More snow...

The last couple of weeks we've had amazing weather - sunshine and blue skies, which has lovely but by the end of last week the runs were starting to get a bit icy and hard. No longer - we've had about 10" of snow each day for the last few days now, which means some serious powder!

This morning we were going down slopes that no-one else had touched, and I couldn't see below my knees let alone my board it was so deep. It's a completely different sensation, and makes for fantastic boarding, but if you get stuck it's a nightmare getting going again.

X-Games

By chance, we're in Aspen at the same time as the Winter X-Games are taking place. We went along to see some of it the other day and it was amazing - the guys (and girls) competing are the best skiers / snowboarders in the world and the stunts they pull in the half pipe are amazing. We also saw the worlds first double back-flip on a snowmobile...nutters. I'm not quite up to their standards yet - might wait and enter next year's event.

Birthday Bash

Well turning 30 didn't seem all that bad. I had an amazing day thanks to Sam. It started off with a well needed lie-in and breakfast in bed, then a morning snow-mobiling through the Rockies. In the afternoon I had a hot stone massage at the famous Aspen Club and then back to the hotel for champagne before heading out to see some of the X Games - where skiers and snowboarders compete to see who can do the craziest tricks! So I guess being 30 is pretty cool after all!

Sno-Style

Who'd have thought it - Sam a snowboarder!! We took 2 day-long snowboarding lessons this week which was great fun - if you don't mind spending a lot of time face down in the snow. Sam got the hang of it really quickly and is now converted but having suffered grazed knees and a bruised bum for days, I have reverted to skiing. Its amazing how quickly you can learn, Sam is already as fast as me and I'm sure will be busting some gnarly 360's in the half pipe before we leave!

On the Slopes

So, nearly a week of skiing and no broken bones! We're having a great time in Aspen, the mountains are amazing, the snow is perfect and the weather fantastic. In fact its been so sunny that we are both suffering from a bit of what the locals call "goggle face". We've not been doing too bad on the skiing, we did our first black run this week (albeit on a pretty easy mountain - but we won't make too much of that!). The runs are fantastic - really wide and practically empty; it sometimes feels like you have the whole mountain to yourself. They are really pretty too, you can often find yourself gliding through tree lined lanes with the sun peaking through the branches. We're going to try boarding in a day or two, so no doubt we'll be busting cab-720's in the halfpipe in no time!

Day 1 - Aspen

Well we've made it to Aspen after what seemed like an unnecessarily protracted series of connections (London to Manchester to Chicago to Denver to Aspen) including a five-hour coach transfer at this end. Serves us right for cheaping out instead of going for I a direct flight I suppose!

The road up into the mountains last night was pretty hairy, as there was a really heavy snowstorm in progress - but our bus driver got himself behind a snow-plough and followed it all there way to Aspen, so we made it eventually.

Woke up this morning, sorted out our ski-gear and hit the slopes! The pistes are so much wider and less crowded than in Europe, it was great to have some space to quietly practice and get my snojo back without having to worry too much about wiping out in front of loads of people.

Having said that, I got the first 'muppet' award of the trip for wiping out dramatically and rather embarassingly on a green run, surrounded by loads of four-year-old kids who were obviously already better skiers than I'll ever be.

We've got a lesson booked for tomorrow, and I also fancy trying out boarding in a few days to see which I prefer.

A Final Farewell to Cumbria

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

It's all been a bit hectic for the last week or so - we had all the Pembos and the Taylors up to stay in Cumbria for Christmas, then finally moved out of Moss Cottage a few days later and down to Ann and John's in time for New Year.

We're staying here in Ewell now until we fly to the States - we've pretty much sold or packed everything we're not taking with us.

We were both really gutted to leave Moss Cottage and the Lake District, but hopefully one day we'll be back, and it's exciting to be starting our travels soon!