The Long Road

This is awesome, dark and funny all at the same time. What would Trent Reznor think?
Watch at risk of having to grow up and lose your innocence forever!

**UPDATED MARCH 29**

Video Removed. Actually, upon a second viewing, this vid is darker and more disturbing than I saw on my first viewing - apparently I looked away a few times and missed a few things. If you still wanna see it (and lots of you will), click here.

YouTube is just the best thing.

Oh, people do have too much time on their hands don’t they?

**UPDATED March 26**
OK, Mich found someone else’s photo of Lake Louise taken the same day as we were there. It is of the Whitehorn Bowl, a.k.a. The Ultimate Steeps. Very fun place to ski! I can’t quite pick out our specific tracks, but I’m sure they’re there, and quite perfect! Ha.

OK, no, I don’t have any pics of the mind blowing skiing we did over spring break. Not that I didn’t want pics, nor were we without opportunity galore. Nope, instead my point and shoot is more of a point and “shit”. Meaning I need a new camera. So You’ll have to take my word for it. Anyway, we had amazing snow and terrain on Sunshine and Lake Louise (in Banff, Alta) and on Kicking Horse (in Golden, BC). That is not really what I want to talk about. I would rather focus on the fact that Mich and I truly get to ski together on these hills. I have seen her develop in the time we’ve been together into a very skilled skier who can pretty much tackle anything. This week we nailed the more serious slopes Mich has ever been on - and she chewed them up! Below are trail maps of all three mountains. We added arrows to our favorite and most challenging runs.

Below is a small part of Sunshine Resort called Goat’s Eye Mountian. As you can see from the top of the lift we had to do some hiking to get to where we wanted, but it was oh, so worth it. It was the only place on the mountain that fresh tracks were to be found, and you also had to brave some crazy winds to get there.

Now we get to Lake Louise Resort where we felt that we found a day that brought us both new experiences and levels of ski terrain. This section is the top and back part of the mountain. Again it was windy, but we got ridiculously steep and deep first tracks in knee covering powder time and time again. Someone wanted to put another red arrow on the spot where “Michelle was shitting her pants” because of the pitch, but I thought not. A day for the books.

Now to Kicking Horse. Possibly our favorite hill. The double black bowls here are on a whole other level. For some, you have to jump off a cornice to enter the bowl (remember that Simon?). If you ski or ride, you need to put this hill on your “to do” list. Once again, instead of “spring skiing”, you know, the days where you are happier to sit at the lodge and suntan, we got killer pow.

Anyway, I know this post is WAY over the top, but hey, it was that good. And I think I’m that much more enthralled with the experience because of Michelle’s participation. She never said “no”. I think she might have thought it a couple of times though. Honestly, she is the best skiing partner I could hope for.

Posts might become a little few and far between as we are off to Banff for the week for some skiing!

Thanks to Carole for noticing and commenting on our new look here at The Long Road. Just thought it was time for a change. I don’t think I ever mentioned it (nor did anyone ask), but the previous banner pic was taken at the top of the Wedgemount Lake hike, near Whistler, BC. It is a killer, two hour grunt up, and up, and up (seriously folks, it never, ever flattens out till you get to the top), but as you can see it is totally worth the effort - if you can handle the mosquitoes. Anyway, hope you guys like the new banner - it was taken on Ko Lanta, Thailand.

Well, I think it’ll just take this one more pic and I’ll have set my Food Porn (see previous two posts) hook into Doug’s jowls deep enough that he’ll offer me his credit card number for 24/7 full access to this site! Of course, the rest of you fine folks can all continue to read for free!

Tonight it was an experiment, a “virgin” recipe if you will. (Doug likes dirty talk too) Oysters Motoyaki (0r, “very naughty oysters in french maid outfits”) . They are a Japanese baked oyster in the shell slathered with a sassy mayonnaise sauce. No, they aren’t exactly a diet dish… but oh, so good. I kinda made up the recipe, but they turned out great! I did a little search for a recipe online - didn’t find much, but by the looks of things these may be a North American invention. Though we did have them at the fugu place in KaiFaQu in China.

Motoyaki Oysters

OK, I’m gonna let Doug off the hook and stop with the food posts for a while…

I got such a kick outta Sue’s comment on my Food Porn post that I just had to do this one for you Dougie Sumo. This is what we had for dinner tonight.

Charbroiled sirloin coupled with wine sautéed button mushrooms and garlic young pea tendrils.

Yum.

OK, I’m not sure if you are familiar with the term, but you know those fancy cookbooks with those great food photos that make you think you can make the recipe and have it look just like the pic (even though you probably can’t without some pro chef training)? Well that’s food porn. And I like it. Great thing is that it’s perfectly legal too! Bonus. Anyway, below is my first attempt. This is Mich’s birthday cake that I made her.

Flourless Chocolate Cake with Toasted Hazelnuts and Brandied Cherries

How does 10 eggs, a cup and a half of sugar, 18 ounces of chocolate, one and a quarter cup of butter and a cup of whipping cream grab you? Good thing I served it with vanilla ice cream and coffee eh? Gawd, I’m drooling just typing this. Time for a jog!

It sure was great to see Mich’s parents Bev and Gerry here for a weekend visit. We had a blast catching up, having a belated birthday celebration for Michelle, eating lots of great food (and dessert) and seeing some great live music in the form of Jim Byrnes at the Ashcroft Opera House. All in all it was a great time. Thanks for coming guys, it was great to see you.