Then, to my pleasant surprise, I got a call from my friend Richard asking whether I would welcome some company. Since he doesn’t appreciate the cold as much as I, this was a real treat, and I readily accepted. So the die was cast.
We left—laden with skis, skates, snowshoes, and the boots and paraphernalia associated with it all. As well as winter coats and hats, and so on. Got out of Dundas about 9:30, and arrived in Huntsville about 3 hours later. After checking into the hotel, we had a lunch at the Mill on Main: a lovely chili.
Then a first effort at winter sports. We went to Arrowhead Provincial Park, where they have a skating trail, and I tried my hand at it.
The trail is just over a kilometre long, not smooth, and a bit rutted. But I made it around twice, and endured being passed by 12-year-olds! But it was a good experience overall, even if it was really nice to stop. After that, I still had some time before dusk, so elected to do a bit of a ski. The trails here were well-groomed for both regular skiing and for ski-skating. I did regular skiing, and covered the trail (again, about 1-½ Km long) two times before calling it quits. Richard did some walking and sitting, and was comforted by a nice hot chocolate he was able to find.
(This picture and the one above are courtesy Richard, included because they are better than mine).
And so went the first day, which we followed by a pleasant supper at Tall Trees restaurant. And then to bed.
Thursday, after a breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast and home fries, at the Your Place spot, we went back to Arrowhead Park for another skate before lunch, then off to Limberlost Forest and Game Reserve (a private large land area open to the public, with some trails for skiing apparently). I had never been there, and was anxious to see it and experience it. After some trouble, we found it and reached the office for information. The nice young woman directed us to the trail, we parked, and set out. Even Richard was there, for a while.
This trail was supposed to be a ski trail around the lake (distance 3.5 Km). Well, it turned out to be a fair snowshoeing trail, and was closer to 8 Km. Since I didn’t have my snowshoes with me, I elected to walk the trail, and carry my skis. So I was pretty tired by the time I got to the end of it. So was Richard, so we went for an early supper, back at the Mill on Main, before heading back to room for a glass of wine, some reading, and early bed (for me).
Thursday night got cold, and Friday morning was as cold as I have ever experienced:
So skiing that morning was not going to happen. We decided on a Belgian Waffle breakfast at the coffee shop, and then to go to Algonquin, visiting the Algonquin Outfitters store at Oxtongue along the way. This was a pleasant time, resulting in a few purchases, as well as a visit with Rich (the owner, who Joel and I have known for forty years). We had seen Rich the day before in Huntsville, but nice to see him again. We left the store and, after stopping for a walk on Canoe Lake (it’s kind of neat to walk on top of the lake, having many times canoed it), proceeded to the Visitors Centre to a lookout there and to see the exhibits they had. The day was clear, and had warmed to a balmy -16 by then. So after our visit, we stoped by the West Gate so I could ski along one of the shorter trails (5 Km) before the end of the day. It was wonderful, albeit cold. But you do warm with the exercise.
That night, supper again at the Mill, and back to the hotel. And the next morning, being our last, we went back to the coffee shop, this time for some oatmeal and fruit. Then back to Algonquin West Gate for another ski along the same trail, before a short pizza lunch at the Mill, and hit the road for home.
A fine three days.
