After an ok frost this morning I went up to Poolburn today to see if any ice had survived from my last visit. Quite a bit of water compared to last week but there was evidence the ice had thickened before melting again around the edges. I had a great skate across the main bay but was careful to keep away from the weak and open areas. Well worth the visit.
Also had a skate at Dansey's on the way home.
Coalpit and Ida had some ice but were a few frosts away from anything skateable.
Back up to Poolburn today before heading home. Arrived to clear sky and a reasonable frost. Headed over to the far bay first to see if the ice had improved. Ice was thicker than yesterday and was able to safely skate quite a way out. Then moved to the main bay and was treated to a great skate. Clear black ice! Ice still varied a bit and had to take care. Another frost or two would really set it up.
On the way back I stopped in for a skate in the domain pond in Oturehua - just because I could....
Bit of a wait this year for the cold weather. Set off yesterday for a look around the skating spots. Managed to get the skates on a very small pool by a creek but nothing much else. Today was better. Visit to Poolburn and more ice than yesterday and had a great first skate at the shaded edge of the main bay. Ice was clear, hard and almost thick enough but held my weight ok. Had a look in a few other places and had a wee skate at the edge behind the dam. (Needs a few more frosts)
Water level is very low this year and making the resevoir edges look quite different. Track is rough but mainly dry with a big water hole at the top.
A good frost this morning had me up and checking the closest skating spot to home - just 20km away. A good sized pond in a shadow of a hill. Fabulous ice about 7cm thick. Great skate!
Dave and I headed to Poolburn this morning to see if the freeze had iced up the lake. About 30mm of new ice over some of the lake. We had a look around and managed to get a scratchy skate in the corner of the main bay and a better skate and the end of the far bay. Black ice, hard and smooth but talking all the time so we didn't go too far. Great fun skate. Good to catch up with Inge as well - on a fabulous blue sky winter day.
After the storm I decided to take the bike and have a look around Naseby as the temps have been quite low. After a bit of excellent forest riding in the snow I had a skate in two places on snow ice. Ice was good considering the weather but not very strong. Not my favourite ice but great to skate again.
A good frost in Central this morning got me up early and to Poolburn again. Ice had changed a bit since Sunday - a lot more water with an edge melt. Had to go around the main bay to get on. Once on the ice it was good out to the main island, the dam and the far bay. Great to meet up and skate with Clive and his crew from Canterbury. Good fun and good company. Went home via the other side of Ida Valley and had a skate in a new pond. Couldn't resist a short skate on Idaburn as I passed through.
