The sweet tea-tastic Carolinas

So after the wonderfully colourful Colorado, I was off to Greenville, SC. I've said it before but I love, love, love flying internal US flights. I really don't know why. Maybe it's the airports, maybe it's the destinations, but they are brilliant.

From Denver, I flew to Houston, a new airport for me. It's actually called George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Not quite as good a name as Will Roger's airport in Oklahoma City but I was still on the look out for George Bush (41) paraphernalia. I wasn't disappointed.

Actually the only disappointment was to statue pose this one would have required a fan. And a person to take the picture.

Never having been in the airport I was excited to see destinations in my little spoke as varied as Mexico City, Mobile, Pensacola, Baton Rouge, Corpus Christi and Little Rock.

My gate looked exactly like a airport gate from a movie. Seriously, is this not where Rachel left for France in Friends?

My plane on to Greenville was little, so I was delighted to get a full can of Coke and two packets of pretzels. Score!

Arriving in Greenville. I think our flight was the last in that night. It showed.

The next morning, I had breakfast with Jose at IHOP, stuffed French toast combo (hash browns, sausage links, eggs sunny side up and french toast and fruit stuffed with cream cheese. I get my blueberries on the side). Nothing tastes as good in the morning! Then I was off to North Carolina.

This is one of my favourite parts of the journey north. Straight, open road, mountains and sometimes blue sky.

In Asheville Maggie showed me a new development (shops, cinema, restaurants, houses and apartments) which, I promise you, looked exactly like Hill Valley from Back to the Future.

I also noticed new things in Hicksville.

Like these. I definitely would have remembered these. And perhaps made fun of them.

But enough new, there must visit places to go back to, like Mast General Store. A relic of auld decency.

I love this store. It sells everything and nothing. It has clothes, camping stuff, sweets, garden stuff. General is right.

And Whitman's Bakery. No massive Napoleon this time, due to it being just before lunch.

Just a pre-lunch snack instead. I have no idea what is was called now, but it was like a donut twist. Actually, that might have been what it was called now that I think of it. Better not send my idea to the patent people now.

Before you judge me, you've got to go to Whitman's. Just look at the quality.

These cupcakes were tempting.

Olde worlde bakerye shoppe.

After lunch with Roma and Wayne and more visiting, it was time to do it - run the lake again. Time was really against me because I had to get back to SC that night after dinner with Maggie but they were calling for a snow storm across eastern Tennessee, western NC, southern Virgina and northern SC and northern Georgia! Pretty much everywhere. They had had snow right before Christmas and by the news reports I saw it was bad, and they thought this one would be equal, if not worse. So to save time, I ran with my camera so I won't have to drive around taking pictures of the usual spots. This was a good plan, except that you couldn't really see much of the lake because of the snow, but worse, I think I broke the spinny menu options button on my camera. I mean, it still works, just not really how it used to.

This is the one lane bridge that goes over the lake. It's made of wood and even in slight rain cars have gone over the edge. Good plan to close it when they're calling for 18 inches of snow then.

A different view of the cross.

Thankfully I made it back to Maggie's in decent enough time for a shower and to get packed. The snow was getting worse and worse and with the news on talking about how people got stranded on the interstate in December during the last big snow, we decided that it was best I leave sooner rather than later.

It wasn't long before I got stopped on the interstate. The driving conditions were terrible. The snow was piling up and the roads were icy.

After being stopped on the interstate for about twenty minutes with no clue why, I decided to get out and talk to my fellow commuters. The girls ahead of me said there was an accident (not surprising) and the ambulance (oh dear) had gone ahead of them as they were driving down. But the longer I spent there and the more snow that fell, the less likely it was I was going to make it to Greenville.

Thankfully I was right beside an exit. Where exactly that exit could take me to was a bit unclear. If you remember, I have driven the route from Asheville to Greenville a fair number of times, but only on the interstate. I knew what was off some exits for a mile or two, but that was it.

This is where my phone saved my life! Ok, maybe not, but it got me out of a hole. With no map, I turned on the data roaming to see where I could get to without the interstate. It turned out there was a way through. So despite the cost, I figured it was worth it. I left the interstate and set out with a few other cars to get around the pile up. The roads were even worse than the interstate, the snow was piling up, but I knew the longer I drove the better it would get and the longer I sat the worse it would get. So I did it.

