We'd been hearing all about a tubing company about an hour from us that was supposed to be really fun, and so this weekend we decided to go check it out on Friday night. Normally we would go on Saturday, but the weather was going to turn bitter cold, with temperatures going down to -30. So...we left right after school on Friday, and thought it would be fun to go tubing in the dark.
We knew a storm was coming, but didn't realize exactly how much of a storm it would be. It needed up being a lake effect snowstorm, and we drove right through the middle of it. Talk about intense--there is so much snow, and it's flying so fast and furious that you can barely see a few feet in front of you. What's amazing, is that the highway was still packed. Buffalonians are hard core--they're used to it, know how to drive in it, and unless it's coming down eight feet at a time like the infamous "Snowvember" last year, they all go about their business like normal. Rick and I are used to driving in the snow, and even lots of snow, but was an experience all on its own. It's also why we will always have a 4 wheel drive vehicle, especially now that we will living right smack in the middle of the snow belt.
When we arrived, we realized we made it all the way there without Caroline's snow coat. So, Rick took her to the ski store a few miles away to get her one, while I took the rest of the kids to the tubing hill. It was HUGE! 900 feet long with a drop of 100 feet, and I don't even know how many miles per hour you can go on the packed snow. It's fast. One of the most fun parts is being pulled up the hill to go again, and at the top there's quick little hill and they spin you down once you get there. You can go in a group or as singles, and we loved both ways. We all absolutely loved it!! It was seriously so fun, although we quickly learned why people were wearing their ski googles.
It was snowing really hard, but we hardly noticed it until we looked at each other, and saw that your eyelashes were frosted over and pure white, and that our entire bodies were covered in snow. But we didn't care! Up the hill we went again! It was SO fun going in the dark. I'm so glad we we tried it that way first.
Caroline wasn't big enough to go, so Rick and I took turns taking her on a smaller hill, pulling her around on a tube, and drinking hot chocolate with her in the lodge. She thought it was all pretty fun, but she really liked the hot chocolate. :)
It closed at 9pm, and we headed home, hoping that the storm had subsided enough to make the trip a little faster than on the way down. Fortunately that was the case, and we made good time. All the kids fell asleep on the way home, and it was quiet, snowy drive. Perfect ending, perfect day! We can't wait to go back!
