In Ottawa, simply glancing at the Rideau Canal is enough to realize the seasons are changing.
From mid-May to mid-October, the locks are open and dozens of boats sail on the historic canal. The scenery is picture-perfect with lots of green trees along the water, and the area is an ode to outdoor living.
Then the canal is drained by opening the locks by the Château Laurier to prepare for winter and eventually create the longest skating rink in the world. It takes a few weeks to install the infrastructure—ramps, shelters, changing facilities and all—and meanwhile, the canal looks a bit depressing.
Eventually, the water will be raised to skating level and it will hopefully freeze. It takes about two weeks of cold weather (we’re talking -15°C to -20°C here!) to get a safe ice surface—it must be at least 10 to 12 inches thick. A flag system is used, like at the beach: green flag, you can go; red flag, conditions are unsafe. Hopefully this winter I’ll finally get the chance to skate!
Yes, that time of the year is coming – we had a tiny bit of snow here yesterday!
I hope you do get the chance to skate – it’s a wonderful sport/pastime.
I used to go to the skating rink a lot in France actually. But fore some reason, I never got around doing it here!
Interesting, I didn’t know they do that that way. I remember reading in your blog something about skating in the canal before, but I never knew that you have to drain it first and do all those preparations.
I remember my parents telling me that they skate on the Vltava River in Prague as well during winter, although since that is a river, I don’t think draining is involved.
Every year, I find they drain it early, especially considering you really can’t skate until late January or February. But I guess it takes a while to set everything up.
How beautiful and kinda cool to know the process. We on the west coast don’t have that type of thing unless we venture indoors. Thus, I have no feeling inside to want to try skating since roughly 25 years.
It’s a really cool place, I think we are lucky to have it. Makes winter enjoyable!
Beautiful autumn colors, especially the reflection on the water. It is interesting to see the climate changes within just a few weeks! Stay warm~
I know, it was brutal! We really only have two seasons here (okay, maybe three) but it’s a drastic change every time.
Oh! That will be fun to skate on the longest skating rink in the world!!! 😀 I can’t skate. I’m scared to slip off the ground.
But there is the art of falling! 😆