It was a fairly straight shot down, there was one tiny road I had to drive on which was probably six or seven inches in fresh snow and that was the trickiest part. By the time I made it down to another exit, the interstate was as quiet as you can imagine. There was no way that accident had cleared.

The snow continued to fall all the way past the NC/SC line. I followed a UPS truck most of the way and that was good, because the visibility was so poor. My usual route would be to come off the interstate, and down a fairly steep slope into Greenville, but I thought it best to stay on and head to Spartanburg, then to Greenville. I have no idea what that other road would have been like, but it didn't seem a good plan. Not too far out of Spartanburg the snow stopped and the rest of the drive to Jose and Lindy's was a breeze. Oh yeah, except for never having gone that way before and not exactly knowing which exit to come off at. In the end, it took me just about four hours to drive what should take an hour and a half.

The next morning the snow and ice had hit Greenville. It kind of changed our plans for the day, but that was ok.

There were even icicles on the fun bus!

We stayed in Saturday night instead of going out. The snow that had melted turned to ice and not only would some of the group not make it, there was a chance places would be closed because workers hadn't made it. So what did we do instead?! The only thing a group of late-twenties to early thirties would want to!

Dominoes! Oh yeah! Do we know how to have a good time?! Playing Mexican train dominoes with the Greenville group while being snowed in is really the most fun you could ever hope to have!

The weather cleared the rest of the weekend and we were able to get out on Sunday to downtown Greenville, which you'll be relieved to hear is as brilliant as ever! Sadly Monday rolled around and it was time for me to leave.

But not before a visit to the SC Botanical Garden! Oh yeah! I felt it was more an arboretum but I shan't split hairs with them. It was a gorgeous day and I enjoyed it very much.

So all in, even in the snow (and maybe even because of it) a great trip to the Carolinas! I do heart them.

Whiplash hurts, pancakes make it better

Another load of photos of me, me, me. And a late night Saturday upload, just for variety. Makes a big difference eh?!

Monday 15th February

Coming out of a slide at Indianaland. I haven't been since I was little, and it seems in the intervening years someone has shrunk it. Not only was the playing area smaller, the Free Fall was definitely smaller. It used to be massive. Mind you, I still did the Free Fall in an attempt in conquer childhood fears and ended up whacking my head off it, damn force meant not only could I not lift my head, I hit my head. So sometimes fear is a good thing. It was painful at the time but worse on Tuesday and Wednesday when I had whiplash. Seriously, I couldn't even put my head back to get shampoo out of my hair. Nice one Tina.

Tuesday 16th February

Out for the night at Strictly Come Dancing the tour. It was brilliant! Such a good show! Our seats were really good, at the top end, close to the side and close to the judges. Seveeeeen!

Wednesday 17th February

A healthy late night dinner from the chippy. You know me and my healthy ways. I'm looking up to the TV, not the menu board. (They know what I want as soon as I walk in...that's a joke.)

Thursday 18th February

Going to Strictly on Tuesday meant that pancakes were postponed until Thursday. Sure, you might say that defeats the purpose, forty days and that, but I say everyone has the right to pancakes once a year. Here I am with a toasted pecan syrup one. Other great flavours included blueberry syrup, Cadbury's chocolate and cream and the traditional (at least in our house) Lyle's Golden Syrup and lemon juice. Tasty.

Friday 19th February

Watching some late night Olympics before bed. Seriously, this week I don't think I have been asleep before 1.00am because of the Olympics. Even now I am watching Curling on the red button. This is when Amy Williams won the Skeleton. Gold, just in case you didn't hear.

Saturday 20th February

With the man. Just by the way, that piece of hair is consistently behind my glasses. I need my hair cut. Dyanne!

Whiskey for my men, beer for my horses

This is the post you've been waiting for; the rodeo and the best $11 I ever spent.

Discovering the National Western Stock Show was on in Denver was a stroke of luck, rumours that we went specifically over that time are unfounded. Normally when we're skiing, we don't really do anything of an evening, but when you find out the rodeo is in town you've got to go. According to their (no doubt reliable) Wikipedia entry, the National Western Stock Show is the Superbowl of livestock shows. I've never even been to the Balmoral show so that was less interesting to me, but with the Stock Show you get all sorts of bonus events.

