Happy #thinkingoutloud Thursday! No idea what I’m going on about? Click here!
1. I always have the best of intentions when it comes to recapping a weekend trip on the Monday after I get back. I really do. Buuuuuut it almost never ends up happening. Part of that is because I need more time to go thorough all my pictures and figure out a way to coherently string them together, but a bigger part of it is the fact that I can’t write when other people are around… which means I can’t write until the Sunday night that I get back, and that’s kind of the last thing I want to do at that point.
It’s not that I try to hide the fact that I blog or that I don’t have any downtime… I just quite literally can’t write when other people are around. I can’t focus. Even if they’re just sitting there quietly and minding their own business — just knowing that they’re there throws me off and makes me forget what I’m trying to say. Is that crazy? That might be crazy. But it is what it is. And now that I’m home sweet home with no one but Douglas to distract me, it’s time to get recappin’…
2. First order of business — coffee.
There is one Starbucks on the 3.5-ish hour drive from Edmonton to Jasper. Just one. And it’s a little under 3 hours away. The wait is torture. And if you’re wondering why we wait, I’m pretty sure it’s because no one wants to be stuck in a car with me acting like this for 4 hours straight 😆
3. Speaking of crazy… Oh…
… hi there…
… SHEEP!
This is what you get when you throw salt on the roads to help with winter driving — herds of bighorn sheep hanging out in the middle of the highway, licking the pavement. And those buggers will.not.move until they’re good and ready.
4. We also saw a lot of elk, which were far less suicidal daring in their choice of hangouts…
5. Other than that it was all mountains…
Mountains…
Trees…
And more mountains…
Not that I’m complaining. *insert heart-eyed emoji here*
6. Nope, not true — I do have one thing to complain about. Notice all the clouds swirling around the mountain tops? I know they look all pretty when you’re at the bottom looking up, but they’re not so pretty when you’re at the top and trying to navigate your way down…
Let’s just say there were a few runs there where we were quite literally riding through soupy white clouds. And the rest of the time it was so dark and shady that it was hard to see and get a feel for the texture of the snow, making it hard to go all out and have some real fun without risking catching an edge and flying off into the trees.
Definitely not my favourite conditions to ride in, but sometimes you just gotta take what you can get and like it!
7. Or forget about your frustrations by treating yourself to a night at the spa…
I can’t remember the exact name of the treatment I got, but it involved a herb-infused heated wrap followed by an hour-long massage. The only downside was that I felt so good afterwards that I can’t help but want to make it a regular thing in my life… and I don’t think my wallet would be too happy with me for that one. Then again… the better I feel, the more productive I can be. Riiiight? Right 😉
8. Aaaaaand that’s pretty much all I have in the way of pictures. Unless you count these two random ones which I apparently thought were interesting enough to photograph? 😆
Yeaaah. I have no idea either. All I can say is: never leave home without a [good] book, and never ride without a helmet — both are good for your noggin’ in different ways.
9. Happy Thursday, friendly faces! Rock some socks off today! 😀
No questions… just tell me whatever comes to your mind! 😀
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A couple of my friends were stranded at the top of a mountain (I forget which one) in a complete white out a few years ago – with none other than Nancy Greene! Even though she literally could not see anything, she guided them down the mountain that she apparently knew like the back of her hand. 😉 So recruit her next time you board, hah!
Those mountains are SO beautiful!! or the photos make them beautiful. Last time I went to Colorado and took a trip up the Rockies, we encountered fighting sheep which was slightly hilarious. Love that they lick the salt on the ground!
I love a good spa session. I really need to schedule one, especially for the massage (which always seems to fly by way to fast. like, that hour feels like 10 minutes)….I can’t with the sheep. I have enough trouble driving when the geese are trying to cross the road. Aside from random deer out east, luckily I don’t have to encounter many animals at all.
Every time I go to the spa (which is at most one a year if I’m lucky) I vow to go more often because it feels so amazing. I end up slowly forgetting how great it was and end up not going until someone talks me into going with them. Looks like you had a great weekend!
