Forest black....

After another good frost this morning I went back to the forest pond.  The ice had settled in over night and was dry.  Fabulous skating on black ice and much more relaxed having remembered the safety gear.  Had a long skate and a bit of bike riding on the ice.   Decided to check the enclosed area at Mahinerangi on the way out and had a skate in the shelter corner.  Older ice but smooth and hard.  Rest of the area was too risky for a skate with open water showing.  Muddy getting to ice as the frost had thawed.

Very enjoyable mornings skate with the bonus of being close to home.

Forest skate...

Cycled in to a local forest today to have a look at a pond to see if the weeks cold weather had formed any ice.  Had checked out this spot 2 years ago and at the time thought it might freeze if conditions were right. Air was quite warm but was pleased to find black ice with a few mm of water on top. Headed back to the car to pick up the skates and in my haste forgot my safety gear.  Had a good - but careful - skate anyway.  So smooth and hard to leave. Was well on the way to a thaw as I left.  On the way home I stopped and checked out a frozen stream that I had skated on once before. It looked as it it would have been skate-able yesterday but thawing now as well.

 Great to have a skate so close to home.

Poolburn Black please

 How do like your ice sir?  Poolburn Black please - and today we had it!  Poolburn turned on a sensational black ice day today.  Ice not that thick but locked in nearly everywhere due to the hard freeze.  Dave, Inge and I skated to the far bay then into the long arm - which we hadn't been able to do for a few years.  We made the most of it until it weakened just before lunch.  Fabulous skating.  Weather due to change from this evening and we hope the ice will ride it out.  Had a quick skate at Idaburn on the way home - ice thick enough but creaky in the sun.

 Met Dave again to day for a bit of exploring for better ice. Yesterday's ice has settled in and there were more places to skate - especially near the shore.  Had a great time with some fabulous black ice but care was needed as the ice varied a bit. Just caught the end of the sunrise.

A few frosts finally...

 Went up to Poolburn early this morning to meet Dave and hope for a skate after a heavy frost.  Surprisingly no snow around after the storms in the last week and the road is in good condition.  Hard frost which was great to start bringing the ice in.  Much of the lake was covered in a varying thickness of ice and had a borderline skate in the little bay.  After a chat with a visiting photographer we moved to the end of the main bay and found a nice chunk of ice that was safer.  Great to have the first free skate of the season.  Frosts a forecast for the next 2 days so hopefully the ice will improve.