Showing posts with label Beadraich. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beadraich. Show all posts

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Laurentian Vacation!


Beadraich and Woodsy - Three days of taller hills, steeper pitches and vastly different culinary experiences quickly describes our time in Saint-Sauveur, QC. Our first night in La Belle Province was spent in downtown Montreal where we enjoy the experience of Rue Ste. Catherine on Boxing day. It was incredible, and completed by a visit to the Icebreaker corporate store where we were delighted to find some boxing days sales. Woodsy's research included dining of course, and we were delighted to find that La Queue de Cheval was located across the street from our hotel. WOW... it's the only thing that comes to mind after dining there.

Our whirlwind tour of Montreal included an icy drive through Old Montreal, and a trip to the Olympic Park. After le petit dejeuner at Chez Cora's, we embarked on our journey north to find ourselves in the Laurentians.

With some time to explore and our usual zest for filling every moment, we ventured north, past Saint-Sauveur to explore Tremblant and grab lunch. The Fairmont seemed a perfect place for a light lunch and a drink. Now, what would a Quebec lunch be without a wonderful plate of Quebec cheeses, and a relaxed view of the mountain? It is definately worth the visit, if you ever find yourself in Tremblant.

On to the destination of choice. We arrived at our hotel in Saint-Sauveur only a few minutes before the friends we were meeting, and quickly unpacked and ventured out to Mont-Habitants for a quick round of night sking. Now the conditions were a mix of challenging wet snow mixing into harder packed and ice after the rain, ice storm, cold weather mix. Tired and satisfied with our first day out, we needed food.

Italian it was, in a little place whose name we never did learn, but when our waiter told us they didn't have wine or beer, we thought he was joking. Upon learning that he was serious, we picked our chins up and decided so be it. Bolognaise sauce to die for, and some other great meals, we were done, and retired to the hotel to explore some more tomorrow.


The Photo above was taken along Rue Prinicpale in Saint-Sauveur during one of Beadraich's morning drives looking for java and some photos.

Morin-Height's Ski area beckoned us for our first full day of sking and any ski area located on Rue Bennett has to be a good place to visit. Conditions were ice, and clumps of ice that were formed when temperatures dropped overnight after the groomers set up the runs. It was a challenging morning that left both of us with tired legs by shortly after lunch. Tired legs and a empty stomach's lead us back to Saint-Sauveur where we enjoyed Sandwiches at a great little coffee shop called Brulerie de Monts which is located right beside the beautiful church in town.

What would a trip to Quebec be without an indulgence at a Creperie? There are at least 3 creperies along Rue Principale and we chose the one that seemed most recommended for dinner that evening and were not disappointed. The menu had pages of Crepes, Raclette's, Fondue's and generally anything else that would make for a happy, yet bursting tummy. Woodsy had a colleague from the area join us for dinner, and she was most helpful in understanding things like the importance of having Bechamel sauce on a crepe. (She was right, it was incredible).

On to sking Mont Saint-Sauveur and Mont-Avila. These two ski hills are joined and you can ski both with one lift ticket, so we started out in the -20C temperatures. Conditions were just awesome, fast, exciting, and great sking on everything they had to offer, except the terrain park. From black diamonds that made you want to race down them to the "Red Bird" which made you just want to enjoy the sking, friendships and views from the top.

By far our favourite day of sking was followed by another local recommendation that we try a little place called Cafe Citrus in Ste. Adele just up the road for the "Best Soup and Sandwich ever" we were not disappointed as we both fumbled our way through the french only menu, and our waitress who barely spoke english was very helpful in working with us to understand. It was tres-bien and lived up to the recommendation!

Our last dinner in La Belle Province was a little disappointing, so I won't bore you with the details, but will say that after a 9 hour drive through such places as Arnprior, Renfrew, Bancroft and Haliburton we are now back in Collingwood looking out the window watching a snow squall.

Bonne Annee everyone!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

It's Going to be a Party!

Beadraich - These last few days have been a whirlwind of activity for us as volunteers, with a few e-mails a day with information, and things to do. We now have to spend this weekend organizing how and when we pick up our uniforms, and accreditation.

Now, the exciting thing I have to share with everyone is a link to the party that is going to be called Whistler come February. Whistler Medals Plaza will be hosting live music each night that we will be able to experience.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

The hill will soon be alive with the sound of shoosh, shoosh, shoosh, shoosh!

Beadraich - Our skis are now at Kenmark Snow Sports for their pre-season tuneups. This annual ritual means that there is some white stuff about to fall from the sky and turn our favourite hills into a winter wonderland of morning corduroy and afternoon moguls. Some other sure signs that ski season is imminent are that Glen Eden was blowing snow this weekend, and I've received 5 weather updates from the Weather Network to warn of possible snow squalls in Collingwood this afternoon.
I've just checked the Blue Mountain conditions and they are making snow on two runs. Not exactly my favourite runs, but they are runs, and if all goes well, they will be able to open in a week. Woodsy and I are planning on spending the next two weekends in Collingwood should there be snow, and we can work to once again get comfortable on skis and work out the kinks of the summer.
With snow conditions soon to improve, Christmas almost upon us, and less that 70 days until we depart, it's hard not to get to excited.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

71 Days - But I'm not counting!

Beadraich - I'm starting to get excited, people are subscribing to this little blog which is just a place for us to share our stories and misadventures while realizing a lifelong dream. So, thank you to everyone who is subscribing, and following us. Woodsy and I both appreciate all of the encouragement and support. It's a huge cliche, but for me that encouragement and support really makes it easier and more enjoyable each step of the way.

I have been put in touch with a fellow volunteer who is the self described "Older/Ski Bum Brother" of one of my colleagues in KW. This Ski Bum has spent his life chasing snow, and finding ways to work in the industry so he can ski for free. (Yes, I'm jealous) Sounds like a great guy who is volunteering to learn more about the Weasels, Whistler's very own group of volunteers who make each and every world cup race and now the olympics possible. I'm looking forward to grabbing a few runs with this new friend and hearing some stories of Big White and some of the other BC resorts.

Reflecting on why I want to do this, I keep coming back to the people I'm going to meet. The pints that will be drank at the volunteer pub, and the opportunity to help showcase what a great country I'm blessed to live in.