It’s been odd hanging out into winter, having to don all that winter clothing and extra layers.   Like the Christmas decorations stored since 2000,  it’s nice to bring that stuff out of the deepest parts of the closets.  Good thing all that gear still fits.

The grandgirls were with us until Jan 2nd so we’ve been so active, multiple days we scored past the “fun barrier.”  Just since Christmas we’ve ridden the Durango & Silverton Railroad’s Polar Express, gone sledding in Silverton and did 15 miles of dog sledding near Mancos.

Not many of the evening train photos turned out (due to twinkle lighting and fidgeting kids) but we can guarantee they all had a super time.  The Polar Express leaves at dusk and by
the time we’ve reached the North Pole in the dark (traveling at 4,000 miles an hour), read the Polar Express book  aloud, had hot chocolate and a cookie, the kids all dressed in their pajamas are pumped beyond the giggle-zone. At the Wye turn-around a high-wattage blow-up village with Santa and his cohorts wave to us as we peer thru fogged windows at the surreal snow-covered pop-up-scape.

Each train car has it’s two Chef hosts keeping the spirit elevated and they led us in Christmas songs all the way thru the time warp back to Durango. Oh, and Santa and his elf managed to squeeze down the aisles on the homeward leg giving out reindeer bells and good cheer to all.

None of Daniel’s family had seen Silverton in the snowy winter, so a sledding trip up there took an entire day and provided one more sonic break thru the fun barrier.  Thanks to the George Family reunion we had four sleds, as the unusually heavy snows had sold out Durango’s supply.  Recreation in Silverton has gotten much more polished since our days.  Ski hill has a short chair lift ($20 for an all day adult), an adjacent sledding venue and a skating rink, with all the requisite gear available to rent.

The coup d’ grace for the week’s activities was a half-day dog sled ride on the west side of the La Plata mountains.  We arranged for 3 sleds, each with teams of eight Alaskan Huskie sled dogs and their mushers.  The “Swiss Calendar Day” was picture-perfect as we whisked along at 6-8 miles an hour, stopping occasionally to let the dogs catch their breath.

Great fun and an interesting experience.  Learned that there are quite a number of sled dogs working in our area; probably 5 or more teams working the day we enjoyed.

Next up: Thailand.