Today we went to Whistler (as stated yesterday, below) to have the ultimate Olympic experience. The place is amazing with the longest runs which would take weeks to explore and say that you have done a reasonable job. We had 8 hours. So what can we say? It was wonderful spending the majority of the day on skis whizzing down the mountain and less of it in line and freezing your bum off on the lifts. The scenery was amazing, however our choice of days could have been better. Very low cloud and regular snow 'flurries' reduced the horizon at times during the day to metres, at other times you could get a decent idea how truely magnificent the area is. The kids continued to carve up the hill, but need some work on personal space and giving way. We took the gondilla from mountain to mountain which has the longest suspension of such a lift anywhere in the world. Amazing! (and nice to get out of the wind for 15 minutes) Temperature was -14C at it's coldest without the considerable wind chill factor. Some rosy cheeks being sported! All for now, not many photos to add and too stuffed to play with them.
Hi Everyone and welcome to our new layout. We listened to the advice and have expanded the width of the posts to Max and rearranged the layout. As a result old postings titles are a little tricky to read, but will tinker when I have time.
We have now had 4 days of skiing for Suzi, Sam, Bear and Ben and Jord and I have had our 3rd. His knee has recovered well, just bruising by the looks of it, (Thank Goodness) however his confidence took a little hit which is to be expected. As a result he has fallen behind Sam, much to his disgust, We have taken the boys as a group through some beautiful countryside with weather ranging from near white-outs to the most perfect day of the season with clear blue skies and views forever from Cypress.
The boys continue to astound us with their progress and lack of fear in trying new and more challenging runs. As can be seen from the photos they embrace speed and amaze experienced skiers we talk to from around the world. We are now regulars on the blue slopes including Humpty Dumpty which Ben chose only for us to find out too late that the run in question was a rather steep mogul run. He also insisted that we go down Bennys Run (Blue), which we soon found was steep, icy and narrow and we were the only people on it. The kids loved it of course, especially when Sam and I crashed into each other at speed (My Bad- didn't give way) with Sam ending up as a snow ball. When we got to the bottom the workers were surprised to see us as the run was meant to have closed 15 minutes earlier. Would have been an interesting trip back through powder and trees to the carpark. Daredevil acts include Ben disappearing in and out of the treeline (in safe areas) and Bear's new discovered love of jumps. Wiped out the first time, but landed the second mid run. Lots of air punching in celebration (For those new to skiing Green Circles are the easier slopes, then Blue Triangles, then Black Diamond and Double Black Diamond which are nearly vertical in places.)
Last night after our final day at Cypress, we went to Andy and Jen's for dinner with Dennis and Jen's sister and brother in law. We dined on Dungeness Crab and Sockeye Salmon and Pie. Yum!!! The kids then collapsed into a coma like state while we partied on until after 3. Needless to say, we postponed Whistler today and had a lay day, instead revisiting Lynn Canyon for lunch, a walk on the suspension bridge and short hike. Would love to mountain bike the area like the locals do next visit when it is a little warmer. We were just treated to another fine dining experience from Dennis with his Mexican and Southern American dishes. Again, Yum!!! Loving spending time with all these guys who we met while they were on teaching exchange.
Tomorrow we are off to Whistler where the majority of the Olympics took place at this time last year. It is apparently out of this world, and arguably the best resort in the world. Hundreds of runs to choose from, Gondila rides etc, and is so high that often you ski above the clouds. Cant Wait!!! The drive takes up to 2 hrs depending on traffic so everyone has already hit the sack ready for our 5:30 wake up call. Up before the sun in winter. Kids wont be happy.
Tuesday we head to Vancouver Island and will ski Mt Washington before visiting Victoria and checking out some museums etc there. Hope to see some Orcas on the ferry ride.
Until next time.
The Wockies
Photos are from Cypress taken yesterday. (Saturday) Views of Vancouver and English Bay and Georgia Strait and the dormant snow covered Volcano is Mt Baker. (Part of the same chain as Mt St Helens I have been told) Ice crystals are from Dennis' front yard where he has a top dressed area where as the frosts hit and the soil freezes, the water takes the path of least resistance and pushes up through the soil and freezes. These crystals are 3-4cm long. Note the rock/ dirt on the top of some of the crystals. Very Cool! U
Day 2, and we had added brain buckets to the kids equipment list as second hand skid lids were $5 more expensive than the single day hire from the day before. New goggles for Jord and the kids looked like pros. Snowing so hard that it was even falling in Vancouver itself. Wind was blowing much harder, so the lift rides were cold unpleasant journeys, however low cloud cover was blown away so visibility slightly better. Kids now were chatting to the many Aussies who work on the rides and made Suzi and I so proud with their comradery. They 'Owned' the Green slopes, so we did some Blue slopes together. Powder snow made going a little tougher and so falls were more common. Got some great video footage, but files too large to upload. Sam thought it was hilarious when he cut me off while I was filming and skiing and I got written off big time and ate some serious snow. Towards the end of the day Jord had a fall on the Blue and jinked his knee. Completed another couple of runs before deciding he had had enough. Mind you, we started at around 10 each day and skied until 8p.m and 7p.m. respectively under lights. Boys hit the bed and did not move.
