Martha S comes to stay

What a superb visit we've just had from our Atlanta cycling friend Martha. We raised many toasts to dear Dick whom we missed greatly,  our last and final meeting being on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia - April blog entry refers.  Dick lost his long and courageous battle against cancer in October.

Martha made the most of every minute here and the tie up with Gracie to whom we introduced her was memorable. They were born within 5 days of each other and went to the same girls boarding school briefly, but at different times ( and had therefore never met ), in Connecticut. Both great athletes, both have/had their own landscaping businesses and both with the same zest for life and adventure.

The birthday girls. A surprise party for Martha at Gracie's house

Gracie and Sunshine

On the morning of the skin up to Gwyn's with M and Martha. Managed to get first chair on High Alpine and enjoyed the virtually virgin Upper Green Cabin

and then the traditional breakfast at Gwyns - not much left of Martha's pancakes.

Skinning up to The Cliffhouse on Buttermilk - almost there!

Made it - Highlands in the background

Saying goodbye after a leisurely breakfast at Main Street Cafe

See you, Martha, in Pueblo, CO at beginning of May ! She's going to join us for the last leg of trans am Part 2 once we've crossed Kansas, and hopefully all the way home to Snowmass via Hoosier pass ( elevation 11,542 feet ) and Breckenridge. Keep up the training !

Buddy Ski Day

Annual Buddy Ski day at Buttermilk. Here at the top of west Buttermilk about to "drop " into the terrain park

Sergio sets the pace

Lunch provided by the Buddy program restored energy levels

G and Sergio about to hit the half pipe

Sergio leads the way over the box .....

......  Mary following - the upper extreme of our terrain park skills. Just as well we were on skis, not boards.

Oregon

We got off to a bad start with all flights out of Aspen (more accurately flights into Aspen were cancelled due to tail wind and therefore no planes ) cancelled - landing and taking off both in same direction has major hazards. so after a couple of hours waiting in vain at the airport , we got RFTA back to MR and had a relaxing day here. All went smoothly the next day although re-routed via Denver and direct flight form there to Eugene.  What a contrast to see some green. All well at NW Monterey Drive and a superb week with the family.  Wee Maggie a dream baby. Oli as cute as ever.