Okay… your pictures are stunning. Like, absolutely awesome. I loathe all things winter, but those pictures of yours give it beauty. I live in the city… nowhere near any mountains. I remember when I was in Oregon and saw Mt. Hood from a distance while in the car… very cool for me.
That spa treatment sounds like a dream right now.
The mountains definitely make getting through winters a lot easier. Which is a good thing considering we have to deal with about 6 months of them up here!
those mountains are GORGEOUS girl. I can’t ski or snowboard well, but I love looking at the pictures!
Wow! Those mountains are beautiful. I don’t see mountains unless I take a plane somewhere out west… I am always amazed at how huge they are!
The animals are cute, too!!!
Beautiful pictures!! Those mountains look amazing. I am sure your pictures don’t do them justice. Glad you had a great trip and I totally agree. Always wear a helmet. I barely purchased mine this year for snowboarding but beyond happy I did.
Those mountains are freaking GORGEOUS!! And girl, I get the writing thing…it’s very hard for me to write sometimes with other people around (insert I’m around someone 24/7 for this project and have no choice but to find a way to get over it problem, LOL) BUT…I’m getting better but sometimes I’ll literally shut my laptop and be like “I have writer’s block” but it’s usually also a mix of “please stop talking to me or I’ll never be able to think, let alone write this post and your brainstorming is just making it worse” 😉
I love this post – it makes me so jealous! I haven’t been skiing in about 3 years (mainly because I’ve been pregnant for 2 of those winters and had a tiny one the winter in between…ugh!) and I miss it so. I haven’t challenged myself to snowboarding yet, not sure if I will – I don’t know if I would like not being able to move my legs any further apart or together…hah! But man, this makes me get the itch SO bad…maybe next year!
😆 And see, I couldn’t imagine -not- having both of my legs attached to one thing. I’d constantly be worried that each would go a separate way and I’d break in half or something…
Eeek – I just shivered inside looking at ALL that snow!!! It is gorgeous, but, if I was one of those elk, I think my hiney would be frozen! I am so in awe of you that you like to snowboard and hang out in it (insert hands raised and head bowed emogi here) !!! Please teach me your snow/cold loving ways!
Beautiful mountains!! I live in Switzerland so I go skiing every weekend and your post is making me wish it was Friday already! Can’t wait!!
Ahh jealous! I’ve always wanted to go boarding in the Swiss Alps. One of these days!
Haha, the sheep!! Reminds me of when I was in studying abroad in Scotland in college – the sheep literally outnumbered people at times in the rural areas.
It depends on the people, but it’s always easiest to write when I am alone. Looks like a wonderful trip – beautiful scenery.
Those sheep are so cool!!! Happy thursday!
Your story of skiing through the clouds terrifies me! I don’t do well in the snow!
i hope that spa came with warm and cozy latte’s or hot chocolate. If so, sign me up on your next trip! I’ll be there while you snowboard. mmm k?
No hot chocolate, only tea. Which was okay, but… it still wasn’t coffee or chocolate 😆
I miss the mountains! Need to come back for a visit!
Omg, those sheep and those mountains…how beautiful! If only it weren’t so cold! I guess you have to like snowboarding/skiiing if you live in Canada!
Only one starbucks?! I can’r imagine. Here they are a dime a dozen thankfully.
Here in the city they are too! Just not in the little towns on the highway, apparently…
Gorgeous pictures! Sounds like you had a fabulous weekend! (And I have a hard time focusing when anyone is around, which means a lot of late night writing…)
It looks like you had a great time. It also looks extremely cold which is def not my thing LOL. I remember when I went to college in upstate NY, we got stopped on the side of the road because of sheep. It was crazy.
Only one Starbucks? When I first read that I thought you meant you drove 3.5 hours one way for a Starbucks. LOL, that would be such a long drive.
I cannot write with other people around. Having my Mom staying with me this winter had made that a challenge. For some reason though, I can hangout at Starbucks and write amongst all the people. I don’t get it!?!
