Vail in Spring - Robin had to head to the Denver Mint to work for the week so I tagged along to catch some late season spring skiing and just be a tourist in Denver for a week. To get some ski time in we flew out on the Friday before the work week and arranged to stay at the Vail Holiday Inn for the weekend. My plan was to pick up an A-Basin pass that I would use again on Mothers Day to fly out and visit all the Bears from Epic Ski, who make A-Basin a mothers day tradition. When I saw the lack of snow this year, I decided the A-Basin pass could wait until next season (buying now it would be good for both seasons) and just ski at Vail for the full weekend and check out Copper through the week as I always miss Copper when I'm out this way.. It didn't hurt that I had been unaware that Vail offered a professional courtesy pass price to all instructors, including those from another country and that made my weekend of skiing at Vail very reasonable so I decided just to ski Vail both Saturday and Sunday. As you can see the snow at Vail on Saturday was holding up quite well even though we did hit close to 60 F on both days of the weekend.

The warm spring sunshine is always fun to ski in, the soft afternoon snow makes it perfect for mogul skiing and it brings out all sorts of costumes too. Skiing in dresses and shorts is the norm this time of year and the occasional silly youngster in a bikini can be spotted. Might make it easier to talk someone into a spring ski tip!.

We took a drive down to check out the snow conditions at A-Basin on Saturday night before making the final decision on where to ski Sunday. After having a look we stuck with the plan to ski Vail.You can see in the photo that coming down the bottom front of A-Basin was already turning pretty brown from the mud mixing in with the snow and there is quite a few bare spots. I decided to save my skis and ski Vail the next day also. Vail was suffering quite a bit from a lack of snow by Sunday afternoon also. The ski rack area that had full coverage on Saturday was now very wet and we couldn't ski right to the village sidewalk at Lion's Head area by the time we skied down in the afternoon. Where the skiers had been standing around the racks the day before had no snow left. I didn't bring my camera along to show the photos, but the one day difference was quite dramatic. We still had a great day skiing Sunday and enjoyed the sunshine.

Denver Downtown - Staying at the 16th Street Mall

We arrived in Denver on Sunday afternoon after skiing for most of the day. Our first stop was at Colorado Mills. An appropriate welcome banner to the mills for Colorado and then it was downtown to check in to a room at the Crown Plaza downtown Denver just off the 16th Street Mall and around the corner from the Denver Mint. Walking distance to everywhere. I spent my week days relaxing, enjoying superb dinners, taking photos of what I thought made Denver downtown special and I got one more day skiing at Copper Mountain on Thursday to cap off my year somewhere new.

Crown Plaza Review - The Crown Plaza was pleasant enough and a great location to stay but I had nothing but frustration with the internet and due to the internet connection will stay at one of the other near by hotels next time I'm in Denver. With my I-stock portfolio and travel, trying to keep up with family, work and web sites, without a good high speed connection is just too frustrating these days to put up with an internet connection that doesn't include enough bandwidth to go around to all the customers on a week that the hotel was not even half full. That information came from the hotel manager about the it not being half full and the their internet tech service informed me that during the day when I called there was only enough bandwidth purchased by the hotel that with the current people logged on it would give each person under 1mb/s and that was what I was measuring, about 2 times dial up. Management did offer to move my room in hopes of a better connection (my signal showed 5 bars though) and also said they felt their ISP had done something wrong as they had purchased and upped their plan in February (over a month earlier) and had heard no issues since that time. Well if that meant they weren't going to fix it then I just would deal with it for the week and make sure it's not an issue next time I go by staying elsewhere.

Breakfast at the in hotel restaurant, Off Sixteenth, was your typical very expensive downtown city prices for an average quality breakfast. They had a buffet for $14.75 plus leave a tip which I refuse to do for a buffet and I rarely have the buffet anyhow, preferring to order fresh food no one has sneezed in and have it delivered to my table. My favorite breakfast is Oatmeal (not instant) and berries. I found on the menu, oatmeal and fresh fruit would cost me over $11.00 and didn't include coffle but the buffet did include coffee and orange juice plus had my oatmeal and berries. The first day I had the buffet to get my oatmeal as it was cheaper that way then off the many with the coffee but for the rest of the week I went around the corner to the Corner Bakery to enjoy a fresh bowl of oatmeal and berries each day for only $6.00. The hotel did not even supply a coffee in the morning for free, which is pretty standard these days so those of staying at the hotel, there was 4 separate parties used to traveling for a living, all felt they could do a better job for very little effort. Over all I guess none of us were overly impressed with the hotel but it's location made it worth the stay and they did upgrade everyone's rooms to suites as all were platinum priority members and the suites were very nice. Proximity to the 16th Street Mall did make the Crown Plaza a very convenient spot and worth it's issues accept the internet for me.

