The Season of Winter
By Juliaacv
@Juliaacv (51885)
Canada
January 19, 2025 10:17am CST
The season of winter.
It means different things to people, mostly based on where they reside. That will dictate the weather and how you can spend your time outdoors in that weather.
This winter has been up and down. A traditional winter in our region has temperatures below freezing for the majority of the season. Thanks to global warming, our temperatures are up and down.
One of the greatest winter pass times for people in my region is outdoor ice skating. The Rideau Canal in our nation's capital of Ottawa boasts a stretch of 7.8 km of endless ice. Properly dressed you can get lots of exercise outside enjoying a piece of that stretch of ice. The residents of the area go out and do the stretch at least once, and often many times a day.
We have never visited Ottawa to enjoy the ice skating on the canal, but one day I hope to visit it. I cannot skate any longer as it is too risky due to my osteoporosis, but it would be such a wonderful walk along the canal watching those who can.
What is the winter pass time in your area these days?
~Photo of the Rideau Canal from Pixabay
13 people like this
11 responses
@snowy22315 (183781)
• United States
19 Jan
Mostly, people complain about wanting it to be warmer..
This area is really a warm weather destination, geared around water activities. People who have second homes here don't bother to show up in the winter.
This area is really a warm weather destination, geared around water activities. People who have second homes here don't bother to show up in the winter.3 people like this
@snowy22315 (183781)
• United States
19 Jan
@Juliaacv There are plenty of both here
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51885)
• Canada
19 Jan
@snowy22315 Can you ski or skate outdoors during the winter months?
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51885)
• Canada
19 Jan
Do they have a well known outdoor skating path?
Here, in London, Ontario, we have a winter glow which is a 250 M trail in Springbank park all lit up with pretty lights along the way.
This region is known for being very flat.
There is a hill of sorts near our son's place, and they have tubing and skiing and snowboarding, but it isn't like the skiing in BC nor Quebec.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (81711)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Jan
Nothing doing about winter in Florida except right now staying warm until it turns back into the Sunshine state,
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51885)
• Canada
10h
@RasmaSandra I have family that spends their winters in Florida, I know that they dislike the cold air.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (81711)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10h
@Juliaacv I doubt that anyone with the temps in the 40s today was at Daytona Beach
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51885)
• Canada
19 Jan
I've never owned long underwear, but I always layered, turtlenecks and sweaters and a ski suit, top and bottoms to go outside. Skating on the creek was always warmer than being outside regularly because the wind was blocked by the banks. I remember going out on the river and the lakes and seeing people as far as the eye could see. It was always fun to go for a snowmobile ride out there in the open past all of the ice fisherman.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51885)
• Canada
21h
There were more people that I saw interviewed on the news that were above the age of 65 that were talking about how many km's they had done on most days than not. This is something that they have done for their entire lives.
The city tests the ice for a particular thickness before allowing people onto it. The past 4 years they have not been able to allow the skaters out on the ice.
Many small businesses open food booths along the stretch of ice and it looks so festive.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (95217)
• United States
19 Jan
On the rare occasion we have snow, and I mean once or twice a year if at all, people get sleds and go down steep hills. Unfortunately, the steepest hills are never in safe locations, so sometimes the police have to come and chastise the parents (mainly dads) for letting their kids go down a steep hill that stops at the side of the highway. Crazy.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (169959)
• Boise, Idaho
20 Jan
I enjoy the scene in The Bishop's Wife where they go ice skating. Such a fun thing in the winter.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (169959)
• Boise, Idaho
9h
@Juliaacv ........It is entertaining to watch. With the warming trend nothing is the same weather-wise.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51885)
• Canada
21h
Because we have had so many mild winters that outdoor rinks are not useable, many of them have been converted into tennis courts. I used to love going to outdoor rinks to skating parties with our school. We always did that at least once during the year.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (109922)
• Marion, Ohio
19 Jan
I hibernate as much as possible 
. Sledding used to be very popular. This year would be good for it but the last few haven't been
. Sledding used to be very popular. This year would be good for it but the last few haven't been1 person likes this
@Iam_jauntyjen (5188)
•
19 Jan
Middle-aged to old people go hiking every day. I live a stone's throw away from the forest; I see the same faces every day when I send my daughter to school. The coldest temperature so far was -9.
1 person likes this
@Iam_jauntyjen (5188)
•
19 Jan
@Juliaacv The temperature is currently -3 degrees, but it will reach 8 degrees later in the afternoon.
1 person likes this
