A Weekend in the Mountains

I am still trying to get myself back into a normal work mode (if that really exists). We took a break from the hustle and bustle of our regular lives this past weekend and had ourselves a nice little getaway to the Appalachian Mountains for a snowboarding weekend with some friends.

We left on Thursday afternoon and headed up to Sugar Mountain near Boone, North Carolina. Unfortunately we did not consider the time we were leaving and ended up in rush hour traffic in Atlanta, which was followed by a wreck right outside of Atlanta that had us stopped on the interstate for nearly an hour and a half. We were trying to beat the freezing rain that was headed that way and made it to the house we were staying at shortly after it started. It was midnight by the time we got there, but we were all wired for the trip so we ended up staying up to nearly 2 am (the boys may have stayed up later than that). Needless to say we slept late the next morning. I brought stuff and made breakfast casserole when we got there so all I had to do the next morning was get up and put it in the oven, which I did around 9:30 before almost everyone was awake. We'd decided to night ski the first night since we got such a late start and still had to get groceries for the weekend as well as rent our snowboards.

The view from the top and my snow bunny and I. (don't tell him I called him a snow bunny...lol) 

Our first night on the slopes was great! Luckily I did not forget everything I learned last year and was able to get down the hill sans falling the first time. =) We stayed on the easy hills for the most part and finally worked up the nerve to go up the bigger hill that only Eric and his buddy attempted the year before which resulted in them falling their way down the mountain. We conquered the big hill, which was fast but turned out to be really fun! We called it a night around 9:30 and headed back to the house for dinner.....at 10:30pm, which resulted in another late night.

Our second day started about the same time as our first day, but we decided to opt for night snowboarding again even though we had our gear from the night before. To pass the time before we headed out we decided to check out the town of Blowing Rock. It's a really cute town with a TON of character. We went there to check out a place called Mystery Hill where they have a "vortex" that has a higher than average gravitational pull that makes you lean at a 45 degree angle in the room. The guys were completely skeptical before we went in, and were completely freaked out after we left. It drove them nuts because they could not figure out why it was like that.

You could feel a higher than normal gravitational pull, almost like you were drunk.

They also had a platform that always made the person on the left look taller.  Apparently the physics department at Appalachian State has come out and tested this to prove it's an optical illusion, but were unable to explain it....freaky!

While we were there we came across an old timey photo place. Jokingly we asked the guys if they wanted to do one, and they got really excited about it. So we took one.....in reversed roles. Yes that is my husband in the front right in the short black dress. Isn't he precious? The guy who was running it said he'd never had a role reversal photo before and that we would have our photo hanging in the store soon. I guess it's better to be known for something rather than nothing, right?

We headed to downtown Blowing Rock for lunch and found a pub called the Six Pence Pub that was right up our alley.  They had a ton of unique brews and even a cider beer for me! The food was amazing and we left about 5 pounds heavier than we were when we went in.

We headed back to the house and caught a quick nap to sleep off our food comas and then it was back to the slopes for night #2!  The second night on the slopes was even better than the first. Eric and I got recognized by the lift guy on the first hill.  As soon as we got off the first time the second night he yelled out his window, "I remember you guys from last night!  You (Eric) grab the wall and she holds onto the chair until she gets to the bottom!"  BUSTED! Whatever works, right?!  It was a lot more crowded than the night before, so we hesitantly decided to try a higher/harder slopes than we'd been doing. It was the best decision we could have made. We had a BLAST! The higher slopes were ins lot better condition and a lot less crowded. We were pretty sure we were ready for the pro circuit by the end of the night, except for that whole going down the mountain like a bat out of you know where...we're not quite on that level. Not even close actually, but it left us ready to come back again next year!

We did all of the slopes circled in pink....lots more fun than just staying on the Lower Flying Mile like last year!

Two nights of snowboarding in a row left us absolutely exhausted and after some fabulous deer tacos for dinner we crashed...hard. There was no staying up late for anyone. Plus we had to get up at 8 so we could get on the road.

We were so sad to leave, and we will definitely be going back next year!  How could you not want to go back to beautiful views and an amazing house like this one?!

I seriously NEED this house for everyday use =)  We're convinced that renting houses is the way to travel anymore!

We were so sad to see this vacation come to and end.  It was so much fun!  I am so glad we were able to go with such a fun group of friends!  And because I know you want to see more old timey shenanigans......

You're welcome.