Eastern Trip -- Day 7

We are not known for doing "touristy" or kitschy things when we travel, but today was somewhat of an exception...a sweet exception. 😃  We woke up around 7:30, had breakfast (a cinnamon-raisin bagel with cream cheese, potato cubes, orange juice), loaded the car, and drove to Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania.  It was just over an hour, and we arrived just a few minutes after they opened at 10:00.  Hersheypark is a Hershey-themed amusement park (there's also a water park, but we didn't visit it) with a diverse array of rides.  We rode several roller coasters, running the gamut from semi-slow cruisers to 75-m.p.h. blasters that rattle you to the core.  We also rode the monorail, which encircles the park perimeter; the Kissing Tower, a rotating observation tower that gave a lovely bird's-eye view of the park; a mini Corvette track ride (like the Moon Cars at Six Flags-St. Louis); and a log flume-type ride that thoroughly soaked my shoes!  Within the park is ZooAmerica, home to many North American animals (baby pronghorn are CUTE!), and we even caught a short sea lion/harbor seal show.  Lunch was purchased in the park (corn dog, fries, fried cheese curds, water) -- terribly unhealthy, I know, but at that point we were hungry, dehydrated, and ready for anything!  We concluded the day with a quick stop in Hershey Chocolate World, just outside the official entrance to the park and on the way back to our car.  We did the (free) tour that showed how the beloved chocolate is made, start to finish, through a variety of songs, virtual demonstrations, and candy bar characters.  At the end, everyone gets a free mini Hershey bar!  The building also houses the self-proclaimed "world's largest candy store," and it is certainly enough to overwhelm you.  The budding inner dietitian in me was calculating all the calories, fat, and sugar in the thousands of items spread throughout the mammoth-sized store, but the reasonable part of me also helped select a few goodies to enjoy during the drive and once we get home...Reese's Pieces, mini white Reese's peanut butter cups, Hershey's Cookies 'n' Cream drops, and a couple kinds of Twizzlers (my horses love those last ones too!).

We had a short drive to a very nice Best Western in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where we are spending the night.  Dinner was salad, leftover pizza, and a little vanilla Frostee from Wendy's...and of course, a few samples from our goodies!

Sea lion show

Alligators (ZooAmerica)

Prairie dog kisses (ZooAmerica)!

Riding the Kisses Tower...notice the observation windows

Cupcake the calf on the Hershey Chocolate World tour

Hershey Chocolate World tour

A sweet message as we exited!

~Anna

Eastern Trip -- Day 6

Today was another wonderful day full of fun times and memories to cherish!

• I was grateful to sleep in until 8:20 today, very much needed after a rigorous hike and late night yesterday.  We had essentially unpacked our entire car to reorganize everything, so it took a little longer this morning to regroup and repack everything.  Breakfast was delicious -- cereal, strawberry yogurt, a small cinnamon roll, an apple, and milk.
• Our next destination was Sandy Hook Lighthouse in New Jersey.  The drive to get there took us past New York City (and technically even through part of it...the Bronx!) and Newark, so we got to see tons of industry, a bustling airport (Newark), the Empire State Building, One World Trade Center, the George Washington Bridge, and more iconic spots of the east coast.  Once we got close to the peninsula that the lighthouse sits on, the vibe was very much "small town beach," with quaint little shops and homes.  We got to tour the lighthouse, which was built in 1764 and is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in the United States -- all 95 steps on the spiral staircase!  Recent rain in New Jersey worked to our favor, since the heat and humidity had not had time to ramp up, so we were able to see 19 miles across the bay to New York City, Staten Island, and Coney Island!  The keeper's house, built in 1883, houses a small museum with more information and history.  Sandy Hook Lighthouse has seen many a storm and prevented many a collision of ships with land, including the devastating Hurricane Sandy in 2012, yet it continues to stand boldly and solidly.  Tours and the museum are free, but it does cost to get into the Gateway National Recreation Area, which the lighthouse sits in.
• Since we were out on a peninsula, surrounded by sandy beaches, and the temperature was in the mid-80s with sunshine, we decided to spend the afternoon at the beach!  After a quick lunch (tuna wrap, Pringles, water) in the beach parking lot, we changed and traipsed out through the soft, warm sand.  My dad, Matthew, and I (my mom just waded) had a blast splashing, swimming, body-surfing, and getting soaked by the crashing waves and salty Atlantic Ocean water.  We spent about two-and-a-half hours having so much fun, I can't even express how great it was.  Sometimes some lighthearted, relaxing, carefree time at the beach is just what you need after climbing a 6,288-foot mountain!
• Swimming made us hungry, so ice cream was in order from Gracie and the Dude's Homemade Ice Cream in Long Branch, New Jersey.  I had mint chocolate chip in a chocolate-dipped and sprinkle cone.
• Finally, we reached our Hawthorn Suites in Fogelsville, Pennsylvania, to spend the night.  The hills/mountains of Pennsylvania were beautiful in the sunset light!  Just a brief walk from our hotel was the Mediterranean Cafe and Grill, an adorable and delicious stop for supper.  Falafel patties (made from fava beans, chickpeas, and spices), rice, a salad, and water with lemon made for a lovely meal.  All of the staff were super friendly, too.  I highly recommend it if you're ever in the area!

