Life is a journey, not always happy or sad but always interesting. Join me as we travel the winding road via this blog, on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/mabryatpinnacol), and on Instagram (@davidmabry).
Watched the local news last night. Forecast was for 1-2” of the white stuff. 4 a.m. get up to let the dogs out and just a trace of snow on the deck. 6:30 a.m. roll out of bed and look out the window. Quickly decide to go back to bed because it’s a raging blizzard outside my window. 1-2” has morphed into at least half a foot of stuff waiting for me to get up and shovel.
I know, I know, most of you not only had to get up but actually go out and drive in the gentle flakes falling from the sky. Assuming you made it safely to wherever you had to go I’m hoping you’re all warm and snug and tucked in front of a welcoming computer screen as you read this. Me? I just came in from shoveling. In one of my recent blogs I alluded to sharing a slight resemblance to the Michelin Man. Not today. I think I look like a cute version of Frosty the Snowman but my sweet wife thinks it’s more the Abominable variety than cute but we both agree I’ve got the Snowman thing down as I shake tons of snow all over the floor as I take off what is purportedly a dark green coat.
What’s with this Winter? Am I the only one, or has the snow gotten heavier? In March you expect heavy, wet snow but it’s still January. If this keeps up come March I’m going to need a front end loader instead of a snow shovel. And they say retirement is all rest and relaxation. Humph. I’ll be heading down to Phoenix in a couple of weeks to work Sring Training at Surprise Stadium which hosts the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals for six gloriously warm and sunny weeks. As you,can imagine, I can hardly wait. Of course, with you all warm and snug after you’re peaceful morning commute it’s hard to understand my antipathy for our latest beautiful blanket of white. But just you wait ‘til you get home. You too can partake in the joyous act of slinging tons of snow over your shoulder. Hopefully you have a significant other who loves this activity more than you do. If so, cuddle up on the couch and watch the weatherwoman as she forecasts “...just a trace in the metro area”. Perhaps warm up some cocoa for your snowman or snowwoman when they come back in. And say something encouraging, like, “This is what retirement will be like! Isn’t it great!”
Meanwhile I’m holding a snow sale. As much as you want and it’s free! All you need is a front end loader...
My Colorado readers know why they live in this wonderful State. It may have its faults (traffic, crowds, urban sprawl, etc.) but at the end of the day there’s more to celebrate than to complain about. Colorado weather can change in a heartbeat and we can get 70 degree days in January and snow in May or June. Right now we’re in what purports to be Winter and this year the season seems to be living up to its name. Lots of snow in the High Country and today as I write this we’re enjoying what locals euphemistically refer to as Stock Show weather. For those of you not in Colorado, every January sees the National Western Stockshow come to Denver and it always seems that during its run we get some nasty weather. Looking out the window it’s cold and gloomy and the silver flakes are starting to fall. Colorado boasts about 300+ days of sunshine a year but today is not one of them. So thought I’d share some “Winter Postcards” shot in the High Country when the sun was making an appearance. Hopefully it will brighten your day!
Ok, I finally admit it - the couch potatoes were right. Exercising in Winter, January specifically, yesterday in particular, is no fun. It’s cold, dark, often wet, and most of nature is covered in a white blanket or hibernating. Yeah, I could work out indoors, and often do, spinning away on ye old exercise bike when the outside clime is too sever even for me. But even with tunes blaring and the TV droning, I can only tolerate the insanity of sitting on a stationary bike going absolutely nowhere for only so long.
Running and cycling are by their nature outdoor endeavors. My chosen passion lends itself to two wheels churning rather than two feet plodding (if I was a runner plod would be the accurate description...) so I find myself, now retired, with no good excuse for not getting out there - “Just do it!” - so yesterday found me out on my trusty steed endlessly circling Bear Creek Park in Lakewood to get some early season miles in. Used to be, way, way, back in the day that the cycling season unofficially ended in late November with riders taking a hiatus in the frigid cold of December and January. 40 miles cumulative in January was considered good. After all, if you were out riding you weren’t schussing down the slopes and by god that would just be un-Coloradoan. Even when I was a more active skier I knew that come March and April getting my rump back on the bike saddle was going to hurt but that was the price to be paid to be able to do all the riding that this greatest of States offers in the summer.
Not now. Years ago when I’d venture out to attain those measly 40 miles I’d be lucky to see another rider. Sure, even back then there were a fair number of winter runners but runners are even crazier than cyclists so at least they had an excuse. Now 40 miles is about a half week’s worth of riding and it’s almost crowded on the paths and roadways that are actually free of snow.
