When Master 18 suggested meeting up with Miss E’s family for a second week of skiing, I felt rather apprehensive. Not because I didn’t want to spent time with her family (I knew they would be fun!) but because I knew one week skiing would be a struggle for me, much less two.
However…… I have surprised myself. Six months ago I didn’t think I would ski at all, my body had been through so much. Until today, I have skied every available ski day. I might not have skied all day (sometimes only a few runs) but I have got out there and given it a crack.
Today, for the first time, I have completely succumbed to fatigue. It is 9:30am and I am in bed. The others are out, overcoming their own fatigue, pain and bruises to carry on living their best lives. Today, my best life happens to be reading a book and blogging!
This week we are staying at Myoko Ski Lodge. Run by friends of miss E’s family, this place is very cool. Each day the staff drive us out to different ski areas (location depending on conditions). They organise activities on days that don’t look great for skiing (I’m looking forward to the snowshoe hike tomorrow) and they make the evenings loads of fun. Last night was a pizza and quiz night….. The Travel Bees always love a good quiz!
Unfortunately, I haven’t taken many photos while on the slopes, mainly because I am concentrating too hard on staying alive! The few I have included don’t really do justice to the views from the piste. It is quite beautiful. I believe today is a bluebird day, so I bet it is stunning up there.
Yesterday, skiing very close to home and acting on a recommendation, my friend and I discovered the mulled wine! When we skied in, The Bear restaurant was restricting people coming in for lunch due to low staff numbers. We almost had to beg to be allowed in just to have a mulled wine. Presented with a cinnamon stick to dip, it has to be the best mulled wine I’ve ever tasted!! Smooth, warm, spicy but not too much spice…….
It did make the short walk home even wobblier than usual (and I am never very steady in ski boots carrying skis and poles) but we made it back in one piece feeling rather relaxed and floppy!
One of the highlights of skiing in Japan has to be the onsen. Here at Myoko Ski Lodge, there are two private onsens (a real treat because most onsens in Japan are communal and……. you must be naked to enter). Essentially, an onsen is a hot spring that occurs naturally in some volcanic areas (Japan has many). The therapeutic water is pumped into a pool especially for guests to soak their weary muscles.
Each evening from about 3:30pm when the first car returns, there is a queue as we patiently await our turn in the lush, rejuvenating water. Stories are exchanged in line as everyone recounts their day in the snow.
So, the best part about staying home today……. no line for the onsen. I can take a long soak and ready myself for a good hike tomorrow.
TTB
The Travel Bee 