Shpichak

Špičák... for a little place barely on the map, it sure is fun.

This past weekend we decided to get the family out of the house and make the most of the snow we've been having. In Plzen, while the snow has fallen literally in huge clumps from the sky, it has been too warm for it to last more than a few seconds on the ground, but up the mountain it a different story. Temps on the warms side just below 0, but enough to keep the snow in good nick.

So, the early morning train got us there, the babies forgiving us the early hour by the excitement of getting to play in the snow (we took the bum-boards and the sleigh).

To add to the excitement, this was the first day open for the resort and they'd had over a metre of snow.

Unlike our last trip here where we were skiing on ice and dodging little patches of grass and earth popping up, this was a nice think white blanket.

Got to špičak and hired all the kit for the day - you know, they should rent wheelbarrows for families with small kids - carting the day bags and 4 sets of boots, ski's and poles is a major drag between 2 people. Anyway we set off for the groomed training slope, much better than the one we were on last time (which was still closed) and the kids got stuck into their day with all kinds of laughter and games.

These two are really good mates, they play so well together and have an absolute blast no matter what they do.

Colin and I didn't get that much skiing time in. We took the babies on a couple of runs down the training slope until they decided that it was WAY more fun to be able to run knee deep in the snow chasing a sleigh than to try and balance on the very wobbly and unpredictably slippery things called skiis... We then took a few runs on our own until the long overdue lunch urge became too strong. It is also very difficult to get very much time and distance between the constant calls for some sort of assistance or another (and then the ever present "I-Need-a-WEEE" call - one that only arrives when the pee is already so urgent that it requires hopping, clutching and very quick undressing right there and then :-0.)

Lunch time was a bit of a turning point for the babies though - from a "this is cool and fun" to a "ok, I am cold and wet and this is beginning to get a bit much now" feeling. Colin wanted to do a couple of runs down the main slope, so I took the girls into the only place that was inside and warm (apart from the toilets) which was the ski hire shop. So, much to the amusement of the shop attendants, us 3 girls huddled around the heater until tears dried up and fingers got warmer. It didn't take long before the suggestion of "shall we go ski again" was met with bright smiles and "oh YEAH!" (with real American sounding yeahs thanks to their Teacher Hanka).

At 4.30, we then waited for the snow train to arrive at the station to take us back home again. (Notice it is pitch dark at 4.30!!!)

So, Colin & I are barely back and during our customary Sunday shop at the Tesco, Colin suggested that I try on a pair of the ski boots. OMG is that what ski boots are supposed to feel like???? They were unbelievably comfy - they even had padding on the inside! So, we are now doing some major research into ski boots and kit and are looking to make some investment into "the real thing". Actually, after trying on "real" ski boots, I think I may actually be able to do this thing called ski, kinda, rather than just careering down the slope trying to work out why my feet don't feel like they belong to my legs as they are generally going in the opposite direction!

Anyway, it is hopefully going to become a reasonably frequent week-end ritual to head to a snowy patch and get in some ski practice!

It's Snowing!!

So, after having overcast and rainy weather with no sunshine at all for probably over a month, the temperatures finally dropped low enough to make the wet weather interesting!

This week, it started to SNOW!!! :-)

Unfortunately, it was not really cold enough for the snow to last more than a couple of seconds as it just melted the moment it hit the ground. But, it was snowing! At one point during Thursday, it was snowing what I am sure were golf ball sized snow flakes that were coming down thick and fast. It was difficult to resist just starring out the window. Unfortunately I was in the middle of a project audit though, so stopping everything to stare out the window was not really an option...

Back at home, the girls were eager as pie to get to school so they could play in the snow with the teacher - this the observation deck... watching the first snow falling at around breakfast time.

So, I think we know what we will be doing this week-end ;-)... Špičák, here we come!

Skiing at Špičák (pronounced Shpiechak)

It was really touch and go for a while as to whether we would actually get to Špičák or not! Have you ever tried to make an accommodation booking where neither parties can understand each other? We tried the e-mail thing first, but never received a reply. Eventually, I scanned through my limited knowledge of Czech and the dictionary and worked out all the correct words to say. The only problem with this is that he could now understand me, but I had no clue what he was saying back! Fortunately, a Czech colleague saved the day and phoned through for a reservation for us on Friday morning.

The next challenge was finding our accommodation when we got off the train (after forgetting our map at home and the resort's contact details!). Every one we asked "Kde je Penzion Barta?" (Where is Penzion Barta?) just returned the conversation with a blank look and a long string of Czech words, which we kind of figured meant that they had no clue.