Which brings me to yesterday. Temps were in the 30’s and I was dressed like the Michelin Man. Heck, it takes me longer to get dressed in all those layers than it does to do the ride but the good thing is I’m so layered up under all that clothing that I’m unrecognizable as the crazy fool I am for being out there in the first place. From head to toe I’m covered in fleece, woolly mittens, thermal underwear, and neoprene booties. Oh, and don’t forget the balaclava. I didn’t even know what the word balaclava meant until I started riding more in the Winter. The first time I heard the word I thought it sounded slightly Greek and probably delicious. The snow lay deep and there were occasional icy patches that made you pay attention so I couldn’t even zone out. There’s not much variation to the scenery on a Winter ride except for the occasional snowshoe hare, whitetail deer or ice fisherman (and they’re even crazier than runners). So it’s nice that there are now so many of us out there chugging up and down hill and dale, clouds of steam streaming in our wake. The nice thing is that winter cyclists still wave at each other in silent encouragement, something most summertime riders gave up doing years ago (more’s the pity) and there’s the added benefit of an upper body workout from the constant raising of the arm to acknowledge one’s fellow sufferers. These early season rides used to be mainly on flat terrain but in today’s world you’ll see other idgits (that’s the polite term for idiot) riding Lookout Mountain, Genessee, Evergreen, Red Rocks, etc. which is some fairly serious elevation gain even in July. And some of these guys and gals (yes, this Winter malady has afflicted even the fairer sex) are actually working - dare I say it - hard. These are the folks, come summer, who will fly by me going uphill on Ride the Rockies, the Triple Bypass, Elephant Rock and other similar rides.
I had the double whammy of just returning from St. Lucia in the Caribbean which most definitely is not conducive to Winter riding. It is however very much conducive to excessive eating, drinking, and sleeping on the beach under an incredibly warm sun. Getting back on the bike, in the freezing cold, I knew was going to be painful and I was right. My butt hurt, my arms hurt, my back hurt, and my legs by the end of the ride felt like they were no longer attached to my body. So, all you,couch potatoes out there, I salute you. You are most wise in your somnolent splendor. Me, not being so bright, will be out there again today wondering what the heck I’m doing. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
One of the things I dream about when out on a Winter ride is the joy of riding in the summer, just 6 long months away. Here’s the Bear Creek ride on a decidedly non-Winter day:
The beach at Sandals Grande in St. Lucia is one on which you could spend your whole vacation and never leave. The sand is immaculately maintained, there are all sorts of comfortable nooks and crannies for you and your significant other to spend some quality time by yourselves, there is ocean side service for any libations you might need to quench your thirst, and several of the great restaurants that Sandals offers are literally right on the beach or over the water. Still, staring out at Rodney Bay and seeing the breeze dancing across the waves is every bit as enticing as the allure of staying beachbound. When the urge to get out on the water strikes you Sandals offers more than enough options. Everything from waterskiing and wake boarding to snorkel excursions to standup paddle boarding, kayaking, and sailing are available and included. My wife and I can only sit staring into each other’s beautiful eyes for so long so before the chill had left our cold drink glasses we were trying to decide which water activity to try first.
Rodney Bay is a big half moon of water that is sheltered enough you don’t have to worry about drifting out to sea but still blessed with strong and steady winds that get any latent sailor in you itchy to leave the shore behind. We sailed almost every day we were in St. Lucia and there were several times they had to come out to tell us to come in before it got dark we were having so much fun. We also availed ourselves of Sandals fleet of kayaks, both single and tandem, and enjoyed cruising along the shore and exploring Rodney Bay Marina which is home to some incredible boats, yachts, and sailing ships of every description.
Sandals also has dive and snorkel boats that regularly head out to some great sites and we went out to visit the fish numerous times. Quite candidly some of the best snorkeling and fish viewing is right off the Sandals beach around the center pavilion but any chance to take a boat ride was too good to pass up. We also took a paid excursion on JJ’s Jetboat tour and it was well worth the price. It lasted about 4 hours and took us to lunch at Beautiful Marigot Bay (which is where the recent Dr. Doolittle movie was filmed) as well as several snorkeling spots along St. Lucia’s incredible coast. And boy, can JJ’s boat get up and run powered by two 350hp motors that are raring to go.
I couldn’t get all the on-water activities in one short video so you’ve got two to choose from. The first is focused on kayaking and sailing while the second takes you along on JJ’s, and other boats as we visit Marigot Bay and various snorkeling spots. As nice as the Sandals resort was, and as much as they pampered us, it was the on-water activities that would take us back to Saint Lucia in a heartbeat. And since it’s a whopping 22 degrees in Denver as I write this, that 80 degree water would feel pretty darn good right about now!
