Joining me on this Saturday, the second of my three days in New Hampshire, was cousin Zippy – and what a blast we had.  Up early at the cabin to a beautiful view out over the foot-thick frozen Winnipesaukee ice to the foothills on the opposite shore.  We left for our first mountain of the day, Waterville, about and hour away through the back roads of New Hampshire.  New Hampshire is a contrast between its amazing natural gifts – the lakes, spectacular White Mountains and woods compared with the commercial clutter lining miles and miles of highways.  One lovely refuge in New Hampshire are its many lovely ski areas – like Waterville Valley.

This is a familiar mountain to my family and me – it is one of the places my sons learned to ski and where I occasionally unbuckle my stiff alpine ski boots and strap into a snowboard with my softer snowboard boots.  This day, like yesterday, was also below zero but we were layered-up and doing just fine for our three runs off the long chair lift.  Zip and I took these runs with Mark, a good friend from our home town, and his buddies Scott, Lalo and Scott.  Its hard enough for me to remember names when I see the persons face, let alone when you meet a bunch of guys in parkas, hats, neck warmers and goggles – sorry guys if I don’t say hello if I see on the street back home!