20190204 – Off To A Winter Wonderland

Off to Paradise (Park City) yet again. Stayed overnight at the Crown Plaza, Manchester airport as snow could have been a problem. Somehow it’s so much more relaxing staying in a hotel the night before.

Manchester airport was it’s usual nightmare. Had to wait an hour before we could get in the lounge. Of all the lounges, in all the World this one is always full and they never do anything about it – taking money under false pretences.

Virgin flight to Atlanta was on time and very comfortable. Premium economy is worth it. Especially if you don’t like their wine they nip into upper class and provide you with a quality St Emillion. Atlanta was fairly efficient. They’ve got rid of all those crazy passport reading machines and have gone back to good old ways. Passengers are happy and immigration officials are happy.

Hertz at Salt Lake were a nightmare. Instead of the usual choice of superb free upgrades there was only one 4 wheel drive SUV, which they were reluctant to let me have because we’re renting for 2 months. You’d think they’d be only too pleased to look after such a bulk buyer. Anyway after much discussion with the manager he saw the error of his ways and let us have a free upgrade to a Kia Sorrento. I think I managed to grind him down and appeal to his managerial prowess. Sadly we have to raise and close the boot manually – how will I ever get a green card without a button to do this for me? Then to top it all Wendy starts bleating because there’s no heated seats.

As usual up at the crack of sparrows. Wow we have 3 foot of snow all around us.

Breakfast at Squatters as usual. The 10 year old girl serving us manages to screw the order up 3 times.

First off up to the mountain to view the slopes and the skiing (look only, don’t ski), then coffee shopping followed by the all important trip to the off license (liquor store for you colonials) for wine and can’t resist a bottle of High West Yipee Kayee.

It’s unpack and shopping today. For me there’s no skiing this year.

Good to be back.

Lazy morning as usual.

Plenty more snow. The Christian centres even closed so Wendy’s got nothing to do.

Enjoying writing some CRUD software and learning a new programming language – nerd. It’s taking over all my spare time, I’m really engrossed so I’m afraid it’s a minimal blog this week, but next week I’ll be back with a vengeance complete with Rants (BREXIT offers plenty of scope), Sick Humour and of course Religious Commentary (the Jihadis are just prime for poking fun at).

Afternoon it’s the gun range with Joe. I hire my favourite gun the 9mm Wilson Combat, but have to say I prefer Joes 9mm. Despite practice with my Sig Sauer air pistol back home I have to say I’m not too hot a shot.

Plenty more snow and it’s colder than a witch’s teat in a brass bra.

As usual off down to Costco for supplies. After 10 minutes I’ve explored the store and am bored. Call in at archery to see how much it is.

Then in the evening we’re off round to Bob and Marilyn’s for dinner. It’s Mexican, one of my favourites so saved me a trip to Chubascos.
Good to see them and they’re pleased we’re back. They’ve got my bottle of High West Midwinters Dream, it’s awesome. Plan our events together for the coming weeks.

Ten pin bowling in the morning with the usual old foggies from the Newcomers club. Great fun but makes you realise you’re getting old. Really annoying when you have the mind of a 16 year old.

Wendy’s back at the Christian Centre in the afternoon.

In the afternoon I take a long walk in the snow to the Christian Centre. For the fun of it there and back, to see how far it is.

Friday night Barbara and Steve take us down to the TGIF at the Golf Club. Meet up with B&M and good to see Helen & George again. Then it’s dinner at a table of about 20 friends and acquaintances from PCMSC.

Cold and plenty of snow. We catch the bus to the Peaks hotel and plan on walking all the way down to Kimble Junction. None of these trails have been cleared so it’s hard going on loose snow. Wendy’s slower than molasses on a cold day. Get as far as Willow Creek and we catch the bus the rest of the way.

Starbucks and then Tangier outlets.

Quiet evening in and as usual early to bed.

Up at the crack of sparrows again. Sleeping is still a nightmare. It’s not insomnia, it’s just a screwed up sleep pattern. No doubt we’ll just get into a routine and we’ll be headed home again – perhaps we should just stay here.

We take a walk up to the PCMR base for an awesome Campos coffee. Awesome coffee it may be but they couldn’t organize an orgy in a brothel.

Nip to Tangier outlets for a new pair of snow boots. My 14 year old ones have finally started letting water in. These new boots are awesome, half the price of Sorel, half the weight and oh so warm and comfy.

Nearly had to call out the avalanche search and rescue team. If I’d have been a second earlier I would have been buried under an avalanche of snow that cascaded off the roof of the school we were walking past. That would have looked good, another insurance claim.

Have a stroll around to remind me of the good old days when I used to ski.

Afternoon we get an awesome snow storm.

Evening B&M come round for dinner and Jacuzzi.

Another gorgeous sunny but very cold day here in paradise.

Drove over to Hals to pick up snowshoes and go snowshoeing with him. Even with snowshoes on I’m sinking 3 feet. It’s exhausting, feels like I’ve been rode hard and hung up dry.

Lazy night in for a change. Even manage to stay up until 22:00. Both deserve 4 gold stars. At least my nerdy programming project manages to keep me awake.