The &#8220;Adventures of Rose&#8221; Blog

Posted by Adventure Rose

Filed in Backroads Start

http://www.backroads.com/trips/MYOQF

Drumroll Please . . . !

May 16, 2007

& the verdict is — CALIFORNIA!!! Here are my 4 trips so far!!!!

(#1) Yosemite Multi-Sport Family Casual Inn Trip | June 16 – 21 http://www.backroads.com/trips/MYOQF

(#2) Yosemite Multi-Sport Family Casual Inn Trip | July 14 – 19

(#3) Napa/Sonoma Valley Wine Tasting Biking Premiere Inns | July 22 – 27

http://www.backroads.com/trips/BWCI

(#4) Yosemite Biking/Hiking Family Camping Trip | July 29 – August 3

http://www.backroads.com/trips/WYOCF

Friends get 20% off trips & related family members get 30% My August schedule will be available on June 1 & I also requested Maine, Martha’s Vinyard/Nantucket & Vermont for the end of the season (September & October)!

& &&&& every year, the company has an employee trip/company ride – so at the beginning of November, I’m going to Thailand!! Rock on y’all & chat soon

Posted by Adventure Rose

Filed in Backroads Start

The Camping Experience :)

May 14, 2007

Wow! It’s that time again!

This past week was awesome learning about Zion National Park & Bryce Canyon. & what better way to learn about these natural wonders than by exploring them full on! Well, that’s exactly what the 21 of us + 5 leaders did.

We left the Backroads office in the early afternoon on Monday & then arrived at the leader house near Zion to stay overnight. I stayed in the top of a bunkbed (LOL like old time at wilderness camp eh Marty?) Thank goodness for earplugs too!

We left the next morning for Zion & I took my turn at driving w/the trailer hitched. We stopped at the grocery to buy food & supplies for our 5 day trip (insane amounts of food!). Lots of fun snaking roads (overdrive off, foot to the pedal up hills!) Then, I drove straight to the campsite within Zion’s National Park & we all set up camp!

While at Zion, we hiked 3 different trails, one of them being the more difficult, but well-known “Angels Landing” hike. It was unreal to get that high up (1,500 elevation gain) using chains bolted to the rocks as my guide It was a thoroughly amazing experience & I was not frightened of the height/drop-offs at all! The day we did that hike was totally hard core, as they had us bike 15 miles to the trailhead & then after the hike we biked back to the campsite! We also walked to the more popular “Narrows” trail, but couldn’t hike it as water levels were too high to be safe.

We then headed over to Bryce Canyon to follow the “Queen’s Garden” loop trail that went down & then back up out of the canyon. & the end was a surprising multitude of insane switchbacks! Now I just need to stop eating oreos & too much gorp during the day to lose a few pounds! LOL Anyhoo, I took a ton of great photos!

We learned a great deal about preparing for a camping trip, how they differ from inn trips, cooking for the masses, leading van support, managing 4 page grocery lists & several menus, presenting the food using beautiful garnish techniques & interacting w/guests! Not to mention the straining of coffee, roof racking & prepping bikes, sleeping out under the very many stars (no tent necessary), the heat of the desert, stories read by the campfire & the merriment of sharing life with others!

So today was my day off. After chatting w/my momma for an hour or so (Happy Mother’s Day!), I went for a 3 hour hike up the mountain to relax my brain & to make some more phone calls (there’s seriously hardly any time for phone calls!). Interestingly enough, I met a mountain biker today at the top of the mountain trail & it turns out he is a photographer (with a bad-a$$ bike). The photos he took came out awesome!

Anyway, it’s ciao for now – I should already be in bed by now, I’m beat!

PS: Tomorrow afternoon I should know OFFICIALLY where I’m going to be stationed for the summer season! How exciting!

