As we left our neighborhood around 8:30 the temperature registered at about 47 degrees, a little chilly, but it was early. As we drove higher into the mountains the gauge started dropping degree by degree until we finally reached Boone when it registered about 29 degrees - cold! Well once we entered Boone we realized we needed to drive "up" the mountain to the tubing place. So we maneuvered our way up the winding road that took us up another several hundred feet and then parked our car - temperature 18 degrees. It was snowing, which should have been my first hint. The snow was blowing, which should have been my second hint. Take a hint? Not me! No, no, I got out of the car without a coat and proceeded to stand outside and pull stuff out of the bag for the kids to get "dressed" for the snow. About 2 minutes into it I couldn't feel my fingers anymore. For Pete's sake this is North Carolina - it doesn't get this cold!! (except in the mountains - I forgot) The kids got ready in the car and we all headed down to the "lodge". By the time I reached the "lodge" (small building that had heat, food and not much else) and trust me that was by the skin of my teeth... I had tears pouring down my face from the wind and I think I even had a wind burn. I found my friend Michele and said to her "I have lived in some of the coldest parts of the country; Minnesota, Boston, Iowa and I have skied in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Colorado and I can tell you without a doubt I have never been as miserably cold as I am at this very minute". She laughed her head off! All I could think about was the 2 hours I had committed to tubing with the kids and wondered if any of us were dressed warm enough.
The kids were fired up and soooo excited, so Rich picked up the tickets and our group guide gave us a few instructions, then we went outside to hear a few more instructions. Needless to say once we got outside I couldn't even concentrate on whatever it was the guy was saying. The only thing I heard him say was, "Oh, by the way the wind is blowing at 25 - 30 miles an hour, the temperature is 17 degrees and the wind chill is -2". At that point I flicked the frozen wind induced tears off my face and headed toward the pile of tubes. I just kept saying "it's for the kids, it's for the kids..."
Everybody had their own tube except Luke, he had to ride with me, so we all headed down the mountain and then the dreaded "ride" back up. Ride is in quotes because we were going against the wind on the "magic carpet" so I'm not so sure I wouldn't have rather just stayed at the bottom and curled up into a ball and died right there. BUT I was with Luke - fearless Luke. "Come on Mom! Can't we run up the magic carpet? Why is it so slow? Can I go by myself? Can we go down the fast ones?" I couldn't even answer the first question, my lips were frozen. Thankfully Jack needed a little rest so I quickly volunteered to go with him and enjoyed a yummy hot chocolate and Jack's company. Soon after I was joined by the other 3 in our posse and several others from our group. After about 5 minutes it became clear that Gwen was turning green - we aren't sure why, but she had to stay in for the rest of the time (bummer, hee hee). The boys? They headed right back out and I didn't see them again for another hour and even then Luke didn't understand why we had to leave (frankly if I hadn't birthed that child I wouldn't believe he was mine - I HATE being cold, he LOVES it!). After a while Gwen recovered too, but didn't want to head back out.
Soon after we headed back home. Fun times - a little cold, but absolutely FUN! Although next time I will do a better job of checking the wind chill and temps.
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