Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 31

This morning, I woke up at 0600 (still at the Holiday Inn) and teleworked until breakfast time (0640).  After getting back from the lobby, I went back to teleworking for a few hours.  Again, the snow conditions enticed me to leave my room for some outdoor fun.  This time, I decided to check out the skiing conditions in the Green Woodlands (Lyme side).  I left White River Junction at 1000 and drove across the River (via I-91 and Thetford exit) and into Lyme.  From there, I followed the long dirt road to reach the parking area for the Green Woodlands (arrived at 1030).  Since my last visit (early last season), my skills have improved tremendously and it allowed me to progress through several long segments (best one = Carriage Loop) in the system with little worry.  Highlight: didn’t have to remove my skis (for too steep uphill or downhill).  Lowlight: I had some big falls. Despite the crowded parking lot, I managed to spend most of the two hours I had without seeing anyone - nice!  Temps were in the mid 30s and the sun was shining brightly (perfect conditions) and I didn’t even wear winter hat or gloves until after falling into a cold snowdrift just short of a big tree... The access road showed signs of imminent mud-season so may not be able to visit again soon.  Too bad, though, since I’ve only scratched the surface in exploring the huge trail map... This location will definitely be a significant part of my “no-ski-pass” strategy for next season!  Afterwards (1230), I drove "home" (via same route as I had in the morning) and resumed teleworking (1300).  I ate lunch in my room (1400) and teleworked until 1715.  After that, I drove back across the River to New Hampshire and spent the next few hours volunteering with the Knights of Columbus at the Sacred Heart Fish Fry.  For once, I got to sit down at one of the tables and eat a full meal for the first time since I've lived in the area.  We were done by 2000 and I drove back to White River Junction.  For the rest of the night, I read and watched movies - bed time was 2230.  Great day on the ski trails!

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 30

I was awake at 0600 (still at Holiday Inn) and started teleworking immediately.  I ate breakfast in the hotel lobby at 0645 and then went back to teleworking.  Since the snow seemed like it was still good for outdoor activities, I decided to try out the cross country skiing trails in Hartland (a short drive from my hotel). I departed the hotel at 0815. From what I understand, the Hartland Winter Trail system was created by a local resident for his family but he gradually welcomed the local public to use them.  I’d visited this (free) ski area once before but never left the parking lot because there was not enough snow that time.  Today, however, there was definitely enough snowy surface (and tracks!) to make the trip worthwhile.  For about two hours, I followed the trails into the woods on hills above town (in the area near the red trapezoid in the lower right corner of the map).  I had to do some climbing to make it into the main system but that was good exercise.  Temps were in the low 30s and the sun appeared from time to time.  There was a good bit of ice, making it hard to go fast, but I eventually reached a huge “racetrack” shaped loop that gave me a chance to really practice my diagonal stride. I was finished by 1030 and back at the hotel by 1045.  I then did some more teleworking and ate a light lunch in the room (1200).  I talked to Mollie on the phone after she landed in Houston.  After that, I did some more teleworking, finishing my work day at 1530.  As I usually do on Thursdays, I drove to Jesse's in Hanover for Happy Hour.  This time, I ate dinner at the restaurant (finished at 1800).  On the way home, I stopped at my condo to pick up some of my backpacking gear and mail.  After that, I drove back to White River Junction (arrived at 1845) and did a little more teleworking (only to make sure I didn't miss anything from earlier).  For the rest of the night, I practiced Portuguese on Duolingo, read and watched movies.  Went to bed at 2200.  Glad I got to explore part of HWT this season and hope to return soon!  

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 29

[awake at 0600 (still in White River Junction) - started teleworking and then headed down to breakfast (0650) - back to teleworking - ate light lunch in the room (1245) - went to UVAC for swimming (45 minutes), sauna, biking (30 minutes), rowing and weights (1300 to 1500) - back to teleworking - finished work at 1630 and then did some reading for a while - ate dinner in my room (1830) - talked to Eileen - movies for the rest of the evening - bed at 2200]

