Inaugural skate of the season! December 29, 2025

 

When I walked out the door yesterday morning it was -22C (-7.6F) a very icy cold, when I walked out the door this morning at the same time as I did yesterday it was +2C (+35.6F).  It was not cold yet where I went was icy because that's what I needed for my first time on skates this season. Bowness opened for skating on December 20th yet today was the first available time I had to go.  This was the view as I pulled into the parking spot across from The Ice Trail at Bowness Park. Down here by the river it was -5C (+23F).  The guy just finished flooding the ice surface which meant I would be making the first etchings on it as no one else was around with their skates.  

The trees were still lit as I skated away!

a five second video as I am finding my skating legs

my favourite section along The Ice Trail

my favourite time too, when no one else is here, the lights are still on and

there is still early morning shades in the sky

that's my collection of etchings after three times around 

If you are a curler you would enjoy Crokicurl!

This patch is directly across the way.

It was just groomed and ready for curlers.

with the lights long out

the golden glow now came from the sun

view behind me

Being my first time skating this season the plan was to skate five kilometres.  I got lost in the beauty, lost in my thoughts, lost in the sound of the blades stroking the ice and of each breath I took.  It felt so easy and so good to be skating.  I stopped to check the distance I covered so far and it showed just over 10 kilometres.  I continued until I reached the bench where my boots were which brought my distance to 11.07 kms. All I can say is that life feels good right now!