Jacob Goes Airbourne / Rocky's 1st Boarding

 

 

 

I couldn't sleep any longer and was up at 630am, I felt really good and very well rested. It's highly unusual for me to be up on a Saturday so early, but hey. I started coffee, played on the internet, then readied for a run. I left the house around 8am. It was cold, only -1 degrees. I hardly noticed the cold during my 3 mile run. We've been below zero so often this winter.

Mindy was up by the time I was back from my run and already going about gathering and organizing our ski gear. Mindy suggested we stop at First Watch for breakfast on the way up. Doing so would make the kids happy. To that end, everyone was up and ready much earlier than usual. Still, though, we didn't ask Lindsey to have Rocky there until 10am. We were completely ready to leave once he showed up. We simply had to get him outfitted in ski/board apparel worthy of the cold temps. On the road by 1010am.

The kids were mortified to learn that I was wearing only my ski long johns, ski socks and cut off running pants. Of late, I've been skiing with one less lower layer. Granted, I looked funny, but I didn't care. What I didn't want to do was put on my ski pants before we arrived at MRM.

First Watch was fairly crowded. We had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. Lots of eyes befallen my attire. The kids scattered so not to be seen near me. :) Seated in a booth Same waitress as the last time in with David and Anita. I ordered their traditional breakfast (sausage links, two eggs, home fries, english muffin. Good. Had some grapefruit juice too. In and out in about 40 minutes. On the road by 11am.

Rocky was excited to try snowboarding. Jacob agreed to help him out both before his 130pm lesson and then immediately after. Arrived just before noon. Tommy & Wally were supposed to be there too. This time Wally planned to ski without a lesson, which is probably a good thing given his progress to date. Though we think he should take another lesson perhaps again next year.

We got a great parking spot despite a packed lot. Someone must've recently vacated this spot near the entrance to the lodge. While the others geared up, I walked up with Rocky to get him set-up for an Adventure Park lesson and rentals. Didn't take too long. Put him in ski boots to start but caught myself after getting him in one boot. Oops! He's a boarder. Jacob met us at the board counter. He and Bella agreed to head out to the bunny trail with Rocky while I went back to the Pilot to get into my own ski gear.

Passed Mindy on my way to the Pilot. After gearing up, I figured it was easier to head up 4 star and ski over to the bunny hill than it was to peg over. Spotted Jacob, Bella, and Rocky heading up the conveyor belt. Snapped a couple photos. Mindy joined us there a few minutes later. We had 30 minutes still before Rocky's group lesson. Come 130pm we dropped off Rocky. Of course he needed assurance that we'd be back to get him at 330pm. The boy has some serious abandonment issues.

The lines were pretty long all afternoon but the snow was really nice. It's been a great winter ski season here in Ohio. Eventually met up with the Cubra's. They'd been there since roughly 10am. Bob Imber wasn't coming. Said he was staying home sick. Skied until 330pm without a break. It was cold, only about 12 degrees. Fetched Rocky and then headed to the lodge where Mindy and the kids were already there at a long table with others.

As I requested, she had a pitcher of beer waiting - Deschutes Pale Ale. Mindy gave Jacob money to take Rocky to the cafeteria for some food. Soon joined by Tommy and Wally. They'd spent most of their time on the Sundowner lift, which provides access to some good beginner trails. Guessing we took about an hour's break. Jacob and Rocky headed out on their own. Rocky was very excited to show Jacob and the rest of us what he'd learned.

Mind, Bella and I skied several runs with the Cubra's on the face of 4 star before heading over to meet Jacob and Rocky. They actually came over to find us. Jacob said Rocky wasn't doing too well. :) I think he forgets how long it took him to get the hang of boarding. He almost quit and went back to skiing. I remember seeing him walk down the HV hill with board in hand. :) Mindy & I headed up Sundowner with Rocky where we eventually hooked up with Tommy and Wally too.
Must admit it was a little frustrating trying to help Rocky learn to snowboard. He needed more help but it was help neither of us were qualified to give since neither of us are boarders. We could rely on what seemed like common sense. Rocky would go maybe 30-40' but then fall. We repeated that for at least an hour while Jacob and Bella headed off to ski together. Got a text from Darwin sharing that he was there now too. Came alone. None of the kids wanted to join him. I felt bad that I couldn't ski with him, though I guess Jacob did a couple runs with him.

Once the sun went down it got colder, and the fact that weren't moving much, I was getting cold. I suggested we leave around 630pm. I had my fill and Rocky got his fill, too. We hooked up with the kids who were ready to leave too. Tommy agreed to take Rocky to rental returns since he and Wally had to go there too. That worked out fairly well.

Mindy invited Tommy and Wally to join us at the house for Minelli's pizza. While Mindy and Bella were inside the lodge, Bella left her skis and poles just outside. Yep, you guessed it, someone took her damn poles. Oh boy! The drive home was easy and fairly quick. Listened to some of the Buckeye basketball game along the way. Mindy ordered two Minelli's pizzas once we were merged onto 270S. She ordered them for delivery.

At home I parked at the foot of the driveway to give me an opportunity to shovel two fresh inches of snow from the drive. Noticed a package on our front porch. It was my new camera from Amazon. Holy Crap! That was risky! Didn't even try to hide it, or put it behind the large flower pot. Once the drive was shoveled we did the unload line. Jacob got a hall pass for walking Eiknarf. We had plenty of time to get our gear put away and then out of our ski clothes before Minelli's showed up with our pizzas. Rocky wanted assurance that we'd take him home after pizza. Yes, Rocky.

We woofed down most of two pizzas. We had helped from the neighbor girls who joined us shortly after we arrived home. I poured a Jack & Coke to enjoy with my pizza. Mindy agreed to run Rocky home. Once she was back, which was around 930pm, she was soon off to bed. I stayed up a little while longer enjoying a 2nd Jack & Coke.