George Washington Bridge crosses the Hudson River

Sandy Hook Lighthouse and Keeper's House

It's very cramped at the top, so sorry for the bad photo...but it had a rare historical gem, a third-order Fresnel lens!

Views from the top of the lighthouse...New York City is way off on the horizon.

~Anna

Eastern Trip -- Day 5

Why would we wake up at 6:00 in the middle of the week on a summer vacation?  If you're climbing the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi River and north of the Carolinas -- that also happens to be home to the "world's worst weather" and highest recorded wind speed in the world (231 m.p.h.) -- you'd better get an early start so you're not caught in any bad weather!  That's right, my family and I were blessed to be able to climb Mount Washington in New Hampshire, all 6,288 feet of it.

As I said, our day began early with lots of loading; packing; preparing; and a quick breakfast of Cheerios, a piece of whole-wheat toast with peanut butter, and milk.  We drove to the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center and were on the Tuckerman Ravine trail at 8:25.  If you go to my May 31, 2012, post on this blog, you'll see something quite similar to what I'm about to say, because I finally accomplished my five-year dream and goal today!  When I first climbed the Tuckerman Ravine trail, I was 14 years old and hiking with my mom, brother, and godmother.  I had a sprained ankle, wasn't nearly as into all-around fitness as I am now, and could only imagine about the years and years it would be until I could return and summit.  By the grace of God, that opportunity presented itself today.  And I fully mean every word of that sentence, because when you consider what kind of a trail this was and all the elements that could have gone wrong (but didn't), it's impossible to say anything other than Christ was watching over us and protecting us, as He always does.

The summit of Mount Washington is 4.1 miles from the start of the trail, which on most of the other trails I have hiked is a nice, fairly-easy jaunt.  But this is Mount Washington, and no norms apply.  The first two to three miles are fair enough -- not at all an easy hike, but way better than the final mile or so -- and are just a steady climb over small boulders/large rocks.  Imagine walking up about 102 home-sized staircases (sans railing) with average-sized steps, occasionally larger than average, and that's what we had.  Once we got above treeline, however, the rocks grew substantially; each one was equal to three or four stairs.  It was time to literally climb, shamelessly leaning down to scramble up the face of each one with my hands for stability, and many moments it felt like the climb would never end.  Our leg muscles and lungs were rebelling, warranting frequent mini-breaks for water and a snack, but ultimately we conquered the mountain.  About three hours after we started, we had officially summitted, and what a glorious feeling that was.  Of course we waited in line for the obligatory summit shot, quickly looked at the beautiful panorama, and headed into the day lodge/museum building for lunch (salmon wraps, Vermont white cheddar, Pringles, chocolate-chip cookie, white-grape juice) before making our descent in about two-and-a-half hours.  Although the descent is obviously easier, care must still be taken to not take a wrong step -- towards the top, it could cost you your life; farther down, there's still danger of slipping, falling, twisting, or breaking something.  Fortunately, as I said, the Lord was definitely watching over our every step and movement.  Climbing this mountain meant so much more than I could ever express through words, and I honestly never dreamed it would be five short years after my first introduction that I would come through on my goal.  I'm just so grateful and in awe, and I'll remember this moment for a long time.  Even better, my whole family joined me for it.  I know it wasn't really in their league, especially the last mile, but I so appreciate their willingness to jump out of their comfort zone to support my dream.  The sweetness of success at climbing such a tough, challenging mountain on my own two feet is made even sweeter with the love and intimacy of my family.

We celebrated the 8.2-mile round trip with chocolate bars (and trust me, we more than earned them!), raisins, and Rice Krispie treats on the way to the New England Ski Museum.  This adorable little spot is nestled right next to the Cannon Mountain tram in Franconia Notch State Park (New Hampshire) and has tons of information, photos, and relics of the history of skiing in the east, development of ski areas, racing, Bode Miller (a native of Franconia, N.H., and frequent Cannon Mountain racer growing up), equipment, the 10th Mountain Division, ski patrolling, and more.  We only had about 45 minutes until they closed, but it was the perfect amount of time and well worth the stop.  Free admission, too!

That brings me to our final stop for today, a Comfort Suites in Plantsville, Connecticut.  We got her just a few minutes before 9:00, filled our starving tummies with pizza and garlic bread from a local restaurant, and are now ready for well-deserved rest.

This was the "trail"!

