George and Mary's Travels: Susuki Camp

The journey back from Shannon, after a sad farewell, was long but uneventful. Chicago is often a bad first port of US call, but Shannon is the only ( as far as I know ) European airport which has a branch of US Customs and Immigration meaning you can check bags all the way through to final destination i.e. Aspen, and don't have to wait in line to go through Customs & Immigration in US.

3 days back only before Mary headed off to Beaver Creek ( 2 hours drive away ) for her second Susuki violin Camp. Hardly a camp and accommodation in Borders Lodge was luxurious. She was joined there by her cousin Gail from Tulsa and they quickly got into the swing of the hectic 8 till 6 daily schedule.

I had a couple more days in Snowmass sorting myself out and set off on the Tuesday by bike to join them. A section of the Colorado River bike path, which I did last year, beside I.70 was closed due to flooding, so I decided , perhaps rashly, to set off over the high and remote Cottonwood Pass between El Jebel and Gypsum. Set off early from Snowmass and fortified with a big breakfast at a favourite cafe in Old Basalt, I headed up the hill a few miles further downvalley getting to the top of the Pass about 3 hours later. Long descent , with a nasty sting in the tail of steep ascent in the middle, to Vail/Eagle airport and then Hwy 6 beside the Eagle River to Edwards where Mary and Gail rescued me as arranged. Only 6 miles or less to Beaver Creek but with a steep hill the last 2 which I'd have struggled with. About 70 miles I think with 3 to 4,000 feet of climbing. Dirt road for much of the route over the Pass but well graded and dry and no problem for a touring bike. A mountain bike with big fat tires and almost certainly I couldn't have made it due to the extra effort involved. And anyway I'd put that on the back of the Buick before Mary left a few days earlier for use in Beaver Creek.

Then 4 days with M & G in Beaver Creek, supporting their noble efforts among 200 or more 5 to 15 year olds, and between times exploring Beaver Creek on bike and foot. The venue for the 2015 Alpine Skiing World Cup and colossal investment being made to prepare right now.

Back on Sun pm and preparing for the historic first visit of my eldest and younger sisters Barbara and Ros later this evening.

If you click on this you might be able to read AWR Ranch! The No Trespassing sign was therefore more than a little ironic given AWR's ( my grandfather's ) active involvement in all things connected with Public Access and the Scottish Rights of Way Society

Half way up the long climb to summit of Cottonwood Pass

Almost at the top . Not one car passing in either direction in over an hour

M in the "play- in" with Randall in charge

Jam session with Scott Walker outside Coyote Cafe. Holding her own - no question!

Beaver Creek in spate with late snow melt on way to Beaver Lake

Beaver Lake. One hour biking , 1 hour hiking.

From the golf course looking up the "Strawberry' side of the resort our lodge being the one slightly left of centre

Heading off for yet another class - 6th of the day ?

Bottom of the Birds of Prey downhill course. Summit is way above the very left horizon. Under two and half minutes is it they do this in?!

The freshly poured cement for the top tower of the new Centennial lift. Hope the engineers have done their sums right!


The top of the Cinch Express lift and start of the Men's Downhill course. Got here partly on mountain bike and hiked the rest. Fun. Nearly 4,000 feet of ascent