Archive for September 29th, 2005
I keep losing this recipe - so I’m putting it here for posterity.
1 regular-size foil oven bag
Cooking spray
1/2 cup uncooked orzo
2 teaspoons olive oil, divided
1 cup diced tomato
3/4 cup sliced green onions
1/2 cup (2 ounces) crumbled feta cheese
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3/4 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1. Preheat oven to 450º.
2. Coat inside of oven bag with cooking spray. Place the bag on a large shallow baking pan.
3. Cook the pasta in boiling water 5 minutes, omitting salt and fat; drain. Place the pasta in a large bowl. Stir in 1 teaspoon oil and next 7 ingredients (1 teaspoon oil through pepper). Place the orzo mixture in prepared oven bag. Combine shrimp and basil. Arrange shrimp mixture on orzo mixture. Fold edge of bag over to seal. Bake at 450º for 25 minutes or until shrimp are done. Cut open bag with sharp knife, and peel back the foil. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon oil.
September 29th, 2005
Back on the Empire Builder.
*more to come*
September 29th, 2005
We decided that today was the day to sleep in. Nice thought, but hard to do when you are used to getting up early. I lounged in bed reading to pass the time before breakfast. At 8:30 we finally just head down hoping that Scott will be interested in slightly early breakfast too. He is waiting for us in the lobby. *snicker*
After a nice leisurely breakfast, we decide to check on the cost of another day of mountain biking. Again, good deal cuz we mention backroads. So it is off for a morning of mountain biking.
Unfortunately, I decided to try a slightly larger frame bike, since the other day the bike was really small. The biggest problem … the distance from the handgrip to the brake is a bit further and my hands start hurting almost immediately. This slows it all down a bit. I tell the boys to go ahead and that I will just do my thing at my pace and see them at the bottom.
So I’m sort of working it … just not feeling quite as comfortable. I come out of the woods at one point and see them filming. Unfortunately, I completely lose track of what I’m doing and woosh - right off the side of the trail. Sigh. Over the handle bars, nice face plant followed by a complete flip that leaves me on my tush. And the best part … all on film for the world to see. Sigh. At least I wasn’t seriously hurt, just a little sore.
So on we go. The boys again went off ahead. Thankfully. Because just before the bottom I come across a guy going up the hill so I pull over to let him pass. Of course, being frazzled, I put my foot down on the low side and tumble off my bike and down the hill a bit again. Thankfully no further injury. But boy the ego is now completely bruised.
The good thing - the boys didn’t see that one since they were behind a building. Whew.
We all decide that we are done for the day and head back to Ghost Mountain to return the bikes and head down for a little soaking in the hot tub. Of course, Scott feels the need to show the video to the guys in the shop. They are all thrilled. The comment … “We have never seen a video of a customer tumbling down the hill before”. I’m going to have to remember not to come back to this place. Sheesh.
September 29th, 2005
Today we head out on the Empire Builder. The van is waiting out front at 6:45 am. The service at Grouse Mountain is truly great. They drop us off at the Amtrak Station where we can wait for the Empire Builder to show up. Looks like it is running about 1 hour late, so the boys go off in search of coffee and breakfast. After a successful little journey, they are back with nummy donuts and coffee. mmmm.
The Empire Builder finally shows up and we arrange with Scott to meet him in the dinner car to get a real breakfast before they stop serving. It is fun to watch the Montana scenery go by when so much of it is now familiar from our biking / rafting adventures. About 1 hour into the ride, we pass the area where the guys rafted and Bill points out all the highlights he remembers. Being a beautiful sunny day, everything looks really nice. The water color is magical.
Then the train slows to a stop. The conductor comes on and tells us that there is an issue ahead of us on the tracks and they will let us know when they know more. Just sit tight and stay on the train. =) No biggie. So Bill and I get comfortable with our books.
There has been a derailment ahead. Not sure yet what is going to happen with the train. Just sit and wait.