Summit victory

Every tough moment was worth it with views like this.

Happy to be safely done -- no bad weather or injuries!

New England Ski Museum

Bode Miller's Olympic medals

~Anna  

Eastern Trip -- Day 4

It was another eclectic, interesting day on our eastern adventure -- we started this morning in Ottawa, Ontario, and ended in Carroll, New Hampshire.  Two Canadian provinces, one border crossing, and three states...all in a day's work!

We got up around 6:40 to load everything up, have breakfast (a turkey sausage, scrambled eggs, pancakes, muffin, banana, orange juice), and head for Montreal, Québec.  Unfortunately, there was a lot of traffic leading into downtown, which is where we had to be, so our time was affected substantially by that.  Our goal was to get to the Montreal Biosphère, originally constructed for Expo 67, which my mom attended when she was a little four-year-old.  Although we only had about an hour, we got to quickly see most of the exhibits, which focus on the expo, sustainability, the environment, power generation, and related topics.  It's such a unique structure and museum.  There was even a little garden right in the middle of the museum, plus a vertical wall garden.

We had lunch (tuna wrap, cheese stick, crackers, apple-berry juice, water) on the way back to our wonderful home country.  We crossed the border at Trout River, a tiny little station; we didn't have to wait at all!  From there, it was a very brief drive to the Almanzo Wilder Homestead near Malone, New York.  If you've just started reading my blogs, I highly encourage you to go back and read my entries from July 2014, which is when my mom, brother, godmother, and I took a "Little House" sites tour throughout South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa; in September of 2014, I rounded it out with Missouri and Kansas.  New York is naturally the farthest and most difficult for me to get to, so I had always assumed it would be a long way off -- if ever -- that I got to see the last real home site related to my favorite book series.  It's always amazing how things work out, since today I got to check that off my list.  Our tour guide was incredibly friendly and informative, constantly challenging those of us who had an extensive knowledge of all things "Little House," yet at the same time keeping it simple enough for people who didn't have as much knowledge (for example, our tour had a couple from Japan).  We were shown three replica barns, built on the exact location and to the exact specifications of the original barns; the barnyard where Almanzo trained Star and Bright, his oxen, to drive; the well pump house (we got to hand-pump refreshingly-cool water...not the original pump); a sugar maple that stood when the Wilders lived there; and of course, the farmhouse.  The beautiful red structure is the only home mentioned in the "Little House" books standing in its original position.  Naturally, over the years repairs were warranted; however, they have worked to keep as much authenticity as possible.  The house is gorgeous, both inside and outside, and we were given detailed information about every single room -- kitchen, dining room, parlor, dirt room, pantry, master bedroom, and upstairs (where the boys and girls had separate rooms).  I was allowed to take as many pictures as I wanted, but am not permitted to publish them, so I would be happy to privately show them to anyone interested!  If you ever happen to be near Malone -- or even within a few hours, for that matter -- I would highly recommend visiting.  It's an incredible preservation of a beloved part of our country's history.

After spending over three hours exploring there, it was time to make our way across Vermont (a favorite state of mine since the views are spectacular).  We stopped quickly in Montpelier for fuel and a light supper (tuna-macaroni salad and a peanut-butter shake), and arrived just after 9:30 at Carlson's Lodge in Carroll, New Hampshire.  I wonder why we are staying here....?  You'll have to come back tomorrow to find out! :)

Garden at the Montreal Biosphère

Montreal Biosphère

Almanzo Wilder Homestead

Replica barns at the Almanzo Wilder Homestead

Trout River, where the Wilders washed their clothing and cut ice in winter.

~Anna

Eastern Trip -- Day 3

We had a very full, active day!  I decided to bullet point everything we did since there were so many places we went and things we saw!

My parents and I woke up at 7:15 to go running (my mom walked) on a nearby trail.  It was such a lovely sunny morning, the trail wound through trees and past marshlands, and it was a great way to start the day.  When we got back to the hotel, we grabbed a quick breakfast of turkey sausage, scrambled eggs, muffin, cinnamon roll, banana, and orange juice.

We went to church at St. Luke Evangelical Church.  That's something we never get to do on ski trips, just because the service times don't usually work out with our schedule.  It was nice to meet everyone -- they were quite welcoming and interested in our travels. 

We drove across the Ottawa River into Gatineau, Québec, to the Parc Jacques-Cartier.  We had lunch in the shade (tuna wrap, cheese stick, Rice Krispie treat, apple-peach juice, water) before enjoying an amazing floral exhibit called MosaiCanada150.  Canada is turning 150 years old in 2017, so this massive collection of flowers (32 "entries" total) highlights their history and culture.  There were animals, including Canadian horses, muskoxen, and foxes; a locomotive; a giant piano; "Mother Earth: The Legend of Aataentsic," with striking facial features and a waterfall coming out of her hand; and lots more.

