Aspen Vista/Santa Fe/Odds and Sods

Happy Picture Time !!!

My cousin Marcie and her partner Michelle took us on other amazing hike. This one was six miles round trip and left us recovering for days afterward. (Like four days later I couldn't figure out why I was dragging ass - sore, tired, grumpy - and then it dawned on me; hiking 6 miles in snowshoes at 11,000 feet will affect you for awhile.

So all of these pictures were taken on the Aspen Vista trail which is about 13 miles northeast of downtown Santa Fe. The drive up there was insane. Twists and turns, cliff edges, slick spots, and up and up and up. Being Michigan Flatlanders, all Brit and I could do was stare out the window with mouths agape.

The snow was quite deep. I got some sort of winter playland bug in me and went bounding in the snow off-trail. More than a few times I got stuck up to my hips in the snowbase -especially since the temperature was about 50 degrees. Very soft snow, except in the tree shadows.

Brit and I are doing quite well. She starts school in two weeks and just got a zoomy vintage Schwinn brown bike that we found on Craigslist. (you all should check out www.craigslist.com - serious good, cheap stuff can be found and had.) I'm totally jealous of her bike. I found an old school Huffy 5 speed (the good steel Huffy kind - before they were made mostly of crappy materials and sold at Meijer for 39.99). Yet my Huffy just doesn't stack up to the supreme sweetness that is Brit's new bike, which we've tentatively named Smokey Jane. The thing is pure Zippy. Pictures of that will follow soon.

Anyhow, hope your all doing well, hanging in there despite the Arctic Tundra of Northern Michigan. We miss you all and although we're enjoying it here, we can't wait to come home! By the way, you should all say hello once in awhile. As soon as you get this blog you must write us something. No exceptions. We will not stand for any excuses. So get a writin' and lets all stay connected.

Peace, love and understandin',

-Brit and Mike

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