Parking the car for the winter - Anne Boulton

When the lake freezes over and the path is carved along Ramsey’s shore, I feel an intense longing to stroll along those edges, or walk boldly across the bay, into the open icy air.

Since I work primarily at the university, the prospects of the daily commute are widened. Unless I’m faced with blowing, icy rain, or white-out snow conditions, I will face the elements and get up that hill by my own kinetic energy.

Winter Biking

I loathe the parking structure at Laurentian. For years, the services have stayed dismally the same, and have even decreased (pot holes, no more shuttle bus), yet the cost for parking for the day has increased dramatically. So I’ve decided, like a handful of willful protesters, to cycle up the fabulous roadside trail.

I visited the Outside Store before the weather turned radical and had my friend, Sean, put some nice studded tires on my bike. I got some extra-thick-long-lasting lube for my chain and was equipped with more-than-visible back and front lights.

The money I happily plopped down on the counter was equivalent to a parking pass for a month. It was an easy exchange.

Layered in fleece with a shell to block the wind, and I’m flying up that trail. The city is really great about keeping it plowed and sanded, rather than salted, which is easier on my bike. I arrive feeling elated and not a little self-righteous.

Skiing

This week will mark the first excursion across Ramsey on my cross-country skis. Since I live close by, I can walk to the skate path and strap my on skis to make my way across to the Living with Lakes centre.

I have found that the snow gets really icy and that the many snowmobiles and cars make for an interesting traverse, since the ruts are considerable. But still, alone in the middle of the lake in the early morning sunrise is as close to perfect as I can imagine.

Snowshoeing

If we get another dumping of snow like we did over the last two weeks, I’ll be pulling forth my aluminum shoes and will walk the entire way, across the ice, following the same path as I would on my skis. Why not? The time it took me to dig out my car would be equivalent to a long meander on my snowshoes. Not to mention healthier.

Skates

This has got to be my favourite commute. Oftentimes, John and I will race down Ramsey together in the early hours, since he stops for his day at Science North, and then I continue up the brilliant tree-lined walking path.

Since I am working so frequently, I have no time outside of that schedule to hit the gym. And so I don’t — I make my commute count. And when I arrive home, fulfilled, the day nicely forgotten after a good breath of fresh air, I am ready for round two with my family.

Anne Boulton is an avid gardener who lives in Sudbury. Contact her at [email protected] or visit her blog at boultonanne.typepad.com/greenboots.

Posted by Vivian Scinto