Back across the river into Ottawa, we enjoyed a couple hours at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum.  From the earliest, primitive airplane to modern helicopters and jets, there was an incredible amount of history and information.  My favorite was the Boeing Vertol CH-113 Labrador, a massive yellow helicopter used for search-and-rescue missions.  It was huge!

Québec called us again, so we drove back over to take a lovely hike in Parc de la Gatineau.  We walked about three miles through forests, to a waterfall, and by a lovely overlook that looked way down into an agricultural-rich valley.

Final time (for today) to cross the river back into Ottawa!  We walked right up to the parliamentary building (Ottawa is the capital of Canada), which has beautiful architecture.  The surrounding setting is lovely and peaceful, too, with large green lawns and a nice view of the river and other parts of the city.

Dinner was at D'Arcy McGee's Irish Pub.  We shared spinach & artichoke dip for an appetizer, and I had chicken tacos with tortilla chips for my main dish -- good food to end a good day.  We're staying in the same Holiday Inn tonight.

MosaiCanada150 (Anne of Green Gables)

MosaiCanada150 (bison and horses)

MosaiCanada150 (Mother Earth)

MosaiCanada150 (locomotive)

Canada Aviation and Space Museum (Boeing Vertoe CH-113 Labrador)

Hiking in Parc de la Gatineau

Parliament building in Ottawa

~Anna

Eastern Trip -- Day 2

It felt very nice to sleep in until 8:00 after a late night!  We had a breakfast of waffles, muffins, and juice, then drove back to the falls to see them in daylight.  They were just as amazing!  We parked away from the falls and crowds, then walked about a mile to get to a great place to take more photos.  We also bought tickets for the Journey Behind the Falls, which takes you down an elevator to several passageways that go behind or right next to the crashing water.  Mist sprayed down on our faces and hair; it was so fresh-smelling and beautiful!  We spent the morning enjoying that, then proceeded on toward Ottawa.  We stopped for fuel and a late lunch (tuna wraps, chips, a cheese stick, and strawberry-watermelon juice) around 3:00, arriving in our Holiday Inn in Ottawa just before 7:00.  My parents are celebrating their 28th wedding anniversary today, so after cleaning up, we walked to a nearby French restaurant, St. Martha's Brasserie d'Orleans.  Everything was delicious and so artfully arranged.  I had Coq au Vin, chicken braised in white wine and served with potatoes, baby carrots, and Brussel sprouts.  Dessert was almost too beautiful to eat, and we each ordered something different so we could have a taste of everything -- Crème brûlée, Pavé au chocolat (a dark chocolate ganache with caramel sauce, orange zest, and almond brittle), Pouding chomeur (maple pudding cake with maple cream sauce), and tarte au citron (a lemon tart with
Chantilly cream, pistachios, and a raspberry sauce).  Everything was very delicious and a nice way to 
celebrate my parents' anniversary.

This scow almost went over the falls in August 1918.

Water approaching the falls.

Journey Behind the Falls (my parents)

Journey Behind the Falls view

Matthew and I stand with the falls behind us.

~Anna

Eastern Trip -- Day 1

Hello, everyone!

I am writing from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on the second evening of our nine-day summer road trip to the east.  This is such a special getaway since the last "real" summer vacation all four of us took was to the Grand Canyon in 2009!  Matthew and I both took college classes over the summer, and before they start up for the fall semester, we decided to get away for a long-awaited, much-deserved adventure.  I did not blog yesterday, even though it was the first day of the trip, so this post is for Friday, August 11.  We were up just before 6:00 to do final packing and loading of the car, pick up my dad from work, grab some breakfast at Panera on the way out (blueberry bagel and an iced coffee!), and then just check off mile after mile on our way to Niagara Falls (the Canadian side).  We stopped briefly in Illinois at 11:45 for fuel and to get lunch ready (we take lunch fixings with us on summer trips since it saves so much time, money, and our health!) -- almond butter on an English muffin, blueberries, a few other snacks, and water.  Unfortunately, there was a ton of road work in Indiana and Michigan, leading to closed lanes and super-backed-up traffic.  Nothing we could do about it other than wait and enjoy the beautiful forests and farm fields!  We crossed the Canadian border near Point Edward, Ontario, and stopped for fuel and supper shortly afterwards.  When in Canada...you have to partake of Tim Horton's at least once, so we did!  Grilled cheese sandwich, potato wedges, water, and a sinfully delicious s'mores donut wrapped up the day's meals, and then I drove (first time ever in Canada even though it's far from my first visit!) all the way to our Howard Johnson Express motel in Niagara Falls.  It was late (11:00 P.M.), but we had arrived safely!  Since the falls are illuminated at night, we decided to drive just a few minutes from the motel to see them.  The thundering water, mist on your face, crisp night air, and every shade of illumination made for an incredible ending to the first day.  I was even satisfied with a few of the many pictures I took; it's not easy to capture a good one at night!  We enjoyed them for awhile before returning to the hotel for showers and a very-welcome bed at 1:00 A.M.