After trudging up the street and only finding ski slopes and ski lifts, we then turned around and trudged back down the street, to find a big tourist map just metres from the train station where we had disembarked a good 40 minutes earlier with "penzion barta" very clearly shown on the map and was infact about 5 metres as the crow flies across the snow, but about 50 metres around the corner by road (Satellite image link here, just imagine it covered in snow).

By this time, we were thanking our sanity of sleeping those extra 2 hours in the morning and not trying to catch the 5am train but the 7.30 train as there was a high level of crankiness in the 2 littlies already. We then blazed forward, swapping jeans for ski kit and headed back up the street to find out how the whole ski thing actually works. With ill fitting, hired ski boots and skis in hand, we had about 1 hour to kill before we all (yes, all 4) had our first ski lesson at 12:15. We spent the time munching a pack of peanuts followed closely by chocolate and skidded and slipped our way around the base camp as there was very little snow and thick layers of ice everywhere.

Our ski instructor Jacob met us at 12:15 and we followed him for the few hundred metres to the kiddies slope with our ski boots feeling like lead; the skis on our shoulders (ours and the girls); ski poles (ours and the girls), while dragging A & S who all but believed the world was going to end if we didn't carry them too.

Fortunately, the novelty of putting on skis kicked in and the mood lightened significantly for the duration of the lesson (which was spent with Jacob just trying to keep A & S upright). Colin & I didn't get very much out of the lesson, but certainly enjoyed watching the antics of the 2 newest ski enthusiasts.

After the lesson, it took us close on 45 minutes to get back to the camp with the now very ratty tatty moods in tow.

We decided to hitch a lift on the local train shuttle to the next town - Železná Ruda (that housed the closest ATM) and have dinner while waiting for the return train.

It was stunning. This little town was incredibly picturesque and we were kicking ourselves for forgetting our camera. Sarah slept the whole while, first on Colin's shoulder while we walked through the town, then on her chair in the restaurant, then on the floor on our jackets in the restaurant, then on Colin's shoulder while walking back to the train. She woke up at the train station and perked up when we started feeding her the chicken schnitzel and smiley face potatoes from her supper.

Sunday morning we got smart. We left the 2 girls for their private 2 hour lesson and we hit the intermediate blue slope for a bit more action. It was great fun and I can claim to even have had a spectacular wipe-out! The weather was stunning with blue skies and the ski run was in the shade of the pine forest. The ski lift was the time killer though and limited our number of runs to about 3 or 4 before we had to go back to fetch the girls.

We had a lunch of pizza and sauer kraut soup and then we walked through the forests a bit alongside the ski runs. The girls were horsies (as usual).

After lunch, we took the girls back to the kiddies slope and in more sensible boots, ran around while they practiced staying upright on their skis. We managed to teach Amber the concept of the "snow plow" which was a momentous occasion; Sarah was just giggling and practicing the sideways-onto-bum maneuvere.

Tip: Chocolate and Jellies are a great mood lifter! Skis off, we had a great time playing in the snow - and as you can see - "The Woods were here!".

(The picture after of our bum prints in the snow has been censored!).
At about 4pm we headed off the snow, swapped ski pants for jeans and walked a bit through the town of Špičák before having dinner at the restaurant next to our pension.

Monday morning, with no ski instructors available to take the girls, we spent with all 4 of us on skis playing on the kids slope.

Colin & I took turns to ski with Sarah down the hill (her between our legs). After Amber had a turn between our legs and remembered her snow plow techniques, she then braved the slope on her own, following in my tracks. She was incredible to watch - snow plow position, bum in air with her poles paddling along side her in a chookoo train motion - very cute!!!

After a lunch of Bratwurst and Chips, we headed home to pack and wait for the train to take us home.

Pending some more snow - See you again, Špičák!

(Link to Our Web Album)

All Geared Up

I am SOOO excited!
Next weekend we plan to go skiing down South (on the German border) at Špičák (Spitzberg) and today we bought all the kit!


Ski pants, jacket and gloves for me (Total R450 for the kit!!! - Long live Tesco and winter sales) and ski pants for Colin.

Next Saturday morning, the plan (we still have to make all the reservations) is to leave on the 5am "snow train" which departs a few hundred metres from our doorstep and takes us for a 90 minute ride to the mountains and drops us off 200m from the ski lift. We will then book the girls into the ski school for the majority of the day while we have our refresher beginner lessons, then head off to the slopes. We plan to stay at the ski resort for 2 nights and ski ourselves "stukkend" and head back on the 4pm snowtrain to Plzen on Monday afternoon.

And if you are looking closely, you may even spot us on their webcam .... ;)