Most folks who come to Sandals probably spend most, if not all, of their time at the resort with only an occasional foray via an approved excursion that picks you up and drops you off at the resort. The beaches in St. Lucia, as in some other islands, are actually public access which means anyone can stroll the Sandals beach. There is security at both ends of the beach which monitors the comings and goings of visitors and guests alike. Sandals Grand sits at the northern end of Rodney Bay and just outside the gates on the northern side is the Pigeon Island National Landmark. For $8/US you get access to a beautiful ocean front park as well as trails that lead to two high points of land which were coveted ground when the French and English were squabbling over this piece of terra firma. The trails are a bit of a grunt climb with one taking you up to the old English fort built in the 1870’s while the other takes you up a slightly more arduous climb to the higher of the two peaks. The wind blows pretty consistently in St. Lucia and the tops of the two climbs had the intrepid hikers holding on to their hats.
What makes the climbs worthwhile are the 360 degree panoramas. To the north lies the island of Martinique some 25 sea miles away and the day I went there was a steady line of sailboats big and small making a beeline from one island to the other.
Once down, the park boasts stunning views of the ocean waves breaking against the unprotected north side and one can sense the power of these rolling waves as they cascade merrily along the shore. Just outside the entrance gates there are shops catering to the tourists brave enough to venture outside the confines of the resort. The visit to Pigeon Island and all it offers is something I’d highly recommend. Here’s some footage I took from up on high...
One of the things that hits you as you step off the plane in St. Lucia is how green everything is. The calendar may say December but the flowers are beautiful. It’s apparent that Sandals Resort takes enormous pride in their facilities including the lush gardens. I’d love to know the design firm that helps Sandals lay out and design their resorts but whoever it is knows what their about. The gardens are set against the luxurious pools that seem to beckon around every corner. My last blog took you on a bird’s eye view of Sandals but tonight I’ll take you on a quick stroll through the resort. I know a lot of Caribbean resorts are lovely, how can they not be in such gorgeous locations, but Sandals is truly a feast for the eyes especially for those hailing from the brown landscapes of a stateside Winter. Enjoy!
We’re staying at a Sandals resort on the North side of St. Lucia. St. Lucia is a fairly sizable island and has a population of 170,000. Like so much of the Carribean it’s a contrast in extreme wealth set against a backdrop of poverty and subsistence living. The drive from the airport, on the southern side, takes about an hour and a half and the island drivers, including the shuttle buses, take pride in driving fast and scaring the *#@$ out of the tourists. Flying around hairpin corners, zooming over hill and dale must be key skills taught in their drivers education classes because everyone’s in an extreme hurry to get somewhere or another. Either that or their simply doing lap after lap of what is, after all, an island.
Sandals prides itself as being a 5 Star luxury resort. It’s also all inclusive which means you’re not continually reaching into your purse or wallet to pay for everything from food and drinks to water sports. The only things that require payment are excursions offered by private vendors that take you off the resort to see the local must see sights and attractions. Being 5 Star luxury of course means that while your not constantly reaching for the credit card you of course have already paid substantially when booking your trip. Sandals isn’t the cheapest vacation which is why I’ve only been twice in thirty years (the last was on my honeymoon when we went to the Sandals in Montego Bay, Jamaica) but for special occasions such as weddings, honeymoons, anniversaries these resorts can’t be beat. Of course, if I had the money, I’d also include birthdays, clean checkups from the dentist, not having to shovel snow or deal with Artic temperatures as equally good excuses to visit. There are three Sandals resorts on St. Lucia and we picked the Sandals Grande primarily for its beach and it’s water sports offerings. From scuba and snorkeling to windsurfing, sailing, and water skiing it’s all available and all included. I love to sail (funny that I ended up In landlocked Colorado) and Rodney Bay, which is where the Grande is located, offers phenomenal steady, moderately strong winds ideal for getting a Hobie off and running. The Bay also has lots of yachts moored just offshore and if you’re into boats it’s a lot of fun to cruise around and ogle all the nautical hardware. Sandals is an adult only resort and has a good cross section of ages and nationalities coming to visit. I could go on and on about how nice the resort is but suffice it to say I’d return in a heartbeat if I got the chance. Here’s a short bird’s-eye view of the resort filmed at the crack of dawn when not many folks were up and about. All the liquor you can drink is also included so most folks seem to sleep in but I find the mornings are almost the best time of day. Here’s wishing you a little St. Lucia sunshine and warmth!
