Sunday, February 8, 2014
Today was snowmobile day. After a heavy night of snowing the snow plow trucks were out everywhere and the snow continued as we began our two hour drive to get to Stillman Ranch where an adventure in snowmobiling awaited us. We arrived at the Stillman Ranch early and had to wait for all parties in the adventure to arrive before we could start our trek. While waiting the kids enjoyed playing in the snow banks along the drive, and Brenda joined in the fun.
As the final members of the party arrived we got brief instructions on how to operate our snowmobiles, then we got started. It was a typical trail ride formation, with the snow as heavy as it was, we dare not venture off the path as some of the paths included drops of fifty feet or more. The scenery was beautiful, the weather was freezing and the trek was fun. After about an hour and half of trail riding, we came to an opening where we were able to drive the snowmobiles in a circular track and see what those babies could do! Brenda and I dropped the kids in the snow to make snow angels, by this time the snow was about two feet deep, and we proceeded to "open" up the snowmobiles on the track going as fast as we cared to go. A few laps of that and I was done as the cold started to make my time miserable, I wanted to find some warmth. The kids however were quite happy making snow angels and snow balls in the two foot deep snow. But FINALLY, our trail boss gave the signal that we were heading back. I thought to myself, "woo hoo", but only to realize that we were going to make a stop at an isolated cabin for some refreshments, I could only hope that by refreshments they meant a nice warm fire. To my delight that was exactly what was waiting for us, a nice warm fire in a cabin from a small wood burning stove and some hot cider. It was tough to leave the coziness of the cabin but alas it was time for us to make our way back to the big house and bring this adventure to an end, I was also ready for some lunch.
After another thirty minutes of snowmobiling, we arrive back at the ranch, man it was cold today. We turn in our gear thank the operators and load up to follow the bus off the property. The snow was really making if tough for this Texas boy to determine where the road ends and the pasture begins. Everyone in our party enjoyed the day of snowmobiles and as we were driving off the chatter from the back seat began about how much fun they had.
We stopped off at a little road side diner, Road Island Diner, which was an actual diner that had been restored. The place was very shiny and new looking and was a great place to have lunch. Nothing like hearty diner food after an afternoon of riding snow mobiles.
The road back to the resort ran alongside the Rockport reservoir, and from our view we could see several huts out on the frozen lake. We decided to make a stop and see if we could go down to the lake and walk on it, none of us had ever walked on a frozen lake before so this could be very fun or disastrous. The trail down to the lake was easy to maneuver and once we reached the edge of the lake we discovered the slushy ring that went around the perimeter of the lake, in order to get to the frozen ice we would have to walk through this muck. Without proper footwear to make the crossing we failed short of our mission, but once again plan B was put into action. Since the it had been snowing all night the snow in this area seemed to be very "wet" and just right for making a decent snowman, and that's just what we did, built a colossal snowman that the kids had never seen before (picture not available unfortunately). This seemed to be the NEW highlight of the day for the kids, they have accomplished everything they had wanted to do in a snow climate now. Nothing left to do but travel back to the resort and call it a day.
That was the plan, but apparently there was one more thing on the kid's agenda, a snowball fight. Just as Brenda and I are getting out of the car, we are bombarded by a barrage of snowballs from Mason and Amber, oh the sweet kids had turned to little terrors. Not to be out done, we retaliated with return fire, sending the enemy in retreat. Brenda unfortunately was a casualty of friendly fire, a snowball from my hand landed squarely in her face, the repercussions of that ill fated decision on my part will haunt me for years.
Cleaned up, tired and ready to get home, our dinner was way short of spectacular, Del Taco, but with the snow hurling down and everyone worn out, it was quick and easy and allowed us time to take dip in the hot tub outside. The outside temperature being freezing the the hot tub temperature being a nice toasty 98, ah, that takes away the frost bite and seals the deal on a wonderful day of adventure.
As the final members of the party arrived we got brief instructions on how to operate our snowmobiles, then we got started. It was a typical trail ride formation, with the snow as heavy as it was, we dare not venture off the path as some of the paths included drops of fifty feet or more. The scenery was beautiful, the weather was freezing and the trek was fun. After about an hour and half of trail riding, we came to an opening where we were able to drive the snowmobiles in a circular track and see what those babies could do! Brenda and I dropped the kids in the snow to make snow angels, by this time the snow was about two feet deep, and we proceeded to "open" up the snowmobiles on the track going as fast as we cared to go. A few laps of that and I was done as the cold started to make my time miserable, I wanted to find some warmth. The kids however were quite happy making snow angels and snow balls in the two foot deep snow. But FINALLY, our trail boss gave the signal that we were heading back. I thought to myself, "woo hoo", but only to realize that we were going to make a stop at an isolated cabin for some refreshments, I could only hope that by refreshments they meant a nice warm fire. To my delight that was exactly what was waiting for us, a nice warm fire in a cabin from a small wood burning stove and some hot cider. It was tough to leave the coziness of the cabin but alas it was time for us to make our way back to the big house and bring this adventure to an end, I was also ready for some lunch.
After another thirty minutes of snowmobiling, we arrive back at the ranch, man it was cold today. We turn in our gear thank the operators and load up to follow the bus off the property. The snow was really making if tough for this Texas boy to determine where the road ends and the pasture begins. Everyone in our party enjoyed the day of snowmobiles and as we were driving off the chatter from the back seat began about how much fun they had.
We stopped off at a little road side diner, Road Island Diner, which was an actual diner that had been restored. The place was very shiny and new looking and was a great place to have lunch. Nothing like hearty diner food after an afternoon of riding snow mobiles.
The road back to the resort ran alongside the Rockport reservoir, and from our view we could see several huts out on the frozen lake. We decided to make a stop and see if we could go down to the lake and walk on it, none of us had ever walked on a frozen lake before so this could be very fun or disastrous. The trail down to the lake was easy to maneuver and once we reached the edge of the lake we discovered the slushy ring that went around the perimeter of the lake, in order to get to the frozen ice we would have to walk through this muck. Without proper footwear to make the crossing we failed short of our mission, but once again plan B was put into action. Since the it had been snowing all night the snow in this area seemed to be very "wet" and just right for making a decent snowman, and that's just what we did, built a colossal snowman that the kids had never seen before (picture not available unfortunately). This seemed to be the NEW highlight of the day for the kids, they have accomplished everything they had wanted to do in a snow climate now. Nothing left to do but travel back to the resort and call it a day.
That was the plan, but apparently there was one more thing on the kid's agenda, a snowball fight. Just as Brenda and I are getting out of the car, we are bombarded by a barrage of snowballs from Mason and Amber, oh the sweet kids had turned to little terrors. Not to be out done, we retaliated with return fire, sending the enemy in retreat. Brenda unfortunately was a casualty of friendly fire, a snowball from my hand landed squarely in her face, the repercussions of that ill fated decision on my part will haunt me for years.
Cleaned up, tired and ready to get home, our dinner was way short of spectacular, Del Taco, but with the snow hurling down and everyone worn out, it was quick and easy and allowed us time to take dip in the hot tub outside. The outside temperature being freezing the the hot tub temperature being a nice toasty 98, ah, that takes away the frost bite and seals the deal on a wonderful day of adventure.
- Brenda having fun with the snowbanks -
- Amber getting lost in the snow, while Mason was fascinated with snowballs -
- Brenda and Amber road together while Mason and I shared a snowmobile -
- Time for a break with some hot cider at the cabin -
- Lunch at the Road Island Diner on the way back from Stillman Ranch -
- Proof that Mason started the snowball fight -
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