All pics can be found here: share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AcsWzRq5ZNW3F

Posted by Adventure Rose

Filed in Backroads Start

1 Week of Training Officially Completed!

May 7, 2007

Today officially marks the end of my first week here in Utah! I think I have now gotten used to the altitude, but still not used to seeing gorgeous mountains around me 24/7. It’s awesome! Work was intense the rest of the week, with Thursday & Friday being an all-day bike clinic. Holy crow, who would have thought I would be cutting cables/housing & resetting bike brakes & gear shifters! Alex didn’t teach me about that stuff & I get tested on all of the bike stuff at the end of next week!

Thursday after work, I went for a run in the mountains (it had snowed up there that morn). What a rush! Friday, I did a presentation on Maine & how the native indians used wild blueberries – I even brought blueberries into the classroom to eat while I discussed, it was fun Everyone gave some very cool 2 minute “interpretive” talks. Friday night we had our little own happy hour between the 2 condos & had a great time together decompressing. On Saturday, we went to a huge REI store in the morning — talk about an outdoorsman’s wonderland. & a few cute boys were working there too LOL I didn’t buy anything though <sniff, sniff> & then we had an awesome Cinco de Mayo party & everyone brought a dish or a refreshing adult beverage (I’m borrowing that from you Michelle!) or yeah, lime & strawberry jello shots! I made my famous 7 layer dip!

It was quite a wild time w/dancing & whooping it up, but today (Sunday) is serious. Besides cleaning the condos for when other leaders stay here while we are off camping next week, we are all trying to study all we can about the canyons before we go (where the wind comes into the canyons, signs of heat stroke, cattleguards, etc.). We all have talks we are assigned to & 1 of mine is somewhat tough — bike safety (very involved) & a 2 minute interpretive talk about the canyons. I am not sure yet what my talk will be about yet! Maybe sunsets in the canyons. So, today it’s study, study, study – although I do tend to procrastinate sometimes when it comes to “studying!”

More pics can be seen here: share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AcsWzRq5ZNW2j

Chat w/y’all when I return from the canyons!

& I’ll leave you with a (tiny) tidbit from my study material

The Canyons is truly a place which needs to be experienced to believe. The Canyons is the kind of place which truly touches your soul. This place works as a source of wonder and inspiration, and it is not uncommon for guests (and leaders) to leave boasting of their “life changing” experiences. It may be the epic riding and hiking, it may be the unique, expansive beauty, or that the feeling of being in a place so big, so full – yet so empty literally alters your perspective of life in a way you’ve never experienced before.

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Posted by Adventure Rose

Filed in Backroads Start

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The best career move ever!

May 3, 2007

Well, well & hey there — ! I am now 3 days into training (tomorrow will be 4) & I am absolutely LOVING it! Not that it’s easy living with 9 other people after being used to living alone for years, but that’s OK for now LOL. Anyway, there is so much to do & learn & enjoy! There’s no doubt that this is definitely my calling

Backroads is an extremely well-put together company. They are very proactive with training & their method of approach for new hires has been quite impressive. & as a past trainer for several jobs, & for the things I’ve seen — that’s pretty cool! They really do try & make it fun & explain that the company thrives on change (like I do!) & they always look for input on how things can be improved. It’s fabulous!

It’s also intense as hell LOL It’s got me working all day. I wake at 6:30 & we have homework reading at night. Friday I have to give a presentation. I decided to do a 2 min talk on Maine & some interesting facts about blueberries from the region! I put in my “schedule” today too — it felt good to check the box that said “I’ll work anywhere” – & then put in a few of my choice places for working this season. We’ll see where that gets me! Still not sure where I am going just yet but should know next week!

Everyone is slowly realizing that I’m the picture chick & it’s neat. & as you all know, I take pics of everything! So! There are 21 of us in this 1st training block, just about half men & half women. Thus far, I think I am the oldest female (all the women are between 22 & 25 LOL) & I definitely have the heaviest bag @ a whopping 77 pounds (!!) There are 2 guys my age & another that’s 37 (& looks like he’s 25). Interesting! We camp next week for 5 days in Bryce Canyon & Zion National Park & believe me — THAT should separate the “men from the boys” so to speak But not before our condo house has a kickin’ Backroads Cinqo De Mayo Party!