After about an hour, they announce that a freight locomotive will be coming to drag us back to Whitefish where we will be put on buses and taken past the derailment and put on the other Empire Builder. When the lunch call happens, we boogie on down, cuz who knows when the next food thing will be. We are busy calculating when we will finally be back on the train and how long everything is going to take.
6 hours after leaving Whitefish, we are back. =( Now all the people from the train are hanging on the lawn waiting information on buses and connections. We are just not looking forward to 5 hours on a bus.
Scott has an idea to call Kandahar and see what it would cost to stay. We find out that they have plenty of open rooms, are willing to give us the Backroads price (same as we paid at Grouse Mountain) and that they have a 2 for 1 deal since it is the end of the season. So we can get 2 nights for a really good price, at a wonderful hotel. hmmmm. I head in to see if it is possible to get our tickets changed to leave 2 days later. It is a gamble that they will be able to get the tracks open in 2 days. But the sitting in the sun and thinking “5 hours on a bus” vs. “5 hour in a lovely hot tub with margaritas”. hmmmm. Tough choice. I tell the ticket agent I need to check with the rest of our party and will be back. As we are negotiating and deciding to be responsible and go home … they page us. Oh what the heck … change the tickets. *snicker*
We call a cab (not an easy thing) to arrange for a ride up to Kandahar and leave a message for Joanne … we’re back. *snicker*
Joanne leaves message at Kandahar and we call her when we get there. She comes up and meets us at the hot tub for some chilling out then a wonderful dinner … again. Man I could get used to this. Unfortunately, Joanne has to leave in the am and cannot change her schedule. So she stays late with us in the lodge and we spend a little time in front of the fireplace just hanging.
Ah … another day on vacation.
September 29th, 2005
Our last morning with Backroads. It is quite sad knowing this is it.
The good thing is that we have a new sport to try … single track mountain biking.
After a hardy breakfast, we all meeet in the lobby to walk up to Ghost Mountain. There we get fitted for mountain bikes and meet Celia who will be teaching the basics of single track before we head out. There is a practice run that we will get to run through to work on some basic skills. Seems easy enough. So off we go.
The start of the mountain biking is a ride on the chair lift up to the top of Big Mountain. The views are spectacular. It is a lovely crisp morning. At the top of the mountain the view is thrilling. You can see Glacier Nation Park along with the Canadian Rockies off to one side. We all make our last stop at the Chalet then mount up for our 8 miles downhill ride.
We are warned early on to only look where we are going, never down hill and never right in front. Always look off to where you will be. The switchbacks are a little tough to navigate and after about 2 miles, I discover that maybe I shouldn’t be riding with my hands on the brakes all the time. During one tight switchback, I paniced and clenched my hands. Only to result in me landing about 5 feet in front of the bike … thankfully on my feet. Quickly the group separates into the guys and the gals. I am having a great time … but want to get down the hill with the bike and all in one piece. I quickly decide that the switchbacks are what are going to get me. But with some practice … I get better and can navigate them if I put the inside foot down quickly and spin the bike.
Part way down the hill, we catch up with the guys. Turns out there is a skills test in the woods off the trail. We are offered the chance to give it a try. After taking a quick look at the wooden path at the end, I decide this is definitely not for me. But all the guys head off to give it a shot. After a while, we look up the trail and see bright yellow coming through the woods. Followed by a screech and flying yellow. One rider down. Thankfully Scott is ok, but the tree took a piece of him. I’m so glad that I passed on that little pleasure.
After the rest of the guys finish up, we are off down the hill again, with warnings to make sure we stay on the correct path. Also mentioned, just ride through the mud puddles, don’t try to go around em. This is good advice and when I see the mud puddle, I’m thinking, ok - this is the spot and through I ride. No biggie. Not sure why it was even mentioned. Then I come up on 3 puddles all in a row. Too late to slow down. Doh. Big root in the second puddle. Good thing I have such a tight grip on the bike. After completely splattering myself (not to mention the air time) all is well. A few more turns and then I’m at the bottom.