Niagara Falls at night

~Anna

Colorado Ski Trip -- Day 6

We celebrated the New Year (2017...wow) by sleeping in until 7:30, which felt so good and is quite rare for us on the final day of ski trips.  Normally, it's up by 6:00 and on the road an hour later!  Breakfast was some blueberry yogurt, a plain bagel with cream cheese, a banana, some potato cubes, and milk.  We were heading east on I-70 by 8:40.

The most significant part of the day was when our 2003 GMC Envoy turned over 100,000 miles...not bad for a nearly-14-year-old car, huh?  It has been our faithful traveling companion and transporter for countless ski trips, other fun vacations, and to church and back on many a Sunday morning.  Of course we took pictures and videos; your car only hits 100,000 miles once!

We drove non-stop to Abilene, Kansas, then took a quick break for fuel and lunch to go at Burger King (veggie burger, fries, strawberry sparkling water, a vanilla-Oreo shake).  Just before 8:00 p.m., we pulled in our driveway, having made one other stop for fuel just 10 minutes from our home.  Unloading ensued, but not before I quickly ran out to say hello to my horses -- my undying tradition anytime I come home from even a night away from them.  With four sets of hands on deck, unpacking the car (including the Thule full of skis, boots, and poles) was pretty efficient.  I made a supper of basil gnocchi and chicken in an olive oil-tomato and basil pesto-Parmesan sauce with garlic bread, juice, and of course leftover Christmas goodies.

As always, it's nice to be home and return to the familiarity of a daily routine (and college in just eight days).  Vacations are a wonderful opportunity to gain appreciation for what you have, marvel at the wonder of God's creation, grow closer to your loved ones, and enjoy experiences you otherwise wouldn't.  I'm grateful for safety (driving and skiing), amazing weather, the financial ability to take vacations, my family, and my Savior Jesus Christ.  You don't even need to venture out west to know He is at work everywhere, although it certainly inspires awe!

Happy New Year 2017!  I pray your year ahead is full of wonderful memories, laughter, love, and most importantly, the hope that is found in our amazing Heavenly Father.  Until next time......

100,000 miles on our Envoy, "Azul"!  For the record, I was NOT driving when I took this picture!

~Anna

Colorado Ski Trip -- Day 5

Today we woke up around 7:15, had breakfast (a biscuit, strawberry yogurt, an orange, potato cubes, milk), loaded everything up and checked out, and were skiing at Sunlight Mountain Resort near Glenwood Springs, Colorado, by 9:20.  Both yesterday (Snowmass) and today were places we had skied at before.  It's always good to go back to places you enjoyed in the past.  Amazingly, for the fourth day in a row, we had sunshine, no clouds, no wind, and temperatures from the mid-teens to about 30.  WOW, what a blessing!

Sunlight has three fixed-grip chairlifts, a lot of nice terrain for beginners (greens and blues), and plenty of ungroomed blacks and double blacks to provide a wide variety for everyone.  Many of the greens and blues are rolling traverses or big, wide, gently-sloped runs.  I particularly enjoyed Zephyr, a black, which was the last run of the day (and of 2016!) for us.  It had some nice bumps/moguls and a few trees to skirt around.  I also really loved Heathen, which at a 52-degree pitch at the top, is one of the steepest runs in Colorado.  Get on down a little ways and it turns into a pretty gentle slope with some nice powder, trees, and quiet peace.  My final "favorite" (not that I disliked the others) was a black called Sundown Glades.  Tree skiing is so good for honing your perceptions, skills, and technical abilities, and this provided all of that in a glade with just the right amount of trees.  The end of the run required an interesting traverse literally through a pine tree (I skied over/through it), followed quickly by an 18-inch jump down onto the main trail.  So much fun!

Lunch was black bean-chorizo-rice soup in a bread bowl and hot chocolate at the base lodge.  We skied right to 4:00 p.m. close...in fact, past it.  No better way to close out the old year and bring in the new one!  By 4:45, we had stowed all our gear safely away and were on our way to I-70 east.  This trip must have been for breaking records, because for the first time ever, our entire drive up, over, and down Vail Pass was on perfectly clear roads...no snow...no wind...nothing.  It was just us, a few other cars and trucks on the road (it's New Year's Eve), a clear sky full of stars (Big Dipper!), groomers at work on the multiple ski resorts we passed, and a torchlight parade making their way down one of the runs on Vail to celebrate the new year.  It was the most peaceful, stress-free, and enjoyable drives over the 10,000-plus foot mountains we've ever had.

