A Family Weekend

On Friday afternoon, our daughter, her husband and our three grandchildren arrived at our place to pick us up.  The two youngest kids with their pillows were tucked into the furthest row along with their backpacks brimming with stuffed animals, activity books and snacks.  My wife and I took our places beside our oldest grandson in the back seat.  It was a good thing we packed efficiently as there was just enough room and not a smidgen more for the two of us, one small suitcase for us to share, and of course a few homemade goodies Grandma made.  Attached to the back of the vehicle were five bicycles.  We were on our way to Whistler, the most famous ski resort in the world, just a couple of hour’s drive north of Vancouver.  However, being summer, it wasn’t conducive to skiing.  Instead, we’d be seeing our grandkids’ dad Jim, participate in The 5 Peaks Running Series and a 10 km Off -Road Race.  It would have steep mountain climbs, sharp descents, craggy wilderness trails and tremendous views, a race up and down mountain paths with a few hundred others.

Early the next morning, Jim rode the gondola to the peak of Whistler Mountain and joined the mass of 450 athletes.  Not long after, we followed, and enjoyed the spectacular view from 6000 feet above sea level.  At first, we watched them from a distance.  Soon they were racing down the mountainside, passing us seemingly unfazed by the steep alpine terrain with its rough surface.  We made our way to the finishing stretch where the incline required an extra burst of energy by each runner.

Jim came 1st in his age category and 6th overall.  It is absolutely amazing the condition one has to be in to run in this race.  Jim didn't appear to have been running hard all that way, yet he must have been, and it would have been extremely taxing.  He said the first 3 kms was a steady upward climb and he thought he'd quit somewhere along that part of the race, but soon after, he found his second wind.  He has trained every day for years and is lean and muscular.

Rather than return to the Fairmont Whistler Hotel immediately after his race, Jim asked if we’d all like to go for a walk along one of those mountain paths.  Where does he find such energy?  We took a steep and rocky path downwards, which finally led along the edge of a small mountain lake and then turned upward on quite a steep trail.  For most people like us, this would be an exercise in itself, but for Jim, it was like a walk in the park.

Returning to the base of Whistler village, we rode in an exhilarating open-air chair lift.  At the hotel, three pools afforded us a good swim.  One was for kids, another for those of us who like to do lengths, and a hot tub.

We enjoyed our favorite holiday meal at The Old Spaghetti Factory, which was the Manager’s Special, a choice of spaghetti with Mazithra cheese and spaghetti with tomato sauce.  The meal was topped off with Spumoni ice cream.

Accommodation was excellent, and with two big beds in each room, the two boys could stay for one night and their younger sister the next.  Their parents appreciated having their kids safe with grandparents next door.

Our daughter’s family never lacks energy...the 5 bicycles which had been attached to the carrier of their SUV provided excitement, entertainment and exercise early on Sunday.  Breakfast was an extra special meal, with omelets made to order and every culinary delight you could imagine from waffles covered with caramel sauce, to chocolate croissants and fresh fruit.

Riding home on Sunday, after a stroll through the village with an ice cream cone, we continued to enjoy being up in the mountains, appreciating their majesty and height that assures snow in the peaks even in summer.  The Rocky Mountains offer a supreme challenge to athletes whether they come to ski in winter or run a race in summer.  The mountain scenery was superb and the weekend with family was one to remember.