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A Rest Day – 15/03/18

The weather today appears to be not that bad but we promise the boys a rest day so inside we stay.

In fact, I felt so bad that inside I stayed all day and as I did that the weather got progressively worse.  Boy, is it snowing!

Pete took Noah & Wes for a dip in the outdoor heated spa, they absolutely loved it. I stayed in bed.

Pete took the boys out in the falling snow for dinner, I stayed in bed.

I am beginning to hate bed.

Time for bed, let’s hope tomorrow brings a better day, for me at least.

Ski Not So Quite Bunnys – 14/03/18

It snowed all night and this morning we had a beautiful cover of white fluffy snow.

All the boys wanted to do was have a snow fight and make a snow angel but unfortunately for them, their not so fun parents had enrolled them back into ski school.  Wes was a bit hesitant to go but once they arrived they were both fine.

The weather today is a lot cooler and snowing, visibility is not going to be great on the mountain.

I could have stayed in bed also but Pete told me to suck it up and hit the mountain.

I honestly had not gone more than one metre from the chairlift when I fell off the path and knee-deep into the snow.  Couldn’t get my skis around the right way, spat it, took them off and then walked back up to the path.  By this time Pete was heading down the slopes.

Do you think I could get my skis back on, even on the path?  Let’s just say that swear words were used loudly and not the nice ones, skis were kicked hard in frustration.

Eventually, I got them on but I had no idea where Pete was.  Made my way down to a green run, started crying, waited to see if Pete came up the ski lift and then decided the only way I was going to find him was to start going down.  Saw somebody start to pizza down the slope and thought, well if they are doing that then surely I can get down.

Lots of fluffy powder snow but it wasn’t as bad as I thought.  Found Pete at the bottom and by the time I got to him my thoughts had changed from, ‘that’s it, I’m going home’ to ‘that wasn’t too bad, let’s go again’.

Had lots more runs down, saw the kids and then had something warm to eat.  It was getting very cold out, poor little Noah’s hands were feeling it.

The snowstorm had settled in so while we made the boys stay at the ski school we took the gondola back down to our warm apartment.

Catch up on emails and rest for us in the apartment.

Dinner at the Japanese again, delicious.

Ski Day Two – 13/03/18

You would think with all the sleep I am getting I would feel better but nope, energy still zero.

The weather today is wet but not too bad so we took the boys to the ski school.  Might give them a break tomorrow.  At the moment the lifts are not operating so we have decided ( I have decided) to stay indoors.

If it clears up this afternoon will see how I feel going up the mountain.

Pete and I stayed in the apartment all day, it was nice and relaxing and I didn’t feel guilty at all.

Picked the boys up from ski school at 3.15 and back to the apartment for a nice warm shower.

It has started to snow, gorgeous fluffy snowflakes.

A load of washing and drying of the wet clothes used today and then out to Japanese for dinner.

Back to the apartment, early night and ready to start it all again tomorrow.

Skiing Newbies, Again – 12/03/18

Ski Day One, back to being skiing newbies.

We had a quick breakfast in the room and then rugged up to drop the boys at the ski school.

The weather today is beautiful and sunny but I think rain and snow are forecast for the next few days.

Once the lifts opened at 9 am Pete and I jumped on board.  Took the gondola up to the green runs.  I am not ready for anything harder.  Fell of the ski lift on my first exit, great start.

Spent the morning up and down lovely green/blue runs.  I am trying to enjoy the day but my energy level is at zero.

Took the easiest way down to the bottom of the mountain for lunch which was challenging for me but I made it.

Decided that my skiing was done for the day which is a shame as today is probably the last nice day for a week.

I spent the afternoon in bed.

Pete went up the mountain to watch the boys (they are doing really well) and I stayed in bed.

We were all tired at dinner time so convinced Pete to grab some takeaway.

Went to bed. Don’t want to sound ungrateful but I am almost ready to come home.

 

Squaw Valley – 11/03/18

An easy start to the morning with breakfast in the hotel and our transfer to Squaw Valley arranged for 11.30 am.

Nice, easy, pretty car ride to Squaw Valley.