Supper was a chicken-avocado burrito and water at Del Taco in Aurora.  We're now on our way to a Quality Inn in Limon to spend the night.  Happy New Year 2017...we'll be celebrating by driving home tomorrow!

Looking out from Heathen

Sunlight Mountain, fourth consecutive day of sunshine and gorgeous views

~Anna

Colorado Ski Trip -- Day 4

Today we were up before 7:00 a.m., had breakfast (a cinnamon-raisin bagel with cream cheese, strawberry-banana yogurt, lemon-herb potato cubes, milk), and were skiing at Snowmass, an Aspen resort, by 8:50.  It was another clear, sunshine-filled day, although we did have some stronger wind gusts toward the top of the mountain, flat light late in the afternoon, and grass, rocks, and dirt on many trails due to early season conditions.  Temperatures ranged from the low teens to the mid-30s -- overall, another very pleasant day.  We rode a six-pack three times and a poma that took us to 12,510 feet twice.  We cruised many blues and blacks, and aside from the previously-mentioned bare spots, they were nice.  I especially enjoyed our almost-non-stop run from the top of the mountain all the way to the base, over 4,000 vertical feet of elevation change that covered moguls, groomed runs, and nearly-flat traverses.

Lunch was a veggie burger, shared fries and popcorn with the rest of my family, and a huckleberry shake at Ullrhof's.  We skied until about 3:45 (so quiet and peaceful), loaded up, and headed to the town of Aspen to visit and enjoy supper with some friends at Bangkok Happy Bowl Thai Bistro.  I had a chicken-broccoli-rice stir-fry in peanut sauce and lots of water.  Even though it's wintertime and cold, it's so easy to get dehydrated in the dry, crisp mountain air!  Now we're at our hotel (same one we stayed in last night), ready for bed and a nice final day of skiing tomorrow.

I left my camera at the hotel, so no photos today.

~Anna

Colorado Ski Trip -- Day 3

Today we woke up a bit before 7:00 a.m., had breakfast (plain oatmeal with fruit, a piece of cinnamon-raisin bread, orange juice), loaded everything up since we were checking out of our room in Ridgway, and were skiing at Telluride and by 9:20.  We were incredibly blessed with yet another perfectly clear, sunny, wind-free, day...temperatures even a bit warmer than yesterday.  We even saw some mountains in Utah far off in the distance!  Once again, it was crowded but we did a better job of staying higher up on the mountain and had just a handful (out of necessity) of longer lift lines to wait in.  We found some more great lines with soft, sweet moguls in Revelation Bowl, and also cruised some nice double-blues and blacks with great, steep pitches.  I know I've said it before, but it is really nice to confidently and strongly ski this sort of terrain.  It makes everything so much more fun and enjoyable.

Lunch was at Gorrono Ranch Restaurant -- a yummy bread bowl of chili/macaroni and cheese and some hot chocolate.  We quit skiing around 3:40 so we had time to load up, go down to the town of Telluride to take some pictures (and for Matthew to get some new hiking boots we found last night), and head for Carbondale, Colorado, just after 4:30.  The drive was incredibly desolate as we wound through national forests, past a coal mine, through tiny mountain towns, and over a pass.  Even though it was in complete darkness, I loved the drive: seeing the Big Dipper and thousands of other stars, gazing at the silhouettes of soaring mountain peaks, and wondering about the lone houses and the lives of the people who live in them.

Just a few minutes before 8:00, we arrived at White House Pizza in Carbondale for dinner.  My dad and I split the individual (8-inch) Get Your Goat (goat cheese, onions, olives, pears, and Alfredo sauce) and White Way (chicken, bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms, smoked provolone, and Alfredo sauce) pizzas, which were delicious and unique in their flavor combinations.  Then we drove another mile to the Comfort Inn & Suites, where we are spending the night.  They offer free hot chocolate, white chocolate-macadamia nut cookies, and fruit 24/7, so it's a pretty great hotel in my book!  Now it's time for bed before another great day of skiing tomorrow.

Looking way down at the town of Telluride

Family picture with a lovely background

Revelation Bowl

The main street in Telluride...late afternoon light makes for nice photo opportunities.

~Anna

Colorado Ski Trip -- Day 2

Today we woke up around 7:00 a.m., had breakfast (two pieces of cinnamon-raisin toast, mixed fruit, orange juice, water), and headed to Telluride Ski Resort for the first day of skiing.  We parked in Mountain Village, rode the gondola to the base of the mountain, and were on the lift by 9:30.  Fortunately we had sunshine, clear skies, essentially no wind, and very pleasant temperatures (mid-teens to upper-20s).  Unfortunately, it is the week between Christmas and New Year's, so even though Telluride is remote, there were still plenty of crowded lift lines (especially at the lifts servicing beginner and intermediate terrain).  Waiting 10 to 15 minutes feels so strange to us!  We did manage to find some nice terrain that was more advanced and farther up the mountain, thus escaping the worst crowds.  We found some nice lines in Revelation and Little Rose Bowls, and enjoyed a long, winding, relaxed traverse later in the afternoon that took us past beautiful aspen trees and mountain lodges.

