At about 03:30 in the early morning, six bleary-eyed travellers arrived at Manchester Airport for the first Blackpool Lodge No 1476 ski trip. After breakfast in the Escape Lounge, the travellers boarded the flight to Barcelona, taking off on time at 07:30, arriving at their destination at the local time 11:00. A minibus was waiting to take them on a four-hour drive to the resort of Pas De La Casa (described as something like Blackpool but with snow), in the region of Grandvallira in Andorra.
After checking in to the hotel and quickly unpacking and rehydrating, the intrepid skiers went to the ski hire shop to procure the lift passes, lunch vouchers and vouchers for lessons for those who required them. All these items were ready for collection on check-in so that everybody would be ready to hit the slopes first thing in the morning. During the evening everybody dined in the hotel restaurant and enjoyed further rehydration, retiring relatively early to bed to be ready for the next morning’s early start.
Following breakfast at 7:30, everyone ensured that they were properly clothed and travelled to the slopes. The three members who had booked a three-hour private lesson found their instructor and the other three, (one skier and two snowboarders), went on an early lift. After a good morning exploring the mountain, everybody met up for lunch and then hit the slopes together in the afternoon. After a fine evening meal in the hotel, a couple of local bars were explored before retiring to bed.
On the Saturday morning, the party separated into two groups, the three who had booked lessons stayed local, whilst the others went to the top of the mountain and into the adjoining area of Grau Roig, meeting up for lunch with everyone skiing together in the afternoon. After a visit to the spa in the hotel, as it was Saturday night, it was decided to go out for a meal, meeting in the hotel bar before going out, they rehydrated following the sauna and steam room. Following a meal of steak and chips, a few local bars were visited with the evening ending between 11:00 at night and 05:00 in the early morning. This scenario being similar to the children’s song ‘Ten Green Bottles’ with the last man standing being asked to leave the night club as they wanted to lock up!
The next morning some of the party discovered what many of them already knew, that the amount of skiing in a day is inversely proportional to the amount of alcohol consumed the previous night. Sunday night was a quiet night in the bar, as some were still recovering and it was decided that a doner kebab would be a suitable meal, followed by an early night.
Monday morning arrived and after packing the cases early and checking out of the hotel, the party left their cases and hit the slopes by 09:00. Skiing until about 1:30 in the afternoon when the hired equipment was returned, being ready for the minibus pick-up at 3:00 in the afternoon. At Barcelona airport there was a one hour and 15 minutes delay. Fortunately, Gordon McClean from Progress Lodge No 4120 was waiting with his mini-bus at Manchester airport for the return home.
Planning is now taking place for next year’s ski trip, so if anyone would like to join the party, please contact Blackpool Lodge.
Story and pictures by Ray Lamb, Blackpool Lodge.