Dec 3 Weekend - First Weekend!
So I decided to go up to Jay this past weekend after being tempted by the Jay Snow report and Dr. Roemer's report for Friday. J Roemer does just an amazing job of localized meteorological reports, specifically for Jay Peak. I haven't checked to see if he's done any other resorts, but he probably does.
I left Cambridge approximately 2:00pm on Saturday. I was hoping to get most of the driving out of the way before sundown. I did a fairly good job. I basically made it to the Notch before it was dark. This included a quick stop to the NH liquor store to stock the house a little.
Pulled into the SSJay at approximately 5:45pm. A perfect 3:45 trip. This doesn't happen very often, so when accomplished it should be noted. The house looked exactly the same as we left it and it almost felt like being home.
Some things new things I noticed:
1) New windows(+)- this will help out several of the rooms immensely.
2. Living room curtains (-) - What the? Where'd our curtains go? Replaced with plastic shades. Whatever.
3. Computer (+) - Pretty great to have high speed internet access, but we plan on turning it off to save money so this will now be a minus (-), because now it's just a tease.
4. Cable (+-) - We're turning it off so it's really a minus. (NOTE: Need to get some ski porn!)
Those are the biggies. On to Dinner.
There was obviously nothing to eat in the house, since prior to my arrival the only other visitors this year (besides the ladybugs) were Eric and Nicki. They came up the weekend before and looks like all they ate was cheese and beer. I decided that I would visit the JVI or the Lodge. I headed to the Lodge first, but it was absolutely dead. I mean, dark. It wasn't even open. No cars in the parking lot and barely plowed. So that left one option...the JVI.
A short digression. Last time we had visited the JVI the restaurant was in a dire situation. The management group had just got up and left that night, which was over President's weekend, typically one of the busiest weekends of the year. Because the kitchen had taken their ball aand gone home, this left the hotel proprietors (I forget their names..) running the restaurant and basically getting food supplies from the general store across the road (literally going over there once ordered and getting what was needed) so they could serve their patrons. BTW, the place was full. So it was an interesting night.
So this weekend I go back, not knowing what to expect but I figured that it would be in better shape now. It was now about 8:30pm and nobody was at the bar, but the dining area had a holiday party of some sort occurring. After talking to Holly, the bartender, I found out it was the Lowell Fire Dept's Christmas Party. I don't know where Lowell, VT is located. I'll have to find that out. Apparently, it's not the same as the Jay FD. Or the Troy FD. One of the dudes that kept coming up to the bar looked like Farva from Super Troopers. Heh. Thought it was funny.
So I quickly got the scoop from Holly as to what happened after that fateful night. Another restaurant owner, JR, took over the restaurant and bar management. JR used to run another cafe in Montgomery Center. I don't remember the name of it off the top of my head, but I can picture it. I believe it was a breakfast/lunch location across from the First Trax ski shop, next to the Trout River Inn. I got to talk to him later in the night and things seem to be going well. I'm glad to hear it and I think the SSJay crew will be common visitors to the JVI this year.
I did get to meet some interesting characters while at the bar. There was John, the guy with a condo at Trillian Woods who lives in the Burlington area. I also met Barret, a local with a pins in his neck. Apparently he broke his neck trying to dive into a local watering hole. What I don't understand is that he went on to explain that after getting out of the hospital he went back to the same watering hole and dove in again! I actually don't remember which time he permenantly damage his neck but it was a funny story. Funny guy. I also met Linda, who's family owns a house in Jay and she takes a train from Toronto to Jay. 7 hour train ride! Makes our 4 hour trip from Boston seem short! It was a great early season night at the JVI.
I'll get to my first day of boarding in my next post. Later.
They won't all be this long. Promise.
I left Cambridge approximately 2:00pm on Saturday. I was hoping to get most of the driving out of the way before sundown. I did a fairly good job. I basically made it to the Notch before it was dark. This included a quick stop to the NH liquor store to stock the house a little.
Pulled into the SSJay at approximately 5:45pm. A perfect 3:45 trip. This doesn't happen very often, so when accomplished it should be noted. The house looked exactly the same as we left it and it almost felt like being home.
Some things new things I noticed:
1) New windows(+)- this will help out several of the rooms immensely.
2. Living room curtains (-) - What the? Where'd our curtains go? Replaced with plastic shades. Whatever.
3. Computer (+) - Pretty great to have high speed internet access, but we plan on turning it off to save money so this will now be a minus (-), because now it's just a tease.
4. Cable (+-) - We're turning it off so it's really a minus. (NOTE: Need to get some ski porn!)
Those are the biggies. On to Dinner.
There was obviously nothing to eat in the house, since prior to my arrival the only other visitors this year (besides the ladybugs) were Eric and Nicki. They came up the weekend before and looks like all they ate was cheese and beer. I decided that I would visit the JVI or the Lodge. I headed to the Lodge first, but it was absolutely dead. I mean, dark. It wasn't even open. No cars in the parking lot and barely plowed. So that left one option...the JVI.
A short digression. Last time we had visited the JVI the restaurant was in a dire situation. The management group had just got up and left that night, which was over President's weekend, typically one of the busiest weekends of the year. Because the kitchen had taken their ball aand gone home, this left the hotel proprietors (I forget their names..) running the restaurant and basically getting food supplies from the general store across the road (literally going over there once ordered and getting what was needed) so they could serve their patrons. BTW, the place was full. So it was an interesting night.
So this weekend I go back, not knowing what to expect but I figured that it would be in better shape now. It was now about 8:30pm and nobody was at the bar, but the dining area had a holiday party of some sort occurring. After talking to Holly, the bartender, I found out it was the Lowell Fire Dept's Christmas Party. I don't know where Lowell, VT is located. I'll have to find that out. Apparently, it's not the same as the Jay FD. Or the Troy FD. One of the dudes that kept coming up to the bar looked like Farva from Super Troopers. Heh. Thought it was funny.
So I quickly got the scoop from Holly as to what happened after that fateful night. Another restaurant owner, JR, took over the restaurant and bar management. JR used to run another cafe in Montgomery Center. I don't remember the name of it off the top of my head, but I can picture it. I believe it was a breakfast/lunch location across from the First Trax ski shop, next to the Trout River Inn. I got to talk to him later in the night and things seem to be going well. I'm glad to hear it and I think the SSJay crew will be common visitors to the JVI this year.
I did get to meet some interesting characters while at the bar. There was John, the guy with a condo at Trillian Woods who lives in the Burlington area. I also met Barret, a local with a pins in his neck. Apparently he broke his neck trying to dive into a local watering hole. What I don't understand is that he went on to explain that after getting out of the hospital he went back to the same watering hole and dove in again! I actually don't remember which time he permenantly damage his neck but it was a funny story. Funny guy. I also met Linda, who's family owns a house in Jay and she takes a train from Toronto to Jay. 7 hour train ride! Makes our 4 hour trip from Boston seem short! It was a great early season night at the JVI.
I'll get to my first day of boarding in my next post. Later.
They won't all be this long. Promise.
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