Winter family fun in maine (Brunswick, Waterville: appointed, rent, neighborhood)

[starwalker]

Originally Posted by mensaguy

It would also be an opportunity to break in a new set of Nordic Walking Poles.

Seriously, I do use poles when I am snowshoeing... my balance is not as good as it used to be and when I do fall down (a moment of inattention, since I don't have my "snow legs" yet) like I did a few minutes ago, and the poles give me something solid to lean against to get vertical again.

I walked a labyrinth in the back field and took out the cat droppings and then walked part of the perimeter. Part, because I had that moment of inattention... and then another one... and decided that 3/4 of the way around was ok for today and came in.

I wasn't feeling all that well to start with, but the kitty presents can is MUCH harder to take out when it has two dumpings in it and, well, I had been wanting to go around the perimeter and to do the labyrinth thing for some time, it just kept getting put off.

And honestly I don't feel any worse and likely a bit better after my fresh air and exercise.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Starwalker, you do realize that you are driving the coyotes absolutely nuts; right? Coyotes just love cats.

[starwalker]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

Starwalker, you do realize that you are driving the coyotes absolutely nuts; right? Coyotes just love cats.

why, by keeping the kitties indoors and letting one really scaredy cat) live under the house?

I saw NO tracks at all in our snow. nary a critter has explored near here, as far as I can tell, since we started having snow.

Well, that doesn't include the tracks the big dog makes in her yard, of course...

[Trailmonkey]

If you want to learn balance, walk next to the 'lectric fence.....

[Northern Maine Land Man]

With aluminum Nordic walking poles. Yikes!

[Trailmonkey]

I went out on the new 'shoes on Tuesday, with the aluminum poles. I got out by the garden spot, and decided that I had better head back to the house! I am glad I didn't continue to the back of the woodlot like I had planned! I would have been found there in the spring.....

[maja]

When we made our trip back earlier this month, we took our girls to Pineland Farms in New Gloucester. We rented crosscountry skis and snowshoes. It was really fun. My 9 y.o. dd took right to it (first time for the kids). My little 7 y.o. had a bit of a hard time with the skis but had fun on the snowshoes. The setting was picture postcard perfect. A beautiful blanket of snow, clean, crisp air and best of all - no crowds! We'll be back...

[BacktoNE]

Originally Posted by island mermaid

Growing up in Topsham we had a local ski area. It was called Sky-HI. Maineah might remember it. Every Friday after school we would climb on the ski bus to go to Sky-HI. We took lessons from 4pm - 6 pm, and free ski until 8pm. At 8pm we'd climb back on the bus that dropped us back off at school where our parents would be waiting for us. Skiing lessons were mandatory in my family no matter how much I despised the thought of going back there every week for years. Looking back now I realize it was probably a nice little well needed time off for my Mom to have a few free hours on a Friday night. Sometimes if we got a little bored on a weekend or a school vacation, Dad would bring my sister and I up to Sky-Hi and drop us off for a few hours for a half day ticket, which I think at the time was $6.00. Can you believe that? Six bucks?

It wasn't much bigger than a hill, only had 4 or 5 trails, not including the bunny hill which had a rope tow. I would take the after school lesson from my beloved teacher, Mrs. White. What a nice woman to have donated her time for so many years in the Learn to Ski program.

There was one trail I really liked, it was called the Tote Road. I liked it because it actually took longer to ski down it than it did to get back up the hill on the only T-bar there, we had no chair lift. The 2 steepest trails were called the Little Dipper and the Big Dipper. Both were full of ledge and both took less than 2 minutes to get down to the bottom. They could be a little tricky with less than enough snow until you got to know where those rocks were. Some people learned the hard way. I was not one of them. Ice? OMG, I can't tell you how bad I hated skiing on ice. Their snow making capabilities weren't quite up to par there, so it was quite common to hit ice patches. My sister broke a leg on one of them. Another story, another day.

I became a big fan of the lodge while learning to ski at Sky-Hi. It was huge wonderful bldg with a big field stone fireplace taking up an entire full wall. The fireplace was always blazing. The snack bar inside was always busy and carried many hot foods and snack items. Picnic tables filled the inside of the lodge with the cement floor. Lots of families, friends and fond memories of burning my tongue on the hot chocolate at SKY-HI.

OMGosh, I forgot all about Sky-Hi! My oldest brother used to love to ski there when he was a teenager. He's the only one in the family that ever skied downhill. The fireplace was enormous!

I'm so glad you mentioned Sky-Hi. I have been missing my brother today and that gave me a nice memory.

[tankratt]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

Inflate a big tractor tire Spray some Armor-all on the under side of the tubes and you go even faster and further. It doesn't get any better than that.

Wow great idea that would be like Chevy Chase in Christmas Vacation, when he added the top secret wax to the sled. I can't wait to try that Good job NMLM.

[RANGER.101ST]

i like to take the kids winter camping the wife wont go but the kids love it.or we play soft ball (with an orange ball)great fun.