When a group of us signed up our team – the mighty Riparian Invasion – for the first annual Bougeons en hiver: The Jack Frost Challenge!, I committed to use every conceivable (okay, logical) human-powered way to get around in winter. From February 11 to 17, I would skate, ski, snowshoe, walk and bike. Didn’t matter the distance or the destination, I just had to do each of them at least once.
So far, so good. Saturday was my cross country ski day and Sunday we went snowshoeing. Tomorrow will be cycling to work, which is a bit more challenging given that I’ve never biked in winter before. Guess I picked the right year to try it since there’s really no snow or ice on the road to speak of! (Hey, it still counts.)
Skating seems like a no-brainer with Ice It To Work Day coming up on Friday, February 17, the last day of The Jack Frost Challenge! Since I’ll be there anyway for the Green Action Centre pit stop along the Assiniboine Credit Union River Trail, strapping on some skates is a natural fit. With no skates of my own, a trip to the rental shop at The Forks will solve that. Maybe they give lessons, too, as it’s been years since I’ve wobbled my way over the ice.
And unlike the crazy riders in Actif Epica, my teammates and I have 7 full days to tally our 130 km in Bougeons en hiver: The Jack Frost Challenge!
It’s all part of living in Manitoba. Embracing winter. Love it.
