Pondspotting.

Having spent 40+ years down south, I had come to believe that things like skating on ponds and white Christmases were myths. Well, by the holidays this year we had had at least three snows (including one in October) and there was enough on the ground to get out and sled on Xmas morning. Within a week or so later, the lakes and ponds 'round here had begun to ice over and I realized that maybe you really can just go out and skate, ride, whatever in places that had been open water not long ago. It seems stupid, maybe, but the idea of walking across a lake seems really cool to me. So that's what I've been doing. Jordan pond is set and has a hockey rink on it. Cook Pond - same. I saw some dudes way out in the middle of Indian Lake last week despite the open water on the edges - I guess they know what they're doing. Elm pond, check - kids were biking on the pond when we stopped by a couple of days ago. Lake Quinsigamond - the biggest around - has snowmobile and (I think) tire tracks all over it. So now I have a mission - to bike, ski, shuffle or skate on as many formerly navigable waterbodies as possible before the spring thaw.

15* outside this morning, so I went for the first trail ride of the season down at the rayburn trails. For once, I was grateful for 4 wheelers, which had been in there (I guess the rules don't matter there as with most everywhere else in Mass) and packed down enough snow to make a lot of the doubletrack passable. Except for the first few minutes, the cold wasn't an issue at all, so I think I'm almost acclimated. I got back in time to fry up some felafel (which Grace calls "muffins") for lunch and go skating down the street at the fancy indoor. Our attempt at skating Jordan pond (above) yesterday didn't last too long, but we'll go back soon I hope.

I guess there's no point to this except that I now realize that if I'm such a simpleton that I get excited about walking around on ice, then I should be OK for at least the first couple of winters up here.

"If the Scotch didn't work, I doubt ibuprofen is going to do much good." - Anonymous professor on treating skiing injuries.