The arena was massive, and bearing in mind this was a Wednesday night, it's pretty impressive was it was nearly full. The event started with a heart wrenching version of 'The Star Spangled Banner' and I felt like I was about to get thrown out as not only did I not sing, I didn't have my hand on my heart. I barely got away with it. Then there was a few minutes of ra ra Amer-i-ca stuff, you know how great America is, life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, that kind of thing. Seriously, I was proud to be American after that. I was gutted when I came back down to earth and I realised I'm not.

We were in the minority by not wearing cowboy hats.

Then the events got underway. Unfortunately for us we were seated at the farthest end from the riding events. Doubley unfortunate was the fact that I forgot my camera and all I had was my phone.

The names of the events didn't mean much to me before we went. Well, I can imagine what bareback riding is, but steer wrestling? And team roping? No clue.

I imagine you are much the same way, so let me explain with the help of You Tube. (Please don't feel obliged to watch the full thing. Or you know, any of it.)

Bareback riding - riding a horse bareback. Ok, so it's more complicated than that I imagine. But that's the guts of it.

Saddle bronc riding - riding with saddle. Duh.

Bull riding - riding a bull. Was that not already clear?

Tie down roping - throwing a lasso around a calf, getting off your horse and running to it to tie up its feet. The quicker you do it, the better you are.

Steer wrestling - riding a horse alongside a calf, putting your arm around the 'steer', meanwhile dismounting and wrestling it to the ground.

You can just about see the guy is just about off his horse and with one hand on the calf.

Mutton bustin' - possibily my favourite of all the rodeo events. Five to seven year old children, yes children cling on to the back of a sheep while it charges down the arena.

Seriously check out that kid being thrown from the sheep. What parents would let their children do that? Yes, probably cowboys, but still.

Team roping - Two cowboys and one calf. While one lassos his head, the other his back legs. Incredibly quickly.

You can see the calf with only three legs. That's because the cowboy on the brown horse has its other foot in his lasso. Unfortunately though, the flag is up so it doesn't count. I think you need to get both back feet.

More team roping. Again, notice the red flag. This team left their are too soon. Shame.

Barrel racing - the only women's event where they ride on horses around barrels for the quickest time.

In between two of the events there was a horse riding group that did all sorts of crazy things on horses. I hope you can see this ok. If not you can hear our reactions to one of the stunts.

There wasn't one event which wasn't on the good side of crazy. Seriously, you could get really hurt doing some of these things. We saw officials and referees hanging to the side of the arena as whatever animal came too close. One guy did get hurt when he fell from his horse. He was fine, but this did give my favourite image of the night. When they called for the medics and doctors to help him as he lay in the middle of the arena, four guys in cowboy hats ran towards him, because at the rodeo, even the doctors wear cowboy hats! Told you we were in the minority.

At the end of the night we were encouraged to wait for 'a thought', which was about as Christian as you could imagine without actually mentioning Jesus. During it there was a big box in the middle of the arena and our 'thought' culminated with a real live pony coming out of it! Which in fairness is not something I remember Jesus doing, but still, it was something that ministers doing children's talks would have been proud of.

All in it really was the best $11 you could hope to spend.

Never been described as maniacal before

I didn't mean to do this on a Sunday again. I think it becomes a bit predictable or something if I do it on the same day, but here's this week's project 365. Another varied week I think you'll agree.

Monday 8th February

I was dancing in the kitchen to the radio and I noticed my silhouette which I thought would make a good picture for 365.

Tuesday 9th February

Uploading photos to Facebook of my trip. Oh yeah, I was in bed.

Wednesday 10th February

Looking for inspiration from the fridge but there was nothing tasty.

Thursday 11th February

Out for a walk with my Foakleys.

Friday 12th February

Even though the rest of my hair is dishevelled, I still like the front bit to be straight.

Saturday 13th February

I love Saturday's post because my Time magazine gets delivered.

Sunday 14th February

At the youth service tonight. Kirsty laughed when she saw this photo after I took it. She said I looked maniacal. This is not encouraging news as it's just my regular taking-a-photo-of-myself face.

Ski runs

Further to my Project 365 picture for Friday 22nd January, I got to thinking about some of the ski run names.

Odd that they put first aid in the complete opposite direction of 'Nightmare'.

'Oh no', doesn't sound promising. But on the upside, Andy had so much fun, he wanted to do it all again.

'Foul Play' are you going to trip me up?

'Triple Treat', well they say good things come in threes. Or was that bad things?

'Bouncer' any chance you are like the dog from Neighbours rather than the way I'm going to go down you?

