Active Relaxation

When I was gifted an affordable spot on Mount Snow in Vermont, I wondered what it would be like to stay at a ski resort in the summer and let me just say that this off-season idea is quite a good one.  Spending time in a very comfortable townhouse on a cul-de-sac with very low occupancy was quite peaceful. A number of the ski trails are well-marked hiking trails where you may encounter a person or two, as well as red foxes and deer. 

While I gave the Valley Trail a 14-mile test ride early on my road bike and I were not pleased at all; this is absolutely a fat tire bike offering. So, I adapted to the offerings. The outdoor pool, tennis and pickleball courts were popular though not on my agenda, while the sportscenter was quite a joy with a large gym, olympic-size pool, and hot tubs. New cardio moves, weightlifting, and swimming left me feeling body parts I'd forgotten I had. 

Planned day trips to nearby towns never materialized as I easily fell into a mountainside routine of rising with the sun, coffee and a good book, writing for an hour or two, moving my body indoors and out, then dinner with a Masterpiece Theater series. My two car trips in 10 days were a three-mile drive for pizza and music. There were a few days of rain and a few days of wildfire smoke but lo and behold, I wasn't traveling, I was on vacation.   
 
I've now crossed the Molly Stark Trail, briefly paused in Bennington, traveled a familiar Route 7 in New York and arrived in Schenectady. It's a bit of culture shock.