Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Skating at home in Toronto
Skating at the Mile One Arena in St. John's
Friday, February 25, 2011
Ottawa, Canada
What a great day I had for skating, although I arrived the night before I only walked on the Canal with my boots as it was dark, and I am not that confident skating at night. On Wednesday morning early, I could see the cleaners were on the Canal so off I went.
I was hesitant to ask anyone skating to work to stop and take my photo for me, so I did preface it with a "would you have time?" It was a great day for skating, nice and cold for good ice and lovely and sunny and clear, great for photos. There were soon lots of people on the ice, commuters more obvious than others. Someone said that the Canal is 8 kms long and I was telling them about The Forks and they said that the iceway is longer in Winnipeg, but not so wide as Ottawa.
My only comment is that each city has an outdoor rink, yes, even Halifax this year and they each have a unique quality. The fun part was when I was in the arena in St. John's, and they announced the changing of the direction (go counterclockwise, please) on the loudspeakers, whereas in Quebec City, it is understood and not announced. I didn't get it and a few people pleaded with me "Madame, Madame, you must turn!", and then I understood that I should skate in the opposite direction (go with the flow you know).
The thing about ice skating is that every Canadian can relate to it, and when I talk of a backyard rink, lots of people my age learned that way too. I am sure the youngest skater I encountered was at home at Dieppe Park in Toronto. I asked his father if he ever tried bobskates? He said he bought him the one blade kind just this year, and he was 3 years old!
I want to thank you all for coming along on my blog and if you ever get the chance to travel in the winter in Canada take your skates!! (also take shinpads for your elbows and knees, especially if they are not really your own). A special thanks to Dr. Nizar Mahomed who gave me the knees to do it.
I will keep the blog open in case I get a sponsorship to skate in the Territories, or the Yukon. Or I may do Rockerfeller Centre in New York city or even The Eiffel Tower in Paris. Who knows where my skates will take me?
My last photo will be of me at home on the rink at Harbourfront, Toronto.
See you later!
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Skating at Mile One Arena, and with my oldest friend Cathy,
at The Cassels' backyard rink in CBS (Conception Bay south) and at Signal Hill, overlooking Cape Spear and The Narrows
On arrival at midnight my cab driver cautioned me "you must watch your step since it is St. John's and there is some of the North Atlantic on every doorstep." They had been having a nice mild winter and it looked like an outdoor rink was not going to be available. Of all the pond skating that is often available in late February, there were none safe enough to try skating on this year.
Good Luck followed me on this leg, as I had a CBC Radio 1, St. John's interview (at 7:15 a.m.) and the on air request for an outdoor rink was granted by the Cassell family in St. John's, (CBC south, i.e. Conception Bay South). Mrs. Cassell responded immediately and we arranged for an after work skate at their home.
My friend, Cathy took the day off to make sure I got to Signal Hill, Cape Spear, The Battery (with all the colourful homes in the rock), and the Village of Quidi Vidi. Her daughter cooked us a jiggs dinner; yes, peas pudding included and her son in law complemented me with two CD's of his bass playing with "Shanneyganock" (a well know Newfoundland group), and they all made sure I got screeched in that night.
What a wonderful place, it is so colourful here and the people really are the friendliest and they know that you are "from away".
My photographs in St. John's are not that good, but in my minds eye!!! unforgettable.
It has been quite a ride, and loads of fun ice skating in the Provincial capitals and now that I am on my last city, I am somewhat sorry it is coming to an end. I have met some wonderful people and I do regret not recording the names of those photographers, usually complete strangers and each one saying what a great idea to ice skate outdoors in the capital cities of all the Canadian Provinces, and they wished they could come along. And a lot of you did come along on my blog, thanks a lot for joining me and I'll see you in Ottawa.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Yes, I got in the backyard special in Fredericton at the Whitters'arena. It is a lovely rink, nice smooth ice and you know it is at least half the size of the rink at Butchart Gardens in Victoria, B.C.. So here are some photos of skating at home in Fredericton.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Fredericton, New Brunswick
You couldn't have asked for a better skating day.
Officer's Square is on the Saint John river and they have a nice new change room and the ice was perfect. You come out of the change room and skate down a ramp (lots of fun there trying to stay upright) around the statute of Lord Beaverbrook (for whom many ice rinks in the province are named) and on to a large square rink. Of course afterwards you skate up the ramp to the change room (again lots of fun staying upright).
Well, this was the best skate ever! As I have said in previous blogs, I skate much better with an audience. (I don't want to fall, nor do I want to fall in front of witnesses). Well, we had a big crowd. My Mom sat on the edge of the ice, our friend Tim was the designated photographer, my brother in law, Roger and his daughter Heather and her three kids, John, Lauren and Scott Whitters. My nephew, a student at St. Thomas University also dropped by. Of course the hit was the Whitters, they patiently waited and followed my blog all last year hoping I would add their personal rink to the list.
Finally the day had arrived and we had a lot of fun at the rink, followed up with a skate on their very own back yard ice. It too was nice ice and it was pretty big, I thought it was at least half the size of the Butchart Gardens ice. They all have skates for pleasure skating and good skates for hockey. Of course they all play hockey, yes, even Lauren.
I hope I get now to publish the photos of both rinks, so you can see how great it is. By the way, Officer's Square has a webcam and you can see it for yourself. Today it is busy too. The day we were there was just after a snowstorm and the webcam was not too clear.
Nine down one to go!! St. John's here I come!!