The Sixteenth Street Mall makes downtown Denver one of the most unique cities I've visited. That's pretty impressive that a new city can still excite me and convince me to drag my camera out each day for a week to get photos and views. There was lots in the area mountains I would love to see also but this week was about the downtown, another trip I'll go see the near by parks. I wanted to make it to Red Rocks Park and natural amphitheater but it didn't happen this time and is on the top of my list for next time. The one day I had access to a rental car I chose to go skiing again. Next trip I'll have Red Rocks Park and Pikes Peak to go see, as they were both places it was suggested I not miss.

Denver also had a big share homeless people for a city not in a particularly warm climate which surprised me. I'm not sure which came first the homeless or all the unique programs for the homeless found around Denver downtown; which ever it was there is a lot of homeless playing chess, sleeping on the street at night across from the hotel and wandering during the day. None really bothered me and there was less pan handling then I would have expected for the number of homeless.

The good restaurants along 16th Street were too numerous to mention all. I loved the sidewalk cafes, eating out doors for lunch and the ambience of the downtown in the evenings. The many chain eating venues, like the Cheese Cake Factory, Maggiano's, and even Subway, take on a new feeling when you add a sidewalk cafe to them. It was all about the atmosphere. There was always a concert, game, sports run or something going on in the evening for the week I was here. I've included a photo album of many of the downtown photos I took to try and give a feel for just what made Denver downtown so special. The bulls, the street cafes, the street vendors and street performers give Denver downtown it's own vibe and well worth a trip to come and enjoy. Go see it.. but see if first here, in my photos.

A Couple Days in Whistler - Nothing I can think of excites me more then the prospect of fresh snow and a day to ski in it. What could be better to give thanks for then that. Thanksgiving weekend 2012 found me waking at Whistler Village, British Columbia with my favorite people on earth and a foot of fresh snow to head out in to. Ron bought a Go Pro camera to take some video while he skied this season which he put on his head before we headed out for the morning hoping his second day of skiing (he got out a week before me) would give him some serious face shots. Points saved up and used at the Holiday Inn Whistler made it a relatively inexpensive way to spend 4 days also. At 35000 points a night we secured a nice condo style room with all the kitchen amenities to make our on steak dinner and have it in the relaxation of our unit after a day on slopes. Can't be beat. The airline coupon saved and used to fly out didn't hurt either.

Fresh tracks weren't hard to find this morning as the ski crowds wouldn't arrive until tomorrow when Canada would have it's weekend. Friday was not a holiday in Canada. We skied fresh snow for the morning then took a break to try and adjust my new Fisher 110 Vacuum boots. They were just a bit snug yet but adjusting my socks did the trick and I headed back out after lunch, with no pain, to ski moguls for the afternoon. It was a fabulous ski day, I just wish I had been in mid season shape to fully enjoy it.

While I was in having lunch and fixing my sore feet in my new boots, Ronnie stayed out in search of the ever elusive fresh tracks. I had told him that very morning about tree wells and their dangers and my falling in one in Utah a few years ago. Surprisingly he'd never heard of them, even though he's skied west for years also. I had only read about them the year before I found my first one. I guess we ski a lot more in trees then 20 years ago, with most resorts having open tree runs now. Well Ron went looking for a run he could see from the lift and cut through a small swatch of trees, while running his Go Pro and landed in a well for his first time. At least being the beginning of the year it hadn't developed to an over the head well but it was already chest deep as his video shows when he sticks his pole in to try and climb out of it. People drown every year in tree wells. Be sure know how to get safely out of a tree well. Most people flip in backwards, or sideways like Ron did but with deeper ones their head falls in and they are upside down in a hole at the base of a tree which quickly fills with snow. One should never ski alone in the trees, especially after a fresh snow fall and a water whistle is a good idea too as it won't clog with snow and will be louder then your yell to a buddy. If you leave your buddy to get help instead of digging him out he'll likely die, you have to be there to help right away.

