Sunday, December 28, 2008

Ice Skating On Canals and Lakes

Reading the news from The Netherlands this morning I am reminded that they are having a very cold winter in northern Europe. I lived there for 15 years, having moved back to America exactly two years ago.

Eleven years ago the lakes and canals all froze up deep enough to ice skate on. What a trip for a boy from the deserts of West Texas.

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I was living in Hoensbroek in The Netherlands so naturally we went ice skating on the lake right across from Hoensbroek Castle. This is one of the best preserved castles in Europe. N 50.916601, E 5.917660
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LINK: http://www.castles.nl/hoen/hoen.html
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* Sub-zero temperatures inspire skating fever
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The contest to hold the country's first outdoor ice-skating competition on naturally formed ice has been won by Haaksbergen in Twente near the German border. The race is taking place on Sunday evening. With the forecast of a longish period of sub-zero temperatures, many Dutch skating clubs are clearing up their outdoor race courses.Cashing in on skating fever, factories are operating long hours to meet the demand of shops stocking up on skates.
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The last time the winter was cold enough to allow much skating in the open air away from rinks was 11 years ago. A whole generation of Dutch have grown up without the experience of skating in the big outdoors.
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