Winter wonderland

Beginning of February and the temperatures are far below zero. We are measuring -23 Celsius in some places in the Netherlands and "The Elfsteden" fever is getting out! The Elfstedentocht (or, in West Frisian, Alvestêdetocht, English translation: "Eleven Cities Tour"), at 200 km, is the world's largest and longest speed skating competition and leisure skating tour, and is held in the province of Friesland, Netherlands only when the ice along the entire course is 15 cm thick. I just love the fact that everybody in The Netherlands is hoping that it will take place as soon as the temperature is getting below zero. I had a round of skating this morning my self and this brings back memories. In the early days we could skate almost every year, now with our kids growing up we are eager to teach them how to skate. Somehow skating fever is a little in the Dutch genes, with all the speedskating champions we brought forward over the last decades :-) I did not want to take the risk to go and take a tour on one of the lakes. I like to thank all the volunteers @ Blauw-Zwart for the hardwork to get a safe iceskating "stadium" ready her locally. The quality was good, thanks to Blauw -Zwart the local soccer club!