Thursday, January 24, 2013

We're on a Rink Watch

Dear Diary:

I'm from Canada and in my part, the winters are cold, windy and full of snow.  HA!!!  Not this year.  Until the last few days, the year has been a lot warmer, windy at times and very little snow.

When I was a kid, I always loved to skate on a back yard rink or on the lake.  The ice was crystal clear, sometimes bumpy but being outside offered the best surroundings. 

But with the change of weather, the outside rinks are melting and most lakes are not safe to walk on, let alone skate on.  Therefore a website has been started to keep track and inform people of the condition of outdoor rinks, not just this year but for the future.  It has been predicted by some that the future of these rinks is definitely in jeopardy due to weather changes.

The website is RinkWatch.  You can create an account for yourself and enter information on your rink, or a neighbourhood rink where you might skate.  The site has other information listed also - a map showing rinks that have already been listed, the ability to check on the name and information for each rink and an explanation of why RinkWatch was created.  There are several rinks listed from the United States too.

If you get a chance, check out this website.  It's really interesting to follow and shows how the environment can make an impact.

Of course, in my second world, I could do my jumps and twirls on absolutely perfect ice, in perfect weather, in a perfect location.  Winter Valley Park provides beautiful winter scenery, free skates if you don't have them and couples skating.  I had a great afternoon.

Good Night for now.

I'm wearing:
Sweater: Izzie's Norwegian turtleneck pullover (red/black/white)
Jeans: ETD (now Elikatira) barely cords (cranberry)
Mitts: RenderR fur mitts (no longer available)
Skates: Jazzitude Red Nordic Leg Warmer skates (also SL Marketplace)

Poses: KaTink (ballet)

Location: Winter Valley Park