It’s a weird winter in Minnesota. There is just no way we should be able to go for a walk in the woods with tennis shoes on in January. Ouest and I have been doing a few miles a day out here. After spending every waking minute outdoors on the boat, I can’t believe how confining an entire day in a house can feel.
We used to go to comedy clubs all the time, but geez, it’s been a while.
Yet another birthday. We’re sort of over the whole birthday and Christmas thing at this point, but we do it for the cupcakes.
It’s just barely cold enough around here for ice to form.
Afton Alps. At a whopping 350′ of vertical (max), this is Minnesota skiing at its best. The kids wanted to snowboard, so they signed up for a lesson, and I took off to ski for the first time in thirty years. I’m happy to report it really is like riding a bike. I didn’t embarrass myself, and I still managed to make my turns with skis together. That’s really all I was hoping for.
Ouest and Lowe did great, and by the end of two hours they were ready to hit the slopes with me. Kudos to the Afton Alps snowboard instructors.
Crazy for me to think that the last time I skied these slopes I was only a couple years older than Lowe. Absolutely nothing about Afton Alps has changed. The runs were exactly as I remembered them. The lifts, the chalets, the burgers, it was like a time warp.
After the morning lessons I figured we’d probably make a few runs and be home for a late lunch. Instead, hours later, as darkness descended, they were still going strong. I was glad I didn’t try snowboarding, as the wipeouts looked brutal, but they bounced up after each one and back up the lift we would go.
Last run of the night. By the end they were feeling really confident, and everyone was excited to go again.
15 Comments on “First Time for Everything”
How fun! Your kids are naturals for sure. Did Ouest lose her board on the lift? Looks like it was hanging by one foot!
With snowboards you have to take one foot out to push yourself (like a skateboard) in line to get on the chairlift. Then you buckle in again at the top.
Happy Birthday, Old Man! And many more!
Not too many more at this rate. They keep coming every 365 days!
Actually as you get older the birthdays come faster and faster. At 70 now my birthdays feel like they’re only about 3 months apart. Happy Birthday!
Charlotte (5 yo) has been skiing twice this winter so far. She does so well. Skiing on her own…no poles! Such great experiences. They’re all looking forward to returning to a relative’s house in the Poconos during Feb break.
Have fun…you’re making great memories, too!
Snowboarding … like surfing on snow
Believe it or not I was on the aspen, Colorado ski team about 100 years ago. Snowboards had just come in, and I thought here’s a concept that will never work. I remember watching a guy coming down the ill in a snowboard and pop out leaving his snowboard in place and him flying. I remember thinking, this will never work.fFast forward to today, and evidently it has survived. At least it’s a little like surfing with the same motion. That will stand the kids in good stead.
350 ft. That’s quite a drop. And I love the fact that they have lights for night skiing. The real question is, have they built the swimming pool at your Marina back in Fiji? Have fun!
Another trip around the sun. Good on ya
Great to see the kids on boards! Mine have been bitten by the snowboard bug as well which has made their snowboard loving father very proud 😀
Pat, long time follower, from the years of your adventures. I’ve enjoyed reading all about it. I actually have emailed you before, my family had catamaran, and we lost it in Irma, but anyway, I’m looking to buy a boat that’s in St. Lucia, and the owner tells me it’s registered in Poland, can you advise me on exactly what I need to get a certificate of documentation in the US
Hi James, Our boat was BVI registered and we contacted friends who suggested we use these guys: https://howardsreederinc.com/marine-documentation/
They should be able to get you everything you need, and if they cannot, will know who you should contact. We also contacted them for info when we sold our US registered Grand Banks in Aruba.
Good luck and check back in with us and let us know how it goes.
Pat, long time follower, from the years of your adventures. I’ve enjoyed reading all about it. I actually have emailed you before, my family had catamaran, and we lost it in Irma, but anyway, I’m looking to buy a boat that’s in St. Lucia, and the owner tells me it’s registered in Poland, can you advise me on exactly what I need to get a certificate of documentation in the US
Thanks so much, I’ll probably ask some more questions as I get further into this! Thanks again. Jaime
By the way, this was really helpful!
Loved Afton Alps when I was a kid! Along with Valley Creek Mall! And Carver Lake fishing…..