Smooth and Black

 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....

A skate at last...

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.