Well, you see, in winter it turns into one long skating rink, almost 8km (or 5 miles). I don't think I had ever seen them skating on the canal until last Sunday when we happened to be in the same area as where the concert will take place tonight. In our first winter in this region last year, the canal wasn't open to skating for most of the season; it was simply too warm. This winter started the same way before we got locked into the freezer. Brrr!
Anyway, on Sunday, we did get to drive alongside the canal for a while, and it was terribly delightful to see hundreds upon hundreds of people enjoying the invigoration of the day. We didn't seem to chance upon a good spot to take a picture, so I've located one form the internet for you to get the idea of what I am nattering on about. Don't you think it looks magical?
There are even concession stands on the ice in places. Look here to see a photo. In fact, if you click the photo, it will take you to more pictures of this area in winter. It's probably worth a look.
Meanwhile, the concert's tonight!! I'm hardly excited at all. I'm sure you believe me, eh?
O-ooohh!! Wish I was there!!
ReplyDeleteMan, I am jellous!!
For awhile this winter, when it was too warm in Ottawa for them to use the whole area they normally use, Winnipeg boasted a longer skating area on the river. But by now you've probably eclipsed us again.
ReplyDeleteNow if only it would warm up a bit so we could skate without freezing off every bit of exposed skin!
Ah, Ottawa in winter!
ReplyDeleteI've only been in the summer and now I'm itchin' to go back....
That looks like so much fun...if I were 30 years younger! Won't it be something to remember when it gets warm and returns to water ... all those people in the canal.
ReplyDeleteHave fun tonight.
It looks like lots of fun. I'd love to skate there sometime.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo! Enjoyed the others as well, especially the one entitled "waiting for summer". ec
ReplyDeleteGinnie said it for me: roll that clock back 30 years and oh! what fun.
ReplyDeleteHope the concert was fun.
Did you know the Ottawa Canal is in the Guinness Book of Records for the longest skating rink. Winnipeg is actually challenging this record this winter with our river skating rink at the Forks and we were very hopefully.. until Ottawa got hit by the deep freeze. :-)
ReplyDeleteI remember skating, and in fact did some not THAT long ago. Here in Calgary, the rage is the Bowness lagoon... that or the Olympic Oval at the U.
ReplyDelete...no, I'd have to say the lagoon wins hands down. So many childhood memories for me.
Sweet photo!
What a wonderful time you must have had. Tell us all about it soon, alright?
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful pictures!I wish I was there.
ReplyDeleteBye,Steffi
The canal picture was terrific, I loved it. We live near the Connecticut river and it has frozen every year I have lived in VT, but there is too much current for skating except for one year a long time ago.
ReplyDeleteHow was the oncert?
Ah, I know you will have a delightful evening! What good fortune anticipation can be.
ReplyDeleteWell, you haven't posted about the concert yet, so do you have a post-concert hangover? And not necessarily from alcohol? ;)
ReplyDeleteThe canal looks awesome.
The canal does look magical and beautiful! Hope you enjoyed the concert.
ReplyDeleteThe canal looks like a magical place to skate. Thanks for showing and explaining it to us.
ReplyDeleteI've read about fairs that were held on the Themes when it froze in the middle ages, and they had peddlers' booths out on the ice. Now I've seen a picture of it.
ReplyDeleteHow fun! We have a river running through our city, and what a great idea this would be. I enjoyed your photos.
ReplyDeleteHope the concert is wonderful for you. I loved the skating story.
ReplyDeleteawesome picture,it looks fun.I skated when I was young.loved it.
ReplyDelete