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 28

I was up by 0600 after a restful sleep (still at the Holiday Inn Express) and teleworked until breakfast time (0700).  After that, I continued my telework day and ate a light lunch in my room (1230).  I also went for a walk near the hotel (1240 to 1340) - it was very cold, windy and sleety.  Did some more telework until after 1500 and then drove a short distance to the LISTEN Center (White River Junction) so I could volunteer at one of their nightly Community Dinners.  One of our brother Knights usually coordinates bi-monthly LISTEN Community Dinners (supported by volunteers from our Parish) and several more of us (nearly all Knights) joined him today.  I got there a bit late (1505) and, by then, the Team had already prepared baked haddock, sweet peppers, mixed vegetables and rice.  While waiting for the dinner to start, I helped make sugar cookies.  The doors opened at 1630 and, over the next hour, we served more than 100 meals!  Afterwards, we worked with the permanent staff in cleaning up the kitchen and teeing up everything so that another local group can run things tomorrow afternoon.  What an operation! Afterwards (1805), I drove back to Holiday Inn and ate dinner (1830).  Mollie called and we chatted for a little while.  I spent the rest of the night reading and watching movies.  Bed time was at 2200.  Happy that I got to see another side of LISTEN’s amazing impact on the Upper Valley today and I hope I get to participate in another Community Dinner soon!

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 27

[I was teleworking by 0615 (still in White River Junction) - went to breakfast at around 0700 (it was less crowded than the weekend had been) and then returned to teleworking - it was VERY windy so didn't go skiing like I'd hoped to do - continued working until I ate a light lunch in my room (1230) and then drove across the Connecticut River to pick up an ink cartridge at Staples in West Lebanon (1240) - drove to Hanover to pick up my mail - on the way back (via the Dartmouth Campus and Norwich), I got a free drink from Cumberland Farms in Wilder - then returned to the Holiday Inn and resumed teleworking - stayed online until 1700 - made some more reservations for my hiking trip in the Smokies at the end of the month - also worked with my insurance company to extend my insurance stay in White River Junction until April - ate dinner in my room (1715) - talked to my dad - went for a walk near the hotel (1750 to 1850) - spent the rest of the evening reading and watching movies - bed at 2230]

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 26

This morning, I woke up at 0615 (still in the Holiday Inn) and went to breakfast at 0645.  It was crowded again, unfortunately...  I then packed up my stuff for an outing and went to Shaw's to get a free Smartwater (0745).  I attended Mass in Lebanon (0800) and then drove to Grantham, where I parked at the trailhead for the trails at John's Glen (0915).  Comment of the day: "Tracks, glorious tracks (finally)!!!"  For only the third time this season, the full capabilities of the grooming equipment at Eastman Cross Country Center were exercised and I spent three full hours (5ish miles) taking advantage of the optimum conditions for classic cross country skis.  And, since my morning started with sore muscles (across my entire body), that was a real accomplishment.  Back when I started cross country skiing in late 2020, there were many places at John’s Glen that I avoided - too steep, too curvy, too rough.  No longer!  In temps ranging from 30-38 F, light wind and intermittent clouds, I skied every foot of the trails in the woods.  I even climbed one tough hill *six times* during my multiple circuits of the trail system! Did lots of downhill runs in other places.  Big highlight: I tackled a long, steep trail (“John’s Glen Extension”) that took me to the highest point in the area - it felt quite good to be able to climb and descend.  Also checked out the inside of the (toasty warm) Yurt for the first time.  Bonus: no falling today!  Downside: EVERYONE with a pass came out to join me.  It was pretty crowded in places… Fortunately, I had started early and was on my way home as the biggest rush began (1215).  I drove back to White River Junction (arrived at 1245) and ate a light lunch in my hotel room.  A little later, I tried to exchange linens but they were completely out - you should have seen the laundry room!  I bought some food from the little shop in the lobby (trouble getting a receipt).  For the rest of the afternoon, I relaxed and read.  I ate dinner in the room and talked to Eileen.  The rest of the evening was filled by watching movies until bedtime (2215).  Today was my “Buying an Annual Pass was Worth It” Day (cost per visit <$10) - anything more is gravy.  Since the snow just got here, I should have enough days left in the season to check out other X-C venues nearby!  