Lunch was at Alpino Vino, the highest restaurant in North America at 11,966 feet.  Instead of the $1,600 bottle of wine (seriously), we settled for $5-per-cup hot chocolate (complete with whipped cream and marshmallows), and my dad and I split an eggplant-Parmesan panini/arugula-blue cheese-walnut salad combo, and a turkey-apple-Brie cheese panini/tomato soup combo.  Yes, expensive, but delicious food in a beautiful setting!

Our first day of skiing concluded with the traditional hatpin purchase, then we drove down to the town of Telluride for supper and exploring.  It's a gorgeous, historic, quaint community full of old buildings, cute shops, and friendly people.  We had dinner at Steamies Burger Bar, boasting "Colorado's #1 Burger" -- I had a chicken/cheese/jalapeno dressing sandwich, a shared order of fries, and a mint-chip shake.  We hit the Black Bear Trading Company and a German shop afterwards, perusing and admiring the many amazing items available for purchase, then headed back to our hotel in Ridgway for showers and bedtime.  It felt great to ski on a real mountain for a full day...in sunshine, no less!

Alpino Vino, the highest restaurant in North America

Beautiful views from Telluride

More beauty from Telluride

Alpenglow at the end of the day

~Anna

Colorado Ski Trip -- Day 1

Yesterday (Monday, December 26) we left our home around 12:30 p.m. for my mom's family Christmas gathering in southwest Missouri.  We spent the night at my grandma's home in Ozark, which put us closer to our intended destination.  Nevertheless, we still left at 5:30 this morning, which was necessary to arrive in Ridgway, Colorado, at 8:45 (Mountain Time...16 hours on the road!).  Highway 50 all the way to Montrose, then 550 down to Ridgway.  It was extraordinarily beautiful all the way, especially when Highway 50 winds next to the Arkansas River for miles.  Surrounded by towering rock cliffs and jagged snow peaks in the distance, it's breathtaking to say the least.  We only stopped twice for fuel/bathroom breaks in Hutchinson, Kansas, and Pueblo, Colorado.  Light "meals" for breakfast and lunch, and some water, were the only other events of the day besides logging over 900 miles.

We did have supper at El Jimador in Montrose, Colorado (shrimp-chorizo tacos, rice and beans, chips with salsa and Mexican coleslaw, water), then drove another 20 minutes or so to the Ridgway Lodge & Suites for a nice shower and bed.  Tomorrow we'll be tackling Telluride, yet another new resort on our list!

The beautiful Arkansas River and surrounding mountains (in twilight, no less) on our drive to Ridgway, Colorado

~Anna

Kansas City Trip

Throwback to four months ago when we all went on a very quick jaunt to Kansas City, Missouri, for a birthday trip for my brother, Matthew.  Sorry I didn't have time to post sooner...college started and life became much busier and more hectic.

Friday, July 29, 2016 -- Woke up nice and early (around 6:15) so I could run, take care of my horses, grab some breakfast, and finish packing before our 9:00 departure.  A few hours later, we had arrived at the Harry Truman Library & Museum.  We had a picnic lunch on the beautiful grounds (tuna-cheese wraps, watermelon, water), followed by an entire afternoon exploring the expansive museum.  It features practically every aspect of Harry's life -- growing up, farm life, military service, failed business ventures, marriage and family, judge of Jackson County, U.S. Congress election, vice presidency, presidency, and life in Independence afterwards.  We saw three of his old cars, a replica of his Oval Office, a 45-minute film of his life through the end of his presidency, and the burial grounds of him, his wife Bess, and daughter and son-in-law.  We stayed all the way to (even a bit past) the 5:00 p.m. closing...it was that good.  There was so much to see and take in, perhaps even a bit too much, but I am grateful they were so willing to open up and preserve their lives for future generations to learn about.

Next, we headed for the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, mainly to see the four giant shuttlecocks.  My mom and I are borderline-professional badminton players (really...you should come see us play in our front yard sometime!), so that was very special and fun for us.  We also took a bit of time to walk through a gallery with some beautiful religious art.

Being a Friday evening, we sort of failed to realize how popular restaurants would be, so after driving around for quite awhile, we finally settled on the Classic Cup Cafe in Country Club Plaza.  Upscale yet relaxed, we shared an appetizer of roasted goat cheese and garlic on crusty bread, followed by the Spring Green salad -- grilled zucchini, asparagus, peas, kale, pistachios, goat cheese pesto, and salsa verde all mixed together.  Delicious!  Finally, a little mint-chocolate-Oreo concrete at Sheridan's and bed at our Drury Inn at 11:45.

