So there we were. After a charming day's skiing in Whitefish, Montana (that's the USA!) what better way to relax than by taking in some true wild west night life. First up was the Bulldog in downtown Whitefish. Dave, our guide and leader, told us it was a typical Montana bar: "Liquor up front, Poker in the back". And he was right - there were plenty of big guys in dungarees playing cards at the back. Best not spill their pint. Or disparage George W Bush as one of our number was doing, unless maybe you wanted to claim he was too left wing. But there was good food, the biggest pitchers of beer anyone had ever seen and "Total Eclipse of the Heart" on the jukebox, so it seemed to suit everyone.

We ended up in a nightclub and that's where the trouble really started. You see I was dancing, with my usual abandon and bravado - of course, and the other Nonstoppers were also out on the dance floor, many in fancy dress. After giving of our best for quite a while as the DJ pumped out some banging choons the music stopped and the DJ made an announcement.

"A big thanks to all the guys from the 80s party [that was us], really making it happen tonight. And ladies, if you're out on the dancefloor look out for the old bald guy - he's really laying it down out there". I looked around the other dancers thinking who on earth could he possibly be talking about. Reader; it was me!

I'm the old bald guy!!!

What!! I mean... WHAT!!! OK... so the barnet's not what it was. But OLD BALD GUY....

Ouch!

I really was flabbergasted. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever expect to be described as "the old bald guy on the dancefloor". I'm not sure I'll ever get over it.

Anyhow apart from that incident it was a very excellent day out. The skiing at Big Mountain (the local ski hill to Whitefish) was good and it was a beautiful day. The scenery is remarkable round there and the snow was excellent. The terrain wasn't as extreme as at Fernie but they had some good long runs for excellent cruising plu some good steep stuff and I did two "double black-diamond" runs which is meant to be as it hard as it gets. As I mentioned many of the folks were dressed up for the trip and you could easily spot us on the hill turning heads wherever we went. Then of course there was some vigorous apres-ski and after leaving the nightclub in a huff (me) or drunken stupor (everyone else) we had a lively trip back on the "party bus". When I get some photos up there you'll see what I mean.

Anyhow - thats enough for now. Cheerio.
xx
OBG