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 25

This morning, I woke up at around 0600 (Still at the WRJ Holiday Inn Express) and saw that Mollie had texted, requesting a wake-up call (she was getting on a bus, bound for NoVA).  I called her and we talked briefly.  After that, I got ready and went down to eat breakfast in the hotel lobby (0645).  The room was VERY crowded with kids again.  We got lots of snow overnight but it wasn't done!  I went back to my room and spent the morning finishing up my reservations for the early April backpacking trip in the Smokies.  Also set up Zoom call for me and my daughters (for later in the day) and then spent more time reading and doing some travel planning for NZ-Australia.  Ate lunch in the room.  After waiting until 1245 for the snow to stop falling (I figured out that we got at least six inches during the last 24 hours), I was itching to get back out on the trails at Eastman Cross Country Center!  Their website reported that the whole system was groomed (still no tracks though).  When I arrived (1315), I found at least three new inches had covered over the trails.  This, along with the fact that the snow was really sticky, began an epic afternoon of trail breaking, falling and exploring.  Actually, I’m pretty proud of myself because I stayed out on the trails for three whole hours (5ish miles, my longest session ever), made a complete circuit of all the trails except for two black diamond routes (first time on several of the harder ones), only removed my skis once (for a road crossing) and persisted through some tough ice/snowball buildup in the yellow “skin” area on the bottom of my skis.  Encountered only seven other people (none on “the back nine” of the system - everyone else complained of the same issues I had.  Kept my arms and legs moving almost continuously and accepted all the terrain as it came (a lesson from my Lake Placid weekend).  Felt very good when I finished at 1620! Drove back to my hotel (arrived at 1650) and had just enough time to take a shower before my Zoom call with the girls (1700 to 1830).  Afterwards, I ate a light dinner, read and watched movies until bed time (2200).  Winter isn’t done yet and neither am I!

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 24

[started my telework day early again (0600) at the hotel in White River Junction - ate breakfast at 0640 and then resumed teleworking - I'd thought about driving to the Green Woodlands but changed my mind due to an upset stomach - ate lunch in the room (1245) and worked until around 1300 and then took a two hour walk near the hotel (1310 to 1510) - the weather was pleasant (almost 40 degrees) but I could see clouds rolling in as I walked - back online at around 1515 and finished my telework day at 1630 - made my first shelter reservation in the Smokies (for my hike in early April) - then drove to Lebanon, stopping for gas at Irving on the way (1710) - from 1715 until 2015, I helped out with my Knights of Columbus Council at the second fish fry of lent - it was well attended and I really didn't take any breaks during the whole window - returned to my hotel (arrived at around 2030) and spent the rest of the night reading and watching movies - it started snowing just before I went to bed at 2300]

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 23

[someone on the floor above me (in the Holiday Inn at White River Junction) woke up at around 0430 and I ended up getting up about 30 minutes later (couldn't fall back to sleep) - read and did some Duolingo for a little while before starting my telework day (0600) - breakfast at 0630 - more teleworking - snowing a LOT - drove to UVAC for 0730 swim lane reservation - stayed until almost 0900 (swim, bike, row, weights) - back to hotel to telework some more - at 1000, I got an text about joining a meeting that I had no invitation for (my client sent the Zoom info after that) - I then joined an all day "schedule deep dive" meeting - took lunch break at (1300) - the meetings continued until 1500 - after that, I left White River Junction and drove to Lebanon to get a haircut (1530) - afterwards, I drove to Jesse's and joined my regular happy hour from about 1600 to 1745 - then drove to my condo to check the mail and get a few items (talked to Monte while I was there) - back at my hotel by 1830 - spent the rest of the evening reading and watching movies - bed at 2200]

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 22

Even though I slept pretty well, I was wide awake by 0600 again (still at Holiday Inn in White River Junction) and started immediately teleworking.  I went to breakfast at 0645 and enjoyed the dining area mostly alone.  The food (as usual) was good but the rest of the hotel also showed signs of improvement after the busy "February Vacation" period.  After weeks of huge piles of laundry in the hallways, the hotel seemed to have finally made a dent in the mess!  Back in my room, I had meetings all morning.  I took a break to eat lunch in my room (1200) and then had more meetings until 1500.  After getting done for the day, I took my trash can down the hall to get rid of its contents but then couldn't get back inside my room.  It turned out that my key was only programmed through March 1 (I'd forgotten this).  Fortunately, the front desk lady was very nice and helped me fix the problem.  Next, I drove to Grantham/Eastman to ski (listening to audiobooks on the way).  The road conditions much better than day before so I decided to park at John's Glen.  I spent two hours (1525 to 1725) on all the trails at John’s Glen, despite sticky snow and (still) no tracks.  The best part of the day was that I got much more hill work, building confidence in my backcountry abilities.  It started snowing as I left for home (more audiobooks).  After reaching my hotel I got some more steps by walking around on the different floors of the Holiday Inn (stair work too).  I then settled into my room for the night, first eating dinner in my room (1830) and then watched movies until bed time (2200).  Glad I could keep my skiing streak alive at Lucky Number 7!