs of beer
4. Jack Daniels and coke slushies
5. a bouncy castle
6. a bouncy water slide with a small pool
7. Bands (we saw/heard 2 in the four hours we were there, but the music lasted about 12 hours)

Half a hog almost gone

The other half, gone before it even cooled

One of several helpings of cotton candy

Ta da!  We think that this is his Fix it Felix pose. He went down a couple of times, but hose water at altitude is coooooooold.  He spent most of his time at the bottom getting splashed.

The invited neighbours brought side dishes and desserts.  This one stayed untouched for a long time, too pretty to eat.

I realise now that I took for granted the block parties like this that went on in my neighbourhood as a child.  The end of our street was a cul-de-sac: the perfect spot.   The neighbourhood pool became the place for the party at some point, and I remember one of the games was to lift a giant watermelon that had been greased with butter out of the deep end.  I never managed it.   We didn't have the live bands or the bouncy slide, but we had the same feeling  of community, the sense of belonging.  It's one of the things that makes Fort Collins so special.  It's not the only town where it happens, but it's the one that we know about, so it's THE one.  We feel it when the city hosts events like bike-to-work day.  Paul did a short circuit in the mile or so around our house and collected so much food that he brought some home along with a cooler bag and a t-shirt.  One of our friends visited 23 kiosks and had to make a trip home halfway through to drop off his booty!  We feel it when we drop off our children at school and see other parents picking up the rare bit of trash that missed the bin.  We feel it at the grocery stores and liquor stores where we are remembered and greeted in ways that show our history.  Maybe it was more than aesthetics that led Walt Disney to model Main Street in Disneyland after Fort Collins...  

gran and grand-da are coming

Timothy is more excited about the arrival of his grandparents than he has ever been in the past.  He's even more excited about this than he's been for Christmas.  He has started to go to bed early so that the day will pass quicker.  Today, he and Luke made welcome posters.  Timothy made a map of the basement to show them the new things that are there for them like a couch and a mini-fridge.   It's wonderful!