At long last

  At long last we are here in Beaver Creek. We left Newmarket at 6:15 AM and finally arrived at the condos at 12:00 AM Toronto time, 10:00 Colorado time. The highways were all closed so we had to sit in Denver for a couple of hours. When we finally got moving the tunnel was still closed so we took a 100 mile detour which was slow going. We came back out to the interstate but then had to stop for the driver (Michael, a great guy) to put chains on. With chains the bus can't go over 30 miles an hour so it still took quite a while to finally, finally pull up to the condo. I think the fact we stopped at Applejack's (a massive liquor store) in Denver eased the drudgery of such a long trip.

Truck stop for installing chains




Ice on bus wheel

     Our driver was a real interesting guy. He was a career air force guy who at one time had the job of keeping the lids on missile silos in good operational condition. During 9/11 he was in full lockdown inside a mountain waiting at first to find out if the Russians were attacking. He's now retired and drives the bus for the Denver Broncos and the many visiting sport teams to Denver. A real nice guy.
  It's now 7:27 AM Colorado time on Monday morniing and I didn't get a great sleep, for that matter no one slept that well but we are preparing for our first ski day. It is going to be quite cold at the top but there will be 12 inches of new snow from yesterday's storm so it should be a great time. I can't wait to take 10 or 12 turns and then stop and gasp for air for a minute or so. Cripes, I am gasping for air just climbing the stairs in the condo. The new skis will get a good test on a big mountain today and we will probably end the day at the Chophouse for the complimentary champagne.