What is an Igloo? Have you seen one, a real one? You have probably see them in pictures eh? Well let me show you what I saw last week in Canada. I was out taking my camera for a walk in the -14C winter afternoon. I was looking for a skating rink to get some action videos on a GoPro camera. I saw a big white thing at the far end of the parking lot that looked interesting. Tell me what you think.
Could it be just a big pile of snow from plowing the snow off of the parking lot. There is not that much snow on the outdoor rink. The warmer indoor rinks are closed to keep us all from gathering indoors. There is a limit to how many can skate on this surface at one time and there are more than a handful of guards ensuring that the rules are being followed. Masks have to be worn while skating and I have decided that I may wear a mask next winter to keep my face and nose warm. Here is a video of what is happening on this southern end of the skating surface.
I am pretty sure that you have heard of the Apple iPad. Well one of our Canadian coffee giants, Tim Hortons, is sponsoring this ice pad. What a great idea. Every one comes out to get some exercise or they are sitting around freezing their butts off while the kids are having a great time on the ice. Imagine the demand for a hot chocolate or hot coffee even if you don’t drink it, it will warm up your hands as you cuddle the hot cup. “Tim’s” also sells a lot of doughnuts. Trivia tip, Canada has the most doughnut shops per capita and we eat the most doughnuts. You probably noticed we spell it funny too. P.S. I do not think we grow much coffee in Canada but there are many roasting locations, and of course, even more brewing locations.
When the ice melts, this space is turned into a water feature.
The second part of the video was from the northern end of the rink. While I am here, lets look at that igloo.
Tennis any one? This is a tennis dome that houses a few tennis courts so that the enthusiast can play all year around. There are more courts on the other side of the dome for fair weather use. Some interesting notes about this type of structure: If there is too much snow, it has to be removed from the outside and sides of the dome so that its weight does not collapse the dome. Collapsing can also happen if there is a power outage for an extended period of time because the blowers that keep it inflated stop working.
I do miss the deep winter activities of skating outdoors and such, remembering the fires to warm up around. Didn’t know you ate so many doughnuts – funny.
They taste 👅 better than whale blubber and still put fat on our belly to help keep us warm. 😉
That is so interesting! I have never seen anything like it. A tennis court that looks like an igloo. I’m thinking you could have squarer ones, too, though right? That are less vulnerable to the elements?
Maybe they will have to perfect square balloons first. 😉
We have a bunch of these inflatable tennis domes here in NJ. They seem to multiply on the same location. First one. Then 2, and the last time I was past the one spot, I think there were at least 4–maybe more on the other side of what I could see from the road.
I really enjoyed the skating video. I’ve never been on skates and I think if I attempted it, I’d likely be on my butt more than my feet! 😬
Oh, and Tim Horton’s coffee is my hands-down favorite. I discovered it here in the US last year. Have to brew my Timmy’s every morning!
I’m glad you like the coffee.
As for the skating, almost everyone learns how to fall before they learn to skate. It is easier to learn in a hockey arena where you can hang onto the “boards” as you move around the edge.
However, like training wheels on a bike, you never learn “how to” until you get the courage to let go.
In the meantime, blog on!
What a cool tennis dome! Your skating post brought back memories when I was young and we would spend all day outside skating, didn’t matter how cold it was, Gramma had hot chocolate ready for us when we got home! Cool tidbit about your doughnuts!
That reminds me of an insult that was often heard around high school: “no sense, no feeling”. I still like hot chocolate, now it is added to my hot coffee. (a “moca” from Tim Hortons)