Well, these innkeepers went cross country skiing this week. It’s one of those activities we haven’t done much at all, but keep wanting to learn. Seems like a great way to be outside in the winter, a great workout, pretty simple equipment. If we owned our own skis and boots we could just go out behind the inn whenever we wanted, and isn’t that a wonderful winter activity? So, we finally got out with a friend who took us up to the Rikert Ski Touring Center at Breadloaf. It was a beautiful day. We’ve had a fantastic winter for cross country skiing because there is such a good, deep base of snow covering all the trails. I had high, high hopes for this activity.

Now, firstly, it’s hard to have high hopes for something when you also need to learn how to do it. Everyone else looks so relaxed and easy, and they are plainly having a better time that you are. Their limbs seem to work in conjunction with one another. They don’t have to follow the advice of the 10 year old boy swooshing past them who shouts over his shoulder ‘make a pizza wedge to slow down! Pretend it’s like you have to go to the bathroom really, really badly!’ as he disappears down the gorgeous avenue of trees.

This is really the best part, is getting all that good exercise and being able to be out in the woods where it’s quiet and still. Meandering down various paths for as short or as long a time as you’d like. The folks at Rikert are friendly and very laid back. The ski shop is a tiny room with a roaring fire, mismatched comfy chairs and sofas and a big pot of soup on the boil. We have discount certificates available for guests staying at The Shoreham Inn.

You may not, however, encounter us on the trails. The hubby says that quote about golf ruining a good walk is all wrong, it’s cross country skiing that ruins a decent walk in the woods. I don’t agree, and I had hope of this being our new ‘thing’ we did together. I’ve been told ‘no, it will not be our new thing’. I’m not giving up on cross country skiing, or on him joining me quite yet, and maybe if you came and stayed with us, used a gift certificate, and came back and told him how much fun it was, you could help my cause. Maybe.