That wasn’t so bad … in fact … it was kind of fun. Good thing is that we finished earlier than planned. There is plenty of time to do it again. So when the chance is offered, I’m off like a shot. As are all the guys. Imagine that…
The second run seemed to go better than the first … well except when I over gripped on the breaks again … I landed on my knees. But that is just dirt. No worries. Not even hurt. Wooo hooo.
We then rode back to Ghost Mountain and turned in our bikes. Then off for our last lunch and good byes. =(
That van ride down the mountain was bittersweet. It is really sad to know that we may never see most of these people again, after spending such a wonderful week with them. But the van left us at the front door of Grouse Mountain Lodge. Everything seems different now.
We get in touch with Joanne (after a couple drinks in the lounge) and invite her to meet us in town for a last dinner in Whitefish before we head out tomorrow. She accepts and we head to Wasabi for a little sushi dinner. The food is really good and the pricing is incredible. I think this is the most inexpensive sushi dinner we have ever had. Great company too. But all too soon … dinner is over and we are saying goodbye to Joanne on the sidewalk in Whitefish. It is a sad walk back to Grouse Mountain, but home awaits.
September 29th, 2005
Not the best looking day to start out on. We have a 24 mile ride today. The first 12 of which are uphill and tend to be into the wind. Melissa and Shannah have given us some encouraging news stating the usually when the weather is overcast … the wind is not so fierce. We can only hope.
We got all dressed for cold and wet. I’m actually wearing my coldest weather riding gear. If the forecast of 45 is true, we are going to be chilled.
Chilled is definitely the word for it. Standing around for the trip meeting, it is chilly and windy. This will be a fun ride. =)
This first leg is into a head wind that is for sure. Liz, Joanne and I have formed a nice little line and are taking turns pulling. I’m really amazed at how much of a difference this makes. Shawn and Mellisa have come back for stints pulling too. Woot. Nothing like rain and wind in the am. Oh and did I mention uphill?
We finally hit the crest of the hill and our first rest stop. I’m soaked but thankfully mostly warm. Standing too long starts a chill, but this is all doable.
Joanne and I opt to continue on and head out. This next part is all downhill to the end of our road riding adventure. The first 2 miles are thrilling and terrifying all at once. I’m completely convinced that I will hit something slippery and wipe out. So this descent isn’t quite the enjoyment that others have been. Unfortunately, it is also bracingly cold with the wind and the speed.
Poor Joanne is freezing and when Melissa catches us … we find she is too. We start looking for a spot to warm up and there on the left is Glacier Meadows RV Park. Doesn’t look like much, but the office is open so we drop our bikes at the end of the driveway (so they will be spotted by the van) and then head in. It is nice and toasty.
I decided that I was still doing ok and would like to actually finish this ride, so I go back out into the cold and ride on. =) And … almost miss the turnoff for the van. That will teach me for not watching ahead. *snicker*
Today, we have 2 vans since Danny is waiting for some of the bikes we are using to transport them south for another trip. They have designated girls and boys changing vans. *snicker* I let Shannah know that Melissa and Joanne will need a pickup. So she asks Danny to go fetch them. His only comment “but I have naked dudes in my van”. So those dudes get to go pick up the girls. *snicker*
All I can say is boy it is nice to get out of wet clothes. After Danny brings back Melissa and Joanne, we head off for the rafting. And let me tell you, this is so not sounding like fun. All my warm clothes are in a muddy pile in a garbage bag. No way I’m putting those back on. So the decision to skip the rafting is easy. *snicker* Turns out none of the ladies are interested in rafting. Melissa is nice enough to haul us with her in the van to West Glacier where we will kill time before heading to the rafting place to pick up the guys.
At the rafting place, we were able to see pics of our guys rafting on the computer. Before they were even back yet. *snicker*
After collecting the rest of our gang, we had a long ride in the van (45 minutes) back through Whitefish and then up to Big Mountain. We arrived at the best lodging we had for the trip. Kandahar. Ahhhhhh.
Can you say down comforters? Sound proof walls? The best food we had on the trip? Well …. this is the place. =)
September 29th, 2005