Day 3 (Today) finds the sun out at last, and Jord out of action. Ice and compression and a lot of rest. We dropped Suzi and the other boys off to Mt Seymour up the road and have had a quiet day together. Jord was not keen on the idea of attending a grade 6 day at school with Andy while we skied, so I joined him at home. My repetitive calf injury (soccer) has knotted up, so I dont mind too much, however skiing in sunshine would be a treat. Will pick up the boys and Suzi at 4, and after a quick hose down, will pick up Andy and Jen for dinner then off to see the Vancouver Giants V Seattle hockey match tonight at the local arena (Under 20). Should be sensational with our tickets giving us prime viewing of the action adjacent to the enemy goal for 2 out of 3 periods. Boys will be so stuffed that they may doze off. Is there any greater insult to a Canadian than sleeping at an Ice Hockey game???
Photos include a couple of ski shots at Cypress where some of the Olympic events were held, however will get better ones when it is not snowing like it has been. A couple from the windows of the house we are staying at (Dennis and Viv's) with beautiful vistas of the fjord and snow capped mountains and one of the house with rare city snow on it. Some of the cove including Ben on his way down the hill moments before finding the mud and then in his candy stripped thermals as we cleaned the mud off his gear. An example of Canadian humour with a sign at the cove and an example of a bear proof garbage bin that you find everywhere around here. A squirrel that found the bird feeder outside D and V's back door. Included also is a photo I just found from Universal Studios that I found on Jordies camera and couldn't resist.
Thats all for today.
The Wockies
Hi Again,
We are finally in Canada staying with Dennis and Viv Braam and their son Dylan in North Vancouver (Exchange teachers from a couple of years ago). It is great to have a real house to stay in again before we continue our motel journey. These guys have been so wonderful taking us in and showing us some of the sights in their free time. Not easy taking a family as big as ours in for a couple of weeks and still maintaining your sanity. Thank you so much!!!
We have yet to ski, however as the photos show we have tubed and played in the snow and the kids have finally seen it snowing. They are in love with the stuff that is for sure. The waterfall shots are taken at Multnomah Falls near Portland. Really amazing. The snow shots are at Mt Seymour and the river/ suspension bridge shots are the Lynn Gorge not far from where we are staying where we hiked with Andy on Sunday.
Today Alex elected to go to school with Jennifer while Jordan knocked back the offer to go with Andy to experience grade 6. Those from Mountain Creek will remember Andy from his exchange 6 years ago while Jen was at Mooloolaba. Alex was really excited to go to a new school. No nerves at all. Cant wait to hear how it went. This afternoon we are going ice skating. Should be interesting.
We are in the process of preparing for our skiing adventure, with the kids now kitted up with boots, skis and poles from a local 2nd hand dealer, while Suzi and I will hire. Excitement is building. Plan to do some local skiing at Cyprus with some day passes we scored thru Andy and Jen before we venture to Silverstar for 3-4 days to do the ski village thing. More tales to come I am sure
Vancouver is living up to all our expectations.
All for now.
Updated:-
Alex had a blast with his new found class mates. Enjoyed all the similarities and differences of school life in Canada. Played Football, (Grid Iron) or at least a version at such at lunch. He had a great day! In the meantime we went down to the Cove and experienced the winds straight from the snowcapped mountains and across the Fjord. Beautiful but COLD. Sam and Ben practiced for skating with a walk down the hill and across the grass with its hidden muddy treat. Very entertaining viewing for mum, Dad and Jord. After school we headed into the city to check out the steam powered clock with steam pipe chimes doing their thing grandfather clock style. Very interesting. Kids also purchased their 1st boggle head creature that they have been hanging for (A doll/ statue with head that jiggles when touched)-A black bear paddling a canoe.
Skating went well with Mum the star skater following on from her Xanadu skating days, although not in the same league as Dennis. Alex was the champion kiddly skater with Jordan close behind. Dad and Sam managed a few laps unassisted but Ben had difficulties even with skating frame. No weight to make decent contact on the ice. Dad had the opposite problem with gravity and ice teaching him a solid lesson. Could be some bruising tomorrow. Will report next on who is the champion skier after 1st visit tomorrow.
Love The Wockies
