Streaker turns 16 ... old enough for a Driver's License

Was up and downstairs around 740am. I started coffee then stared out the window for a few. The sun was just making its way above the horizon making for a beautiful sunny morning. We planned to ski at Snow Trails with our peeps, but we didn’t set a specific time. There was talk about 11am, but Mindy didn’t commit to it.

I left her sleep while I enjoyed coffee and played on the internet. I headed out for a run around 9am. It was sunny and cold –about 23 degrees. Expecting a high approaching but not passing freezing. Sunday’s forecast was a different story. Expecting it to reach into the upper 40s.

I ran three miles getting back home somewhere close to 930am. Mindy was up and presented me with a greeting card commemorating my 16 year running streak. That's 5840 consecutive days covering roughly 22,000 miles.

Soon so was Jacob. Bella was still sleeping. We started our ski day prep. Mindy predictably opted to skip a shower. Not me. I needed one after running. Mindy was in the kitchen making everybody eggs. I requested mine as a sandwich with cheese and mustard.

Mindy packed a cooler and snacks too. I checked for ice and tossed in a few cans of beer. Jacob wasn’t going skiing with us. He had a soccer game later that afternoon, and Jimaken was coming by to pick him up. Scott T. sent a text checking on our whereabouts around 1045am. Mindy responded that we were close to leaving the house. I think he and Zach were already there.

Talked to Kenny while I was loading the Pilot. Kenny shared that they were leaving for Snow Shoe the following morning with the O’Connell’s. Offered the use of my Thule should they decide they needed it. Once again, he offered to help with framing my basement. Cool!

We left the house near 11am. We had just over a ½ tank of gas. Not wanting to worry about fuel, I decided to top off the tank at Thornton’s. It was a lovely drive up I-71N, though it took longer than I anticipated. It’s about 66 miles door to door. Took about 70 minutes.

Hadn’t been to Snow Trails since January ’09. The parking lot is much smaller than Mad River, and the hills smaller too. Didn’t realize that. We had to park in a muddy lot. Even though it was hovering below freezing, the brilliant sunshine turned the frozen parking lot into a muddy mess. No big deal.

After gearing up we met Scott & Zach at the base of the face – Mt. Mansfield. Scott gave us our lift tickets. Said he talked with Bob I. and he had just left home. We did a few warm-up runs, Scott giving a quick tour of the slopes/runs. The snow was really nice on the face. More hard pack on the others.

They had most, if not all, of their lifts open. No lines to speak of. That was nice. No quads, two triples and two doubles. Probably skied for 90 minutes or so before Bob I. showed. Once he joined the mix we skied for another hour before Mindy, Bella and I took a break. Bella was hungry, so were Mindy & I.

I noticed a guy that looked familiar atop the hill, told Mindy that I was certain he was a former Barley’s bartender. In passing, I told him that he looked familiar. Mindy eventually went up and asked. Yep, sure enough. Worked at Barley’s for a few years bartending. His name is Steve. We met his wife and kids too. Reminisced a little before heading in for our break. He remembered our faces, including Bob I.

The Snow Trail lodge had a lot more character than Mad River’s. I’ll give them that. Probably a better beer selection too. We sat near the round, floor to ceiling fire place. I fetched a few beers and water while Mindy and Bella fetched a tray of food (wings, cheese burger, fries). We took about an hour break. The others stayed out.

We easily found them watching the big air competition. Saw like three riders in a row taken off the hill on stretchers. I wondered if the hill wasn’t formed precisely. I’ve learned that if it’s not at the right pitch and angle there will be more crashes.

Scott was noticeably tipsy, having enjoyed most of his berry nip and some of Mindy’s sumpin’ sumpin’. According to Bob, he wiped out pretty good a bit earlier. Scott and Zach headed in for some much needed food. Bob stayed out skiing with us. It’s fair to say that all of us were sporting a good ski buzz, a combination of beer and nip. Mindy wanted to race everybody.

We skied until about 630pm, or shortly after Scott & Zach left. We were going to take another short break so Bella could warm up and then do a few more runs, but once inside Bella had a mini meltdown. Cried that she wanted to go home. We already had plenty of fun, and it probably made sense to get home a decent hour so we changed our plans. Bob was iffy on sticking around anyway. Found him outside and told him we were changing our plans and heading for home. He did likewise.

Didn’t take too long ot get out of our gear on the road for home. Somehow or another we missed the 71S entrance ramp. One second we were following the signs and the next we were in the country. Still not sure how it happened. Anyway, we ended up driving 30 miles before we were able to pick-up 71S again. I think we entered in Fredericktown, still 42 miles north of CMH. It’s not like we went too far out of our way, though. For most of the drive was headed S or SE but on old two lane, hilly country roads.

Made it home shortly after 8pm. Bella and Mindy were both extremely tired. Bella and Mindy went right for bed. I stayed up a little while longer getting my arms around that same work issue I brought home the night before. Looked like I’d be working most of Sunday and well into the wee hours of Monday morning. I sent my boss an email about it.

I enjoyed a couple pints of that Victory’s Ranch double IPA. Good stuff! I started to dose off around 10pm and headed up to bed a short time later.