Snowy Owl 2

Saturday: Snowy Owl Inn, Waterville Valley, NH. The alarm sounded at 7:20. We didn't really pay it much mind for a bit, getting up around 8:30, quickly throwing on clothes and heading towards the "continental breakfast" which ends at 9. No sooner had we left our room than the fire alarm went off. We grabbed coats and stood around outside for a bit until the "all clear" was given. Someone had burned a bagel. We gathered some semblance of breakfast from the remains of the buffet. No coffee left. Lots of families with kids, giving everything a slightly loud and chaotic tinge.

Back to the room. Showers and so on. MB read in the lounge while I attended to morning practices. Around noon we suited up, grabbed our skis, and headed for the village square. We bought trail passes, got our maps, and then embarked on our maiden voyage as a cross-country skiing couple. MB had bought us cross country skis a couple years ago, but this was the first time we had actually used them. Her first time at all. I had a fair amount years ago. We took the southern Pond Loop and also "Figure 3"... MB took to it easily, having some downhill in her experience. Quite pretty out, and not so many other skiers. The conditions were not bad. There was ice, but it was under enough packed snow to rarely be a problem. We wound up back in the town square around 1:40. Had some sandwiches at the little deli, and coffee (obtained from the shop across the way). Then back out for more skiing, heading out on "Swan's Way"... A steady snow was falling which continued through evening. Lovely moment standing on a foot bridge over a little semi-frozen stream. MB fell a couple times, but nothing major. One lady was rather "helpful" in a good-natured way as to how to get back on one's feet. We came to a road, and thought perhaps we should turn back. I went to look at my watch just as the "we should turn back now" alarm that I had sent went off. So, back we went. We arrived at the ski center at exactly 4 PM, which is the time the trails close.

Changed shoes, and then coffee and treats in the little cafe above the center. Back to our room, and a lovely hot-tub. MMMmmm life is good. At 7 we headed back to the town square and to the Italian restaurant. MB had linguini with red sauce and mixed vegetables, and I had spinach ravioli. Pretty good, though my salad was drowned in dressing. We talked about running restaurants, and the various characters that we know who are in the business. Back to our room, feeling tired and satiated. Our "do not disturb" sign had gone missing. I turned on the TV. MB began watching a show on the medical procedure involved in helping to heal a man with third degree burns over 75% of his body. Being a bit squeamish about such things, I practiced guitar with my back to the TV. MB switched to reading, but then found that my guitar playing a distraction. She headed out to the lounge to read. Some emailing. Later on, MB was getting sleepy, but she revived long enough to have another Third Relation download.