UK & Ireland - May/June

After finishing stage 1 of our trans am east to west quest ( Yorktown , VA to Farmington MO ) - see link in last post - we headed to Asheville for a week with Betty and then to Scotland and Ireland  for 6 weeks in my case , 4 in Mary's. All went to plan and all the objectives achieved most important of which was to welcome into the world our 4th grandchild and assist as best we could. 

With Betty at the Corner Kitchen, Asheville - a favourite lunch and dinner spot

On the Blue Ridge Parkway on way to Mt Pisgah , NC - a breeze after the turmoils of the previous month.

In an 8 hour layover in Chicago, we joined a bike tour of the downtown area .

Note the safety officer's gear. The genes run true.

Into the beloved Highlands with Jane and some serious Munro bagging

Some way to go to the top of Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich

Dinnae cast yer cloot till May's oot !  This the 29th.

Coming off Sgurr Mor. Just in time to beat last orders for dinner at Altguish Lodge.

Sunrise through the window of 20 Croft Rd ,  Inverness looking up the Beauly Firth - 4.33 am

The AWR indicator on top of Allermuir

Keith and Mary admiring the restored article - courtesy substantially of Keith's efforts

The GSR/NMR seat looking in fine shape

Baby Angus  - 2 days old - with proud Mum, Cormac and Iona.

Happy days at Ballygirreen

With great aunty Janey at Lahinch beach.

Sisters, sisters ......rendition not given on this occasion.

Aunty Jane admiring a Sampson look a like.

All very impressive.  They've got off to a flying start. Busy, busy, busy.

Sunday lunch in Ennis.

Some heavy work here, M's landscaping skills being brought to bear at the practice.

Cliffs of Moher, Co Clare. Meghan not to see ! 

A far more exciting part of the day out with Granny Moon, Grandad and Aunty Jane.

Time out - video to the rescue.

Our rented house in Ennis 5 minute walk from the practice.

The family complete ( or is it ? )  at Drumoland

Wonderful playground and park overlooking the castle 5 minutes from their house.

Fathers' ( or Grandfathers' in this case ) Day card being presented.  Now pinned proudly on the notice board in Snowmass Village bus drivers' lounge.

Precious time with Daddy

And now back to the Munro bagging in Scotland.  My companion of the day - Johannes - who ran to the foot of Seana Braigh, Sutherland while I biked, and got there way ahead of me ! The Munro in question in background.

Start of a long day in Glen Affric with J , J and their friend Rory. 5 Munros and 30 km later we got back to car at 10.45 pm.

Summit of Carn Eighe.

At Muirfield with Spencer, Keith and Alasdair on last day of the trip.

Normal service resumed with coffee and muffins at Paradise Bakery before Saturday's Opera Scenes Masterclass

Trans am - east to west - bike trip beginning April 16, 2015

Our forthcoming trans am bike trip. The link at very top of this blog takes you to our 2011 trip which you don't want to see ! Instead enter the following web address :-
 http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/15816
We'll try to update it every few days or so. But we promise nothing!

More skinning - end of the winter

Season drawing to a close with 1 week more only of the Snowmass season and 2 weeks at Ajax. Four more driving days only to go. Must stay on special alert !

A number of very special days in last month, mostly involving skinning and usually breakfasts !

To much talking I'd say!

..... but they made it and here the rewards at Gwyns High Alpine

The following week and after skinning up Ajax - here meeting up with Dick at the Sundeck

skinning up Coffee Pot

and here the early bird catches the worms - fresh tracks down Lodgepole before the lifts opened

back to the house via Long Shot - all totally untracked . As good as it gets.

 Following day , this time with Mary and to Bonnies on Ajax in a blizzard. Could have been Scotland.

... but this is what was waiting for us after breakfast

.. and right back to the car in downtown Aspen and home by 1 for lunch. Another epic morning.

Next post will be on the https://www.crazyguyonabike.com site as we start the 1st stage of our trans am bike trip from Yorktown , VA in 10 days time , flying to Norfolk , VA on April 15. See the link at the very top of this blogsite --  easiest way to get in is just to click on that - George and Mary Trans Am Trip. That is the crazyguyonabike.com site. Go to Journals and then click under " new' or 'latest" and you'll find ref to our new journal " Trans am - East to West - 2015". We'll try to update it every few days or so.

Richmond Ridge Powder tour

1st gondola up courtesy of Aspen Powder tours- and this after a foot of new snow overnight.

Ridge of Bell - normally knee high bumps

The cats waiting for us . 12 per cat . 3 of them

About a mile along Richmond Ridge.  Am used to skinning this with Chip.  What a nice change.

Disgorging from the cat. Acres of foot high pristine powder awaits.

Bottom of first run of the day.  Doesn't get any better than this.

And Mary thinks so too.

View westwards to Aspen Highlands and Highland Bowl

How good was that !

Waiting to take us back up. We had 10 runs in total each of about 1000 feet of vertical

In our cat , we had 9 skiers and 2 boarders. Here, the boarders are bringing up the rear.

Each run was in an untracked part of the mountain .  Never did the same run twice.

M sets off on last run before lunch - following the guide

still going well !

Lunch provided & brought up here to this remote little cabin high up on Richmond Ridge by snowmobile earlier in morning. Wonderful spread - hot and cold - and roaring wood burning stove in the middle of the cabin

All the afternoon runs were down the east side of Richmond Ridge. Less sun affected during the day and therefore better pm skiing.

Homeward bound

Stopped to dig out and tow this snowmobiler in a spot of trouble

A deserted Copper Connector on our descent into Aspen long after all lifts closed

Memorable day !