We left you in El Paso last weekend, preparing to go skiing.  El Paso is a high desert plain, surrounded by mountains on all sides with the Rio Grande river running through the centre and Mexico and New Mexico bordering it.

It was very exciting to see the border running along where the river should be, but both the Mexican and US governments long ago decided to reroute the river into a concrete underground channel as it kept changing course and was proving too hard to manage.  We saw a long wire fence in places – shortly of course to be upgraded to ‘the big, beautiful wall’!  It was very interesting to see the city of Ciudad Juarez on the other side, but not safe enough for tourists to venture in to it. 

We left Reg at a garage as he is still trying to have some warranty issues sorted out – nothing serious and headed for our flight up to Denver.   Packing for a ski holiday in 90 degree heat was a surreal experience and to our horror it did not really get any colder when we arrived in the mountains.  We hoped for an icy wind to greet us as we stepped off the plane, but no it was warm and balmy. 

We stayed in Steamboat Springs which is further away from Denver than Aspen or Vale.  This means that it is not so busy and more of locals’ place. 

At the resort the pastes stood out on the hills, strips of white against the brown of the mountains – odd weather everyone kept saying to us.   They were managing with what they could – but it was ‘spring’ conditions.  This means icy in the morning and slush at lunchtime.  On Friday, we stopped for lunch for about 40 minutes.  We came out and it was like icing sugar as during our lunch the temperature had gone up about 10 degrees. People literally were skiing in shorts and we saw one chap in proper lederhosen complete with an Alpine trilby!

I will not recount how great we were at skiing (yeah right) but we had a good time despite the snow.  Marie and Shaun will know that following Matt on a ski slope is sometimes a challenge… we all still laugh about when he went off the edge one time… but I survived ok.  There were only a few black runs with moguls… Being in the mountains is beautiful regardless and the runs are tree lined and wide, also fairly empty so a good change from Europe.   Matt loves the lifts as they have free tissues whilst you wait – if ever you have to wait. 

We had a good old natter on the lifts.  We met some great people during the week. A couple from Barnstaple at après ski one night, a very wealthy couple from Sydney one day on the lift – which was amusing as Matt said to them that he would never trust an Aussie that did not drink, whereupon the wife said that she was tee total. Whoops! 

Similar ski boot in mouth at a bar when the lovely Kelsey was suggesting some great places for us to visit in Utah, Montana and Arizona.  She had packed a lot into her thirty years – three children, university, loads of travelling hence why she was talking to us.  How were we to know that she worked in a bar yet was a Mormon until the moment we offered her a drink?!

Highlight of the week was also where we stayed.  We had an apartment that was larger than our flat (not that hard I grant you) but it came with all mod cons – including the most amazing washer/dryer set up as only Americans know how to do.  I had barely worn my knickers before I had washed them! 

During the week we had great food – at home and out, which was a welcome surprise and quite a bit to drink.  It was very relaxing not to be driving or planning where to go next so as an experience within this year of travel, it was fantastic and we loved it.

Back on Saturday to El Paso and we had time to kill so we took the transit fast train to downtown Denver.  We heard about their Borough Market – a place called the Source in an old warehouse in the north river district.  Very up and coming – like Omega Works and Bow to those that remember the flats we used to manage there.  Great food and Colorado clearly has the influence of Californians in its tastes and cuisines.

Tough week for everyone at home with the attack in London. We thought of everyone and felt very weird being so far away.  Because of watching the news we saw an awful lot of Trump stuff as he was trying to get his healthcare plan through.  We watched with open mouths how the media cover things and how confusing, cynical and remote the politicians seem to be on all sides. 

Reg was waiting for us in El Paso – hot and dusty.  Back on the road and as I type we are in the Guadalupe Mountains.  No snow here either!!