On arrival, our room was not ready so we organised our ski lifts, gear, lessons etc.  The day is beautiful and sunny and the temperature is warm.  It is the warmest I have felt since our arrival in the USA.

Had some lunch basking in the winter sun and then back to see if the room was ready.  Room not ready until 4 pm, sat and waited in the warmth of the lodge.

Settled into our room, I had a sleep and then out for a quick dinner before retiring in ready for our first ski day tomorrow.

Bye Bye SFO, Hello Reno – 10/03/18

We didn’t get to say a proper goodbye yesterday to the guys as I was still sick and moving was not really an option.  They are leaving for Hawaii today.

We had an early start today to catch the bus from San Francisco to Reno. A Greyhound bus.

Drugged myself up with cold and flu tablets and jumped into an Uber to the bus station.  Arrived way too early (there was a time change I was not aware of) and then finally boarded our Greyhound Bus to Reno.  I doubt Pete will ever set foot in a Greyhound bus station or bus again.  On the upside, I did save us some money and you can not buy that type of experience. Thank you…you’re welcome.

An Uber on our arrival from Reno station to our hotel (Circus Circus), then back to bed for me.  Pete took the boys to see Helen and Dan and watch Jesse play basketball and I ordered room service and then went back to sleep.

Boys came back, time for more sleep and ready for our transfer to Squaw Valley tomorrow.

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Our Greyhound Bus Transfer!

A Little Better – 09/03/18

The good news is I am feeling a bit better this morning. I’m actually starting to feel a little bit normal.

Still taking it easy, have resumed my bed position while Pete has taken the boys out to some sort of science museum. They did tell me but my head is still a bit foggy.

We go to Reno tomorrow and then Squaw Valley and Pete has already threatened that we may have to postpone this if I am not well enough to go, so I am going to rest up big time, I want out of these four walls!

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My outlook

I’m sick! 08/03/18

I’m holiday sick again!

This always seems to happen to me when I am on holidays.

After a short venture out for breakfasts, I spent the whole day in bed while Peter took the boys for an outing into the city in search of some warm clothing.

They were slightly successful with the clothing but we will need to find more in Reno before skiing.

By the time they had arrived back to the motel I had started vomiting and couldn’t keep anything down. This was not looking good.

While Pete was out getting me something for dinner he came across a medical centre which he could get me into and convinced me to see the doctor.

I was very glad I did. It could be a cold or flu but whatever it is I just need to let it run its course. Which could be up to three weeks…

At least they gave me something for the vomiting.

Back to the motel to bed and the boys and Peter to dinner. Let’s hope I have hit the sickness peak and tomorrow brings a better day.

The pics are what the other guys got up to today, they seemed to have had a better day.

Alcatraz – 07/03/18

An early start to the day with our departure to Alcatraz at pier 33 for 9.10 am.

An uber to the pier, some quick breakfast and then the arrival of the others before we depart.

It was another perfect spring day and we found the Alcatraz audio tour very interesting and informative.

Back on the ferry to the city and a traditional tram ride back through town closer to the motel.

The rest of the group had a boutique brewery tour at 2 pm so we spent some time in the mission area trying to find that, then a quick lunch and rest before hangry took over the whole group.

Left the group to find the tour and then Pete, the boys and I slowly walked back to the motel.

I am not feeling well today so a rest back at the motel and a read for the boys are just in order.

Pete took the boys to a Japanese (with an American waffle twist) for dinner while I stayed in bed and had some soup on their return.

San Francisco, Kate’s Birthday – 06/03/18

We started the day with a lovely breakfast at a local cafe with the group.

Pete, the boys and I then took an Uber to the Golden Gate Bridge. The weather is perfect so took lots of happy snaps and a nice walk along the bridge.

Back in an Uber and to Fisherman’s Wharf to meet up with the others.  We had a delicious celebration lunch for Kate’s Birthday in a beautiful retro restaurant along the Wharf.

A nice sunny walk along the boardwalk for a look at the seals and some retail therapy and then an Uber for us back to the motel.

Only two hiccups to our sightseeing day, one lost child (Wes) and Pete’s phone. Found both, phew…

Early night for the boys and I while Pete and the rest of the group had an adventurous trip to the basketball to see the Golden State Warriors.