Rideau canal

For living in Ottawa and being not too far from ‘the world’s largest outdoor skating rink’, it’s sad to admit that we hadn’t been out on the canal yet this winter. But since friends are visiting from out of town this weekend, it was a good excuse to get out there this afternoon.

But the weather was deceptive today. Although the temperature read only -4˚, there was a strong wind blowing that made it feel much colder. The wind was so strong in fact that our friends on skates could just spread their arms at times and be pushed along by the wind. But despite the blustery wind, it was fun to be out on the canal in the middle of all the skaters – although V and I chose to stick to the safety of our boots since neither of us is too stable on skates. M was strapped into a little toboggan we pulled along.

Our friends donned skates and weaved around us, circling back to find us trudging along the side. A couple times they would take Miya for an extra-fast dash along the ice.

“I look forward to skating it every year,” said out-of town friend, T, “beside visiting our best friends in Ottawa, the Rideau's my favourite reason to come to Ottawa in the winter. I’m a better skater than I ever was before and that adds to the enjoyment.

“One of my favourite things about skating the Rideau is looking at the type of skates people have,” like the old beat up hockey skates, the speed skates, the longer skates that look like cross-country ski-skates.

“Sitting by the fire was a nice way to finish up a long day in the fresh air,” she added, “and beavertails are always good.”

“Some day I think it would be very cool to throw a curling rock the length of the canal,” said her husband, although admitting that it would take several throws, musing that a 100-ft throw would be a good one, and we’re looking at 7.8 km. My concern is the other skaters who would not appreciate being taken down by a 40-lb rock, but these things could be worked out.