Good to know there's an emergency phone at the top of 'Ore Deal'. Useful.

My favourite sign though wasn't a ski run though.

Oh really, I'm not supposed to jump down the 20 feet to the ground and ski down. Oh ok then.

So resorts will often use themes to pick their ski runs. Like Alice in Wonderland (Jabberwocky, March Hare, Mad Tea Party, Cheshire Cat etc) or a western theme (Quickdraw, Shootout, Gun Barrel, Sundance). Megann and I have decided to open a ski resort. Sniffle Stations (that's what they're called!) with Kleenex Balsam tissues for one and a Panera Bread on site are just two of the brilliant ideas we've had. We're going down a Biblical theme for the runs and stuff. Now wait a minute, stick with us. This is what we're thinking:

Holy Mary, Mother of God - a double black diamond.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph - a black diamond.

Last Rites - a double black diamond

The Last Supper - the lunch spot with only black runs off it.

Feeding the five thousand - the cafeteria down at the bottom.

The Prodigal Son - takes a long and winding route to get back to the same place.

Moses - starts in some trees and then splits.

Little Baby Jesus - the bunny hill.

It's a miracle - easy green hill where new skiers finally get it.

Cain and Abel - Cain's a black run, Abel's a green. They cross each other in an attempt to...well you know.

Trinity - the three seater chairlift.

Doubting Thomas - a run which is not quite sure where it goes.

Noah's (P)ark - the terrain park.

The Twelve Disciples - twelve runs coming off one mountain. Actually, we'll maybe make that 11 and quietly forget about Judas Iscariot.

The Good Samaritan - a blue run beside a green run to help out beginners.

See. This idea has legs.

Later on in the trip we discovered one resort had got a head start on our idea with its own 'chapel' with services on a Sunday.

Too bad that the first time I skied this part I didn't see the cross and it nearly took me out. Taken out by the cross of Jesus would be a pretty bad way to go don't you think? Oh possibly the best way to go?

Colourful Colorado

Last week was a bit crazy when I got back. I even resorted to doing something I never do when I get back from travelling. I slept before it was bedtime. It was a mistake. But I had to because I had a meeting that night. Anyway, with that, classes, work and John's birthday I barely even had time to look at my photos let alone upload them to my computer (nevermind Facebook or Blogger). I know, 'don't give me any of your hard luck stories'. So I'll gloss over that and give you the photos and stories.

On the flight out I had my own row. Oh amazing. Made a change from the woman who ate my Pepperidge Farm cookies last time.

The first day we went skating on the frozen lake. It was Martin Luther King Day so was quite busy but the lake was majassive, with a place for skating and multiple ice hockey rinks.

Oopsy.

So helmets were the order of the day. Of course, this year I didn't really fall. I had one sit down to stop me going over a steep ledge, but it was at low speed and involved no hitting of heads. But that doesn't matter because I love mine. I nearly wore it to bed. I'm not even joking.

Having helmets meant that we could also listen to music as we skied. That's what the cool kids do, you see. I made a playlist, appropriately title 'Chooon' to listen to as I skied and this led to what became known as happy dances of music. I present you this video to demonstrate:

I can't help but think it's like Carlton dancing from the Fresh Prince but it's hard to dance when you can't move your feet and your arms are impeded by poles.

Every day bar one it snowed. Made for good snow.

Of course the blue sky did come out. I loves me a blue sky.

This was the best day's snow, 6 inches of fresh powder. That's what I'm talking about!

Of course no trip is complete without statue poses.

Way to look cool Tina.

And carefree.

Of course no trip through Newark is complete without some broccoli pizza. I had it twice, way out and way back. Well you've got to. Ok, not you probably. But I do.

It is not like sprouts on toast like my dad suggested.

You should not leave your water in the car overnight in Colorado. It freezes. Although oddly Megann's never did.

Other good food included:

Fry American style. I like to be careful where my syrup goes. But I've seen people pile it on their sausages. Weird.

And of course you've got to go to Panera Bread. I already told you about that. But just gaze at the wonder that is Fuji Apple Salad. Citrus herb chicken, greens, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, red onions (I pick those out, otherwise it'd be like that Extra advert from years ago), pecans, Gorgonzola, apple chips and their secret recipe apple dressing all collectively responsible for me liking salads.

More to come about the rodeo and the Carolinas.