OK, so officially — I am “a woman of the wilds” (a fond nickname from my skydiving instructor). Of course I will try to update & post more pics after the party & before camping, but for now . . . It’s adios! (I may have to learn Spanish next so I can go to Baja!!!) Wooo!

All pics from before I left:

All pics from Utah going forward!:

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AcsWzRq5ZNW2Q

Posted by Adventure Rose

Filed in Backroads Start

The Countdown Begins . . .

April 26, 2007

Wow, time flies when you’re having fun! Yeah, well, okay . . . I MAY be just a little bit stressed LOL. But just a little bit! Overall everything is really great

My party this past weekend was a hit, although I did a bit more running around than I thought I would (hence the hair looking like a drowned rat because I was sweating the whole time!). & I only drank a drop of champagne at the beginning of the party & then had water until the party ended! The clubhouse looked great (it was held in a condo development)! My bud Kevin (from Marist) did an amazing job on the toast, & let me tell you – it was quite a moment. To mention a few things — my mom helped me cut red roses & put them into little cups, Becky & Colleen set up the dueling iPods, Jason enjoyed cutting pastries in half, Diane drove up from South Carolina, Laurie looked fab with her new hairdo, Rhonda was all lovey-dovey with her new man & Nan and I shared an excellent & well-deserved belly-laugh together. We also had a great time afterwards @ Grand, the famous bar in Stamford. It was hoppin’ & we all danced the night away!

It was so good to see everyone one last time until who knows when! & it’s been quite a ride so far. This last week should prove to be very interesting. Woo!! & very liberating! I’ve been having a fabulous time watching all of my furniture & worldly posessions being moved out – some of them will be in places that will never be known to me. Cool. My furniture has some serious history & will live in infamy LOL

I’ve already moved a slew of things to my mom’s place & some more (heavy) things over to my friend Becky’s childhood home for safekeeping. Her dad is very cool about me leaving stuff there & has the sweetest pitbull ever (although I can’t help but keep my eyes on his jaw when I’m petting him – yikes, that dog could dismember me!). Becky & Alex teamed up to help me get those big bins up the dang stairs & we joked, fell over our feet & happily snapped a bunch of pictures along the way. & yeah, well – there is stuff I can’t seem to let go of — like those georgous golf clubs that guy Peter gave me. But then again, who would after getting 2 Big Berthas & a set of women’s Precept clubs for FREE from your golf-instructor boyfriend (that relationship only lasted a month, if that). Ah well . . . sometimes us ladies make out like bandits Anyway!

This week is locked up pretty darn tight, with plans for meeting people about furniture (the bedroom set/armoire is the last to go, everything else is sold!), meeting with my terrific Financial Planner “Dr. Berry,” packing a few last boxes, driving the Xterra to Long Island & leaving at my uncle Jimmy’s for him to sell (my dad would be so happy that he offered to help me out in this way), getting my last $100 hoity-toidy Westport Connecticut haircut for awhile, picking up my flip-flops from someone’s car (don’t ask), scrubbing my apartment down (& getting my security deposit back this time!) & packing my 3 new Briggs & Riley bags that are coming with me to Utah (& wherever else I am stationed for a season)!

I just found out yesterday that I’ll be staying in condos in the hills of Utah during training with 14 other people! Should be a good time & this part of my life will become a lovely memory! So! There hasn’t been any crying yet – although it’s possible that it may be coming on strong REAL soon.

Alrighty then . . . Next time you hear from me I’ll be in the throws of training. Wish me luck, keep me in your prayers & most of all– don’t forget about me!!

All of the pics from the party + a few days after can be found at this link: http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AcsWzRq5ZNW1v

Time to venture forth y’all ;)

Posted by Adventure Rose

Filed in Backroads Start