Horseshoe Bay Ferry -The next morning I knew what sore was. I hadn't been able to bike this year in my off season due to a shoulder injury I received last ski season that kept re-injuring if i jostled it with my bike. My legs were never so tired as when I woke the second day. I'm glad my shoulder is fully healed now and i'll be cycling no worries to help keep in ski shape this year. The daily trampoline aerobics workout wasn't quite enough for keeping me in top shape. We were planning on skiing Saturday also but woke to some very heavy wet snow with the promise of it turning to rain, even at the mountain top by early afternoon. With the sore legs and misty base mountain already we decided to save the $300.00 to ski in the rain and instead packed up and headed down to the Horse Show Bay Ferry to head over to Nanaimo and do the scenic drive to Ronnie's place near Victoria. The misty morning kept the travelers inside the ferry for the ride across and I can't say there was a lot to be seen from outside. I'll have to take the Nanaimo Ferry on a clearer day. We did go outside and enjoy the misty ocean air though and the hazy view of other ships as they passed in the fog.

Lunch in Nanaimo - I was looking forward to enjoying a greek dinner from Asteras Greek Taverna in Nanaimo. Ronnie had told us how great it was and there's nothing I like more the real Souvlakis with greek potato's and salad. When we reached Nanaimo all Ron could remember was it was a little greek restaurant he had stopped at with friends a couple of times and he didn't think it would be difficult to find but had to drive around a little. We stopped at a bank for Ron and the teller knew where we were looking for and gave us the address. We headed right there. The house here is the restaurant and there's a sign at the street. It was nicely renovated and quaint inside. The food was fabulous. My brother got the gourmet taste in the family and worked with my dad for a while (dad was a chef). The owner popped out to say hello and be sure we were enjoying the meal (always a nice touch). Stop in if you are near, you won't be sorry. I highly recommend the Lamb Souvlakis

Scenery Downtown Victoria and Blaine, Washington

Sunday took us down Victoria in the rain to see the harbour. Ron showed us some of the floating house communities that are springing up in various Vancouver area locations. They give a whole new meaning to house boats. The fish and chip place on the dock, Red Fish Blue Fish, isn't open this time of year so I'll have to go back for fish and chips another time. Still the best fish and chips I've ever tasted I tasted is Red Fish Blue Fish, right on the dock. Hope I get time to go visit Ronnie in the summer this year.

The floating house community is where the harbour seals kept coming right up to the dock and waiting to see if people would feed them fish, as I mentioned earlier on the front page. It's such an incredible place where you can just go for a walk and have wildlife coming up to meet you at the dock.The scenic view, even in the rain from various harbour front lookouts is still incredible.Ron gave us a little fun when we stopped to admire the view as the rollers were crashing over the guardrails. (Deer photo can be purchased on I-Stock)

We took care of the rest of Sunday with a scenic ride back to Ron's and a Ferry ride over to the mainland. We passed deer right in someone's front yard on our way back. What a fun place to live. That would take care of Sunday for us. With only a 4 days weekend and a day off, we would need to head back across the border today so we were ready for flight home on Monday evening.

To Blaine, Washington

We were to stay with friends in Blaine, WA on Sunday evening so we would be in the states and not have to worry about getting caught in a long border line up and missing our flight Monday. The sun finally decided to pop out for the early evening sail and give us spectacular views on the ferry ride across to Tsawwassen from Swartz Bay. The drive down to Blaine was uneventful and our friends house was a lovely spot for a nights stay. Very near the Ocean, a Monday morning walk would show us just why they choose to live in such an out of the way spot as Blaine, Washington.

(Above photo available on I-Stock, credit Elizabeth Parker)
The beautiful rocky coast above is just down the path from where we staying on Sunday night and our Monday morning walk took us to see this and much more of the natural beauty that can be found in the area. The back drop across the Bay also reveals the distant Mount Baker, beautiful sun sets, and a sailing and boating mecca. I certainly understand why they want to live here.

The photos above and more can be found on the photo page under Thanksgiving 2011.