Author: xraytennessee

The second trip to improve our ski skills. Copper was awesome. I have never skied it before on the family trip, church trips, or college trips. Everyone I mentioned Copper to said they love it or it was their favorite mountain. It’s spread out perfectly for separating the different levels of skiers. East Village, Center, West Village, Advanced, Advanced/Intermediate, and Beginner respectively. Since it was the family’s second time ever, we literally rode one lift 99% of the time, Kokomo, where the ski lesson area is. Short but fun little green run to gain more confidence for everyone. Even I just followed behind their private lesson and had a blast. I did another lift, still beginner but even that I picked up some serious speed and carved and cruised down the groomed trails. I go a lot faster now than I did at 75-140 lbs. My thrill seeking days are pretty far back in the rear view mirror, but I had a blast just carving and staying on the run. I’m sure I’ll slowly build the confidence to give it a go on some more intermediate runs in a season or two. We stayed at one of the old places that would be perfect for the College age that don’t mind a little rough around the edges and not updated since the 80’s but it really was fine. Murphy bed and all, the six of us were in a studio which was actually fun until I wanted to sleep. The village was great, good food, coffee, mini donuts, escaped without shopping, very impressed about that. Just a few pictures, it’s pretty difficult to think about pulling a phone out when your having fun on the slopes!

2022 is in the rearview mirror. Normally, I don’t think too much about the passing of a year, but this year, which in my mind is blended with 2021, was one that I couldn’t get through fast enough. Why? I don’t really have an answer to that, but for whatever reason, I am grateful and eager to push on through the day, and put myself and all around me in positions of success and happiness. This past year, we made a career change, we moved 1200 miles, changed schools, traveled a whole lot to see incredible sites, walked the passage ways of Jerusalem , blessed ourselves with live music, celebrated a 20 year anniversary, turned 50, added another 4 legged family member in Mollie Midnight Rider Touch of Grey, skied for the first time, camped as a family for the first time, rode in a helicopter for the first time, and I’m sure many more new experiences that my brain cannot remember right now. On to 2023… I think Duane Allman said it best. “This year I will be more thoughtful of my fellow man, exert more effort in each of my my endeavors, professionally as well as personally. Take love wherever I find it, and offer it to everyone who will take it. In this coming year I will seek knowledge from those wiser than me and try to teach those who wish to learn from me. I love being alive and I will be the best man I possibly can.” I think I’ll just leave it at that. Fare thee well 2022

You can’t move everyone here and not give it a go on the slopes, right? A quick day trip to Winter Park for the kids to have a full day lesson and Elizabeth and I took a half day lesson. It took a bit, but after about an hour or so, I was remembering how to have fun going down the mountain again. Elizabeth and the kids did incredible for their first time on ski’s. Impressed with how fast everyone picked it up. Maybe another lesson to work on turning and of course stopping. Looking forward to many more. Next up, Copper Mountain.

Photo check in. Back from the trip of a lifetime, and living the good life. Ward won the Flag Football Super Bowl. Lila doing indoor soccer, Anna finished Cross Country, Quinn doing his own thing. Thanksgiving was awesome, the Walkers all made the trip, enjoyed getting together and the food was so good. Ski season is among us and just now realizing it is so close to enjoy. Now I just need a roof and ski rack. Can’t wait to hit the slopes!

Peace !

I asked the front desk if it was normal to cry when leaving. We will miss the views, the incredible activities to chose from, the people, the food, and most of all, the uninterrupted time with each other. So with the last stop of the trip, we settled into the Mermaid Cottage. I’m struggling with words that adequately would describe this place. Far out, cosmic, hippie, mermaids, rainbows, cordwood building, cool, weird, badass, all would find a place there. About 15 minutes outside Del Norte, CO., if you are ever in need of a different kind a place, size of a tiny home, and farm fresh eggs, this is your place. Del Norte seems well liked by the artist kind, and Elizabeth and I can dig it. A few hours after leaving the desert and mesa’s, we crossed back into the Colorado scenery, this time, the San Juan mountains and national forest.

Made it home. As I said earlier, we couldn’t have experience all of this without Bebe and Mimi Camp. Only a broken door and washing machine 🙂 I do hope to have a gallery of pictures at some point and I’ll be happy to help plan your adventure if Utah is on the radar.

PEACE OUT.

First for this, first for that. What a day and it’s only 4pm Arizona time. The last secret of the trip, trying to keep positive about heading back to reality. Seriously, we do miss our kids…

Once more we greet the sunrise, and a rainbow a little later. Perfect harmony between mind and body, man and nature. Enter Tower Butte. An iconic butte that is 5000 feet above sea level. It’s like a helicopter dropped us off up there……..

