discovering cross country skiing – finally!
First off, this painting was completed this winter by an adult student, who came to classes last semester. The dark shadows and moody washes create a real sense of mystery… don’t you think?
So. Our family got out cross country skiing yesterday.
If you have been following my blog since last year, you will know that winter is not my favorite season. Especially with kids. Especially living in suburbia. So, last winter I vowed to do everything in my power to make the most of it. We visited MEC (our favorite outdoor activity store) and got geared up. We did day hikes, all around Calgary. We used a little hiker’s stove to make hot chocolate, and make it special. We even rented snowshoes and hiked around West Bragg Creek a few times.
For those of you who live around here and love winter sports, this all may not be anything of a revelation, but for us who are new to it, it is an amazing discovery. This time round, we decided to rent skis. We rented them from MEC, and headed out to the Canmore Nordic Center. I cant tell you how awesome this is. The fact that there is a day lodge, and you can go inside with little kids, and still see everyone outside is so convenient. You pay a small fee for this, but after some freezing hiking experiences, with nowhere to warm cold toes, I can tell you, its worth it. We rented a tobogan for little Em, but are not good enough skiers to make it really worth while. Marcel loved his skis though, well worth renting at the Nordic Center.
OK, so that’s that. We had so much fun out there, I hope we do more of it soon. Apparently there is a day lodge at Kananaskis too, and we want to explore places to ski in the city. Maybe even a lesson or two!!
I hope you are all out there finding ways to enjoy this beautiful and exciting season. Warm wishes to you all.
