Cross Country Skiing

Having the Boxing Day public holiday on Monday 27th Dec allowed for another day for us to all spend some time together so we decided to all go Cross Country Skiing.  Cooper has been having lessons for a few weeks now but we can't say he is loving it just yet so we hired a Polk (a small covered sled) that I dragged behind me with Cooper and Ryder in.  This was pretty scary having the boys connected to me as this was only my second attempt at skiing in a week so I am far from seasoned.  Alyssa and TJ have never skied either so it was left to Kristy to explain what we had to do.  There is probably a method that could be learnt relatively easily but we all decided to get in the grooves cut in the snow for beginners - it can't be that hard!  Once we got TJ's boots clipped into her skis, she just slid off down the slope - away from the grooves, screaming then falling in a heap.  Cooper and Ryder were both complaining about the cold, Alyssa tells us all her fingers are frozen and... we haven't left yet... oh this is going to be fantastic...  We eventually all got our skis clipped on and into the cut grooves and started to slide off along the trail.  The freshly fallen snow in the trees and on the trail looked amazing against the brilliant blue sky background and the air was so cold and crisp that our nostrils felt like they were sticking together, you forget it's -17 deg C when it is such a beautiful day outside!  We skiied along the trail next to the lake that is frozen over up hills and down hollows.  One slope downhill Alyssa headed first.... Arrghhh!! Crash at the turn at the bottom... then Steve and the boys... Move Alyssa!!... same result... then Kristy... then TJ.... Crash! Crash!  We all gathered ourselves together and skiied on for about half an hour or so then turned back so we could get the boys back and warm next to the fire place.  Alyssa and TJ skiied on a bit further then the grooves ended so they turned round and headed for home also.  A hotdog and hot chocolate for all back at the lodge made for a good end to our first skiing adventure together.  It was so good that we decided to join the club.  Lessons start this week...