Thursday, Part 2

What a nice laid back day. The boys played games until lunch - we raided the frig to use up leftovers. We have plans for tomorrow and Saturday that include lunch, so it was good to finish up pizza and sandwich fixings. Clouds rolled in early today with a pretty good downpour. So...they found the X games on the big TV in the lounge and played pool. After the rain, so typical of Utah, the sun came out and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Practice for the Ping Pong tournament was on the docket for the afternoon. We were so impressed that they found out about the tournament and signed up themselves. There was only room for one more person on the list so they signed up for 2 Englebardts (to make it easy) and agreed that if only one of them could get in it would be OK. In the end, both played and did very well. Each won their first round game, Max won the 2nd and Nick got a bye, then Max and Nick played each other and Max won. He had to play the strongest player in the group - a girl about 14 who we had watched playing during the day. She was very good - the score seesawed for awhile then Max dug in and became the Champion! We were all so excited. He won a $5 certificate towards one of the other activities and a cute, multi-color ping pong ball. Unfortunately, we won't be around for the next 2 days and are leaving early on Sunday, so Max plans to give the certificate to someone. After the tournament, we dressed for dinner and took the bus to the bus station in town - a short 10 minute ride. We walked uphill (everything is uphill in Park City. We had early reservations and were able to sit on the outside balcony overlooking Main Street. It was lovely and cool - wonderful atmosphere for the promised Sushi dinner that we all enjoyed. Art gave Chopsticks lessons which were minimally successful but the food was good and it was fun. After dinner we walked down to the Java Cow - a local hangout that has fun tee shirts and gift items and the best ice cream in Park City. After our nightly ice cream, we walked down the street and stopped to see the fire pit in the plaza by the other Marriott in PC where we stayed the last 2 times we were here. Then we showed the boys the Shoe tree - a funny tradition started in PC when skiing was a new phenomenon here. As the story goes, some guys were sitting around drinking and one of them decided to throw a pair of old shoes into a nearby tree. Over the years, others throw their shoes in the tree and it acquired the name - Shoe Tree. It really was amazing to see how many more shoes are in the tree tonight than we saw on our last trip here 2 years ago...the Shoe Tree is now 3 or trees. We then introduced the boys to our favorite walking path and walked down to the Sound Gardens and the Skate Board park. Took some pictures and watched the kids boarding and biking in the park then walked back to our place - a lovely evening and long walk. Early to be since we have a long day planned for tomorrow and hope to get an early start. Today's pictures.