There’s nothing to brighten up a dreary, winter-weary, soot-greyed city like a fresh coat of snow. Ottawa is phenomenally lucky to have lots of green/white space and dedicated recreational space within the city limits. We have hundreds of kilometers (maybe thousands of kilometers) of recreational pathways (for biking, walking, running, roller-blading, etc.) and many acres of cross-country ski trails through various urban forests. We also have the world’s largest skating rink, the Rideau Canal, which winds it way from Dow’s Lake right to the heart of downtown Ottawa. One of the very best things about Ottawa is you can get out of it quickly – in half an hour I could be up in the Gatineau Hills if I wanted.
But today I stayed in the city and went cross-country skiing in Ottawa’s urban heart.
This is the Ottawa River. This side of the river is Ottawa, Ontario, the other side is Hull, Quebec. Bike paths wind along the river banks on both sides. No biking today though – today belonged to the skiers.
I took these photos of the Pinhey Forest Cross-Country Ski Trail while out skiing today. It’s right behind the Nepean Sportsplex. I was surpised to encounter no other skiers while I was out, especially since we haven’t had many good ski days yet this winter and today was an ideal ski day.
Every tree was a work of art: my photographs don’t do them justice.
Across the street from my house is a small dog park. (The park is small, the dogs vary in size.) Here are a few snapshots of some of my furrier friends.
My dog Sam (who at the age of 13 developed a phobia of cameras, so now I have to sneak up on him to take his picture):
Max (some day I’m going to do a whole photo series of dogs in clothes):
Jessie (who trudges to the park, lies down, and doesn’t get up until it’s time to trudge home again, so we were all astonished when she got up to investigate the camera):
Wow! That are amazing photos and you are a lucky girl living in a lovely place like that!
Great doggy photos, although have to say that Sam and Jessie are looking a bit sad. It’s like they are saying: Hey, don’t you look at me. It wasn’t my idea to go outside
Dang, those dogs are as cute as kittens! Max doesn’t look sad about the snow. It looks like he’s been rolling in it and wants to do more.
Jessie does look a bit plaintive. But I’m no dog expert.
p.s. very glad you liked my calendar.
Actually – most dogs LOVE the snow. Sam’s favourite thing in the entire world is rolling and burrowing in snow. As soon as we get outside he starts rolling, and then he shoves his whole head in the deepest snow he can find. (He only looks sad in the photo because he is troubled by cameras.)