Winterlude, Waterlude, Coronalude
Feb. 3rd, 2021 04:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
blogcutterYesterday was Groundhog Day. Apparently the groundhog didn't see its shadow, which is supposed to mean an early spring.
In contrast, the Ice Hog family will not venture out of their burrow at all this year. The canal may be open in its entirety but any apparent ice hog holes will remain unused.
Yes, I know we're in the midst of a pandemic. I understand that they can't be going around enveloping skaters (masked or otherwise) in a furry hug. But can't we still enjoy some sort of a modified Winterlude anyway? After all, we're all paying through our taxes for the NCC and the maintenance of the canal. But we're not supposed to go there unless we can walk there? I guess Ottawa is still the town that fun forgot - even if it's healthy outdoor fun and exercise. Interestingly enough, the sledding hill at Mooney's Bay actually WOULD be a pleasant walking distance away for us, at least on a nice mild day like today. But the City in its wisdom decided to close the hill entirely, rather than just monitor numbers to ensure Covid-safe distancing and perhaps institute an online or telephone registration system.
But back to Winterlude, or at least the canal. At first, I was under the impression they would not even have washroom facilities there, but apparently they do. Just no changing/warm-up huts, skate and sled rentals, Beavertails or other amenities. I'd have thought that they could have had those, as long as someone was on hand to keep an eye on numbers. Surely food trucks could be stationed at suitable intervals along the Driveway, for instance. People could perhaps sit on benches (suitably distanced, of course) or wander along the path while eating, and then mask up again before returning to the ice.
Ice sculptures have also been an important feature of Winterlude over the years. I understand there is still to be some sort of ice-carving competition, but the viewing and judging is all to be done online? I guess we'll find out in the next few days. I'd have thought it should at least be possible to walk around and view sculptures at times when things were not too crowded. And what about sliding in Jacques Cartier Park?
Maybe we should declare February 2021 to be Ice Hog History Month. Because this year, it sure looks as if the Ice Hogs (along with most other aspects of Winterlude) are history!!
In contrast, the Ice Hog family will not venture out of their burrow at all this year. The canal may be open in its entirety but any apparent ice hog holes will remain unused.
Yes, I know we're in the midst of a pandemic. I understand that they can't be going around enveloping skaters (masked or otherwise) in a furry hug. But can't we still enjoy some sort of a modified Winterlude anyway? After all, we're all paying through our taxes for the NCC and the maintenance of the canal. But we're not supposed to go there unless we can walk there? I guess Ottawa is still the town that fun forgot - even if it's healthy outdoor fun and exercise. Interestingly enough, the sledding hill at Mooney's Bay actually WOULD be a pleasant walking distance away for us, at least on a nice mild day like today. But the City in its wisdom decided to close the hill entirely, rather than just monitor numbers to ensure Covid-safe distancing and perhaps institute an online or telephone registration system.
But back to Winterlude, or at least the canal. At first, I was under the impression they would not even have washroom facilities there, but apparently they do. Just no changing/warm-up huts, skate and sled rentals, Beavertails or other amenities. I'd have thought that they could have had those, as long as someone was on hand to keep an eye on numbers. Surely food trucks could be stationed at suitable intervals along the Driveway, for instance. People could perhaps sit on benches (suitably distanced, of course) or wander along the path while eating, and then mask up again before returning to the ice.
Ice sculptures have also been an important feature of Winterlude over the years. I understand there is still to be some sort of ice-carving competition, but the viewing and judging is all to be done online? I guess we'll find out in the next few days. I'd have thought it should at least be possible to walk around and view sculptures at times when things were not too crowded. And what about sliding in Jacques Cartier Park?
Maybe we should declare February 2021 to be Ice Hog History Month. Because this year, it sure looks as if the Ice Hogs (along with most other aspects of Winterlude) are history!!