Saturday, July 30, 2016 -- Slept in until 8:00 a.m., had breakfast (scrambled eggs, potato cubes, half of a plain bagel with strawberry jelly, an orange, orange juice, and water), and headed for the Kansas City Zoo.  Our hotel had an awesome deal with them, so we ended up getting tickets for only $5 per person!  The main reason we came here was for the koalas -- Burra and Coedie, on loan from the San Diego Zoo.  It also happened to be their birthday party weekend, so besides taking plenty of pictures and adoring their cute little faces, we had mini cupcakes, posed for some fun photo ops, and bought koala ears.  Of course, we also enjoyed viewing all the other critters, too, but the koalas were by far the highlight of the visit.  In case you didn't know, they're a big theme in the Kelpe household.  We have five stuffed ones and are always looking to expand our collection.

After an enjoyable morning at the zoo, we headed to our next stop, eating lunch on the way (tuna wrap, watermelon, banana, a Clif bar, water).  Our next stop was the Steamboat Arabia museum, beginning with a guided tour and video, then allowing free exploration of the THOUSANDS of items they have cleaned and preserved for display.  Everything from dishes and French perfume to boots and axes is on display.  It's incredible, and minimal signage allows for a comfortable pace to explore the many display cases.

Finally, we got some barbecue to go from Winslow's BBQ (pulled turkey sandwich, baked beans, fries) and headed home, arriving around 8:45.  It was a very, very fast trip...we could definitely have spent more time.  It was still nice to have some last special moments together before Matthew and I began college, though!

Bess (left) and Harry (right) Truman's graves

My mom and me enjoying the world's largest badminton shuttlecocks in Kansas City

Koala fun at the Kansas City Zoo

Koala, Matthew, Koala, and me!

A real koala (Burra or Coedie, they're kind of hard to tell apart)!

Hundreds of dishes at the Steamboat Arabia museum

~Anna

Alaska Trip -- Day #14

This is super late in coming, but I did get back to St. Louis safely!  I'm not trapped in Portland forever!  My flight was only 10 minutes late and ended up arriving a little early, and it was a beautiful morning/afternoon to be in the air.  Alaska Airlines has a wonderful assortment of snack boxes, too, and the "snacks" actually make a full meal.  I tried the Northwestern Deli box, with smoked Gouda cheese, crackers, salami, Alaskan-made potato chips, trail mix, a chocolate truffle, complementary pretzels, and water.  Enjoying the views, resting a little bit, and finishing a book got me through to landing, and by 5:45 p.m., I was back at my home.  The very first thing I did, even before taking any baggage out of the car?  See my horses, of course!  It felt great to be back, see my family and friends, and settle into my room and routine.  But as the days have passed, I really do miss Alaska, even more than four years ago.  I know that if God ever presented an opportunity for me to stay there for an extended period of time, I would take it.  It's not just the beauty and uniqueness of the state, it's the people, the food, the incredible feelings I experience when I am drinking in the whole picture.  I really don't think words can express what I am trying to say.  I am extremely grateful for yet another opportunity to travel, learn more, and share my faith with the campers.  I hope I can return again someday, and I'd like to share this well-known verse that was in my prayer journal the night I returned home -- Philippians 1:6, "...he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."  I was privileged to volunteer, even for three short days, at the Bible camp, and I owe many thanks to many people.  My deepest appreciation and gratitude goes to my grandma for sharing her love of Alaska with me and being a great travel buddy for two weeks; Our Savior's Lutheran Church (George & Karen Sonray) for providing our housing in Nome, shuttling to and from the airport, and your genuine kindness; all the campers -- for your childlike joy and fun-loving attitudes; the wonderful counselors who did a great job of motivating and encouraging their teams (especially my team's co-leader, Laura Anderson...loved getting to know you!); MANY more people from Anchorage, Nome, and the surrounding areas; and most of all, Jesus Christ.  He has given me a passion for service, love, and children, and I cannot wait to see where He leads me in the coming years.  I strive to live each day of my life as a light for Him in this dark world, responding to his forgiveness and grace that I don't deserve.  Please join me in praying for not only the hardworking pastors in Alaska, particularly the Seward Peninsula, but for the world and Christians as a whole.  Alone, we are weak; with Christ, we are strong, no matter what comes!

If you have questions about vacationing in Alaska in general, or more specific questions about Nome, the Bible camp, or ways to support/get involved with mission work, I'd be happy to answer them to the best of my ability (or point you to someone who can)!  Feel free to email me, message me on Facebook, or post a comment below.  Please continue to check this blog, as I will soon be adding a post about my family's recent weekend trip to Kansas City, and undoubtedly other adventures as they come.  Thank you so much for reading!

On the airplane, somewhere between Portland and St. Louis.

~Anna