It’s the same with me! I actually don’t mind writing in Starbucks, and I think it has something to do with being around strangers vs. people you know… like you’re more attentive to people you know whereas it’s easier to completely ignore strangers. Just a theory.
Looking at your photos I’m thinking winter isn’t so bad. Then I look out my window and all I can think about is how cold it is and having to drive in the ice and snow. I remember why I’m not a winter fan. Such a beautiful place to visit.
Insert heart eyed emoji is right. Goodness gracious. That is simply just beyond incredible. I miss terrain in general, but to see that, just wow.
Okay, I went over my budget yesterday and realized that I spend an average of $70/month on Starbucks. *GULP*. So… I really wish we only had one, 3+ hours away. I’d probably be super rich. Sigh… Love all the pics, and so glad you were able to get away like that. Looks lovely.
I’m pretty sure I used to spend that much as well, but I reasoned to myself that it was something that I really enjoyed and looked forward to, so it was worth it to treat myself. Life’s too short!
I cannot get over how gorgeous all your pictures are! And obviously I’m also insanely jealous of your spa time. 😉
Crraaazzzyyy about the sheep! I miss sheep! Is that weird to say?! I never see them anymore, but in England I saw them every day. Awesome pics though. I think its good you never manage a recap because you are LIVING LIFE which is most important 🙂 Although I do wish you would join us for meatless mondays sometimes 🙂
Have a wonderful week!
I would! But I changed up my posting schedule so I don’t usually post recipes on Mondays anymore 😥
SHEEP! That looks like the most amazing trip. I’m in holiday-planning mode right now and I can say that those mountains look mighty tempting…! I’m thinking about making massages a regular thing… if I can get some Groupon then it works out almost acceptable on the wallet. I like your productivity reasoning – I think I’ll use that!
Oh such great photo’s that made me really jealous!
It’s years since I went skiing here in Scotland. I’ve never tried snow boarding though.
We do have the issue of sheep on the roads here at this time of the year too, so I completely sympathise with your having to manoeuvre around the little devils! 🙂
The mountain pics are gorgeous! Here’s a random one for you….your flourless double chocolate brownies are amazing straight out of the freezer!! :))
Your mountains are so very lovely!!
And those sheep! Haaaha. It’s funny that they lick the salt!!
I’ve officially decided I’m ready to come live in your guest room and go skiing often. 🙂 🙂
As long as you don’t pick on Douglas or steal my -never- ripe bananas 😛
Deal!
Ice gotten pretty good at writing even if my family is there making noise, talking to me or whatever. Most of it is done when I’m completely alone and everyone’s at school, but there are definitely also times I’m writing in the midst of chaos and just tune it out to finish up! Your weekend looks pretty incredible from those pictures. I agree Sunday night writing is my least favorite time.
Wow looks like a great trip- even the drive there is so beautiful! If I drink coffee too early into a road trip I need to stop constantly to use the bathroom. So hour 3 of a 4 hour drive sounds just about right:)
I know you go up to the mountains for the snowboarding but heck, I’d happily make that drive just to see nature’s beauty alone! Not going to lie- seeing that snow sends a shiver down my spine…how many layers do you wear when you’re up there? And good on you for booking in a spa night! Expensive, yes but sometimes those nights are just so necessary!
It depends on how cold it is, but on average? 3. A thermal shirt, a hoodie, and then my jacket. It’s really not as bad as it looks… usually 😛
Stunning!!! Wow, what glorious views. I was absolutely transported just through your blog post. Next time take me with you, I like spa treatments and Starbucks too. Road trip!!
You can never have enough mountians – never ever:)
I 100% agree 😀
That is a tonne of mountains. So. many. mountains.
And the random animals parading around? who do they think they are lol! Pretty sure 1 starbucks is better than what you find here….maybe a service station with pre made cold coffee.
Ohhh service station coffee… Some of it is actually pretty good!