Simon says

Saturday, December 28, 2013 Today we all went to P8 with Deb, Jay and Olivia.  It was very mild, around 1C, which was perfect for Felicity's first ski. Felicity with her new-to-her cross-country skis, carried with panache I must say. So far so good. Maybe Felicity is pushing or maybe Dad is pulling... One way or another Felicity is on her feet, upright and sort of smiling.  Not at all bad for a 22-month old! Enjoying a well-earned rest and keeping Baby Toby warm inside the Chariot. Eventually it all catches up on these outdoor adventurists who almost scrape together a grand totalof  2 years of life experience between them. There would be no point in doing these things if there was no hot chocolate and cookies at the end.  With godparents Deb and Jay and favourite friend Olivia. This little man has rosy cheeks to show for his morning out on the snow.

Friday, December 27, 2013 90 mins.  With Dejan from P3 along the back trails up to Pink and back on the Parkway. Beautiful mild day.

Monday, December 23, 2013

Sunday, December 22, 2013 70 mins, approx 12k.  More snow and some freezing drizzle on top of that. Dejan  and I skied P8 up Fortune to Ridge Road and then down to Penguin with a brief stop in Keogan. The snow was soft and frustrating at times and Dejan is a faster skier than I am. Ice crusted the front of my jacket and trousers.

Saturday, December 21, 2013 Since I started skate skiing I have tried to persuade Crystal to take it up. This year was the first that I resolved not to say anything so I was delighted when Crystal declared that she would like skate skis for Christmas. Today was her first outing and our first together of the season. We've had so much a snow lately but it was mild if a little soft. The grandparents live 5 minutes from the park and for $5 you can get a visitor pass for he trails. Mission accomplished.

Wednesday, December 18th, 2013 A bit more skiing this week before eating in Huron. Up the #3 from P10. This is a wonderful trail but a little soft on the edges tonight so a lot of work. Very undulating. 

After a big snowfall last night we are staying put, playing play-doh, painting and shovelling snow. A lot of snow.

Saturday, December 14, 2013 Still cold and now really windy. P8-Pink lookout, 65 mins. Grey afternoon, storm coming. I hope I'm getting fitter because this skate skiing thing is hard work. Pink Lake from the lookout:

Friday, December 13th, 2013 80 minutes from P3.  The aim had been to get to the turn off for Champlain but it was really cold, around -17C and windy and the snow was slow as a result, plus my skis have not been waxed (i.e. I have not waxed my skis) so glide was terrible.  As I climbed Pink I had to stop, at which point I was overtaken by someone I thought I recognised.  I carried on and started to catch him up and soon realised that I would get to the turn off.  It's all mental!

Wednesday, December 11, 2013 Darius arranges a ski every Wednesday evening.  The last one I did was two years ago just after Felicity was born.  Today was cold for December.  The complete workout involved less than 25 minutes of skiing, albeit up hill, all the way from P10 to Keogan followed by a good couple of hours of eating and drinking before coasting back down Fortune Parkway.  Definitely not a calorie neutral outing but how spoiled we are to have this incredible network of trails and huts, with their wood burning stoves and picture perfect woodland settings, all over the park.  And moonlight tonight too.

Sunday, December 8, 2013 There isn't really a running season but I tend to run more in the autumn and spring when skiing and cycling are not very good options.  But in the winter, because I can't take Francine skiing, I like to trail run periodically.  And I took the camera this time.  At the bottom is a pic from later in the day just to prove that I don't completely neglect my children's needs.  In fact, as much as possible, I try to get out  when Felicity is napping.

Saturday, December 7, 2013 1h39m; 1233Cal; MHR184; Av. 150 Elaborate plans for boys and girls to take turns skiing fell through but of course Chris still drove in from Pembroke and we got our ski.  The only part of the Park skiable was the Parkway and we did the loop P8 up Penguin toward Champlain lookout turning off down Fortune and back to P8.  It doesn't matter how many times I bike or ski this section I always forget how many little (and big) climbs there are on the way up.  This was one of those early season skis that is necessary to kick start some training gain.  Nice weather and decent conditions all things considered.  And pictures galore!

Friday, December 6, 2013 Working my way up, I made it to Pink lookout and back to P3 in just under an hour.  After the warm weather in the week it was rutted and icy.  This time I didn't even have a camera.  Backwards progress.

Saturday, November 30th, 2013 Did I mention that the Park is up and running, compacted and groomed?  Day two, and no more luck on the photo front.  Dark again and the cold drained the battery.  But Chris Roy and I made it from P10 to Champlain lookout and back on the Parkway. Crystal has decided to invest in skate skis this year and plans are afoot for a childcare swap next weekend with the Roys. Last year was a decent ski season and my inaugural chariot hauling year.  Looking forward to more outings with Felicity this year and moving on to the double chariot (welcome Toby).  All training for the Loppett in February.

Friday, November 29th, 2013 I was so overtaken by excitement at being out skiing in November that I decided to post one picture and one post for every XC ski outing this season.  The photographic part started badly because I was skiing in the dark. Nevertheless, it should be celebrated that the school bell went at 3.30 and by 4.20 I was on the trail.  For the record D Roy Kennedy Public School to P3 Gamelin parking lot in the Gatineau Park is a 20 minute drive.  This was definitely skiing for the sake of getting out skiing, a 40 min out and back to the bottom of Pink.  Epic it was not, deeply satisfying to be out in November it was.