It did. A first for both of us. A few days ago, Elizabeth mentioned the need for her to do more yoga, something she enjoys to stretch, breathe, and something that just improves her life in many ways. Knowing I had this booked but keeping the surprises, I quickly suggested, maybe we would find a place somewhere on this trip if we had time.

Back from the Choppa, we had a nourishment massage to heal our bones after behaving like kids hiking, climbing, more hiking, and yoga. I have never had a massage before. Another first. My expectation of a massage now is unfortunately not the norm. I walked out feeling instantly healed from all my aches and bruises.

I have no doubt this trip will not be topped. At least not for another 7 years maybe when I turn 50 and even then, this has just been too perfect. You only live once, and as Jerry said, “We’ve opted for fun in this lifetime”.

We check out tomorrow and make the first leg of the return trip. I met a lady at the airport last April who has a VRBO in southwest Colorado. About 7 hours from here. One night at her Mermaid Cottage, and then about 4 hours or so back home. Just in time for Anna’s first Homecoming and to assess the damage at the homestead. Elizabeth and I are very lucky, have more support from family and friends than we deserve, and wouldn’t be on this trip without each one of you.
PEACE.

Wow. No words can do the experience justice. I believe Wow has overtaken every word in every language around here. I think you’d be hard pressed to find a more unique experience. Happy Birthday, the big 50. Our guides on our experiences have been family names, Steven (No ph, sorry) and Mark. I always feel like I get the best guides when booking these things, or at least the ones that match our styles perfectly.

After leaving Zion National Park, with a Deep Creek Coffee in hand, of course, our route went back through the park, that allowed us to get some final shots from up above. Destination, Amangiri, outside Page, Arizona but just across the border in Utah. This will be a long update, we celebrate an incredible birthday/anniversary, and one year alcohol free. A lot going on this week.

Amangiri

We arrived well before we could check in to make our 3 slot canyon tour. Owl Canyon, Rattlesnake Canyon, and the famous Upper Antelope Canyon. We got a first hand look at what wind and water can do. Keeping with the theme of “Wow”, these canyons really don’t look real and hard to believe the force that water and wind have to make these beautiful walls and walkways. Again, we have hundreds of photos of this tour, and it is impossible to pick out a handful, but here are a few.

Happy Birthday and Anniversary Time

Celebrate good times, come on!

Is this real life? No, it’s not but we don’t have to wake up just yet.

Day 6, sticking with surprises and Elizabeth finding out as we go, it starts to get tricky now. Some things need to be put out there to make sure we want to do these things. Via Ferrata. Italian for “Iron Path”. I believe it originated in Italy to help troops get through the Dolomites. Anyway, it is a fixed route combination rock climbing. Complete with steel cabling and rungs, it allows us to climb rock walls and like terrain, while having carabiners that we transfer to the next cables, over and over, until you reach the top. Hesitant at first, Elizabeth’s concerns quickly turned to excitement. We celebrated up top a huge mesa that overlooked the gorgeous desert and mesa’s as far as you can see. After a nice hike across a portion of the property, we began our adventure to celebrate 50 trips around the sun with adventure on our mind.

LONG Bridge Across and DOWN !

Tons of pictures. I hope ya’ll enjoy. One more adventure tomorrow………………….

Peace.

I think it is safe to say Zion has been our favorite? Everyone I talked to about the parks, all had the same thing to say. Any extra time, spend it in Zion. I’ve also been thinking about what makes a park more preferred than another one. The thing that I didn’t realize at first was the town can play a huge role in the experience. Add that to the other metrics of views, uniqueness, and activities, and they do in fact start to separate themselves. Springdale, UT seems like a great little town. Food, shopping, and outdoor outfitters all were great. Not to forget Open Sky accommodations are perfect, which is about 20 minutes outside the gates.

We started off with a great stop at Deep Creek Coffee on the way to be on the early shuttles as beating the crowds, and heat, are highly recommended. We grabbed our fuel and headed to the shuttle for stop #9 to walk the Narrows. Every single spot your eyes go is a picture you want to take. It was an amazing experience to walk on and around the rocks, in the water with your walking stick, while being surrounded by mountain walls, canyon walls, whatever they are, complete with figures you mind sees in them. I think we took about 200 pictures. Here are a few. We may have a new leader in star gazing as well. Jupiter is now in the picture…

There are so many more photos that show how special Zion is. Highly Recommend.

Peace!