So far, the ice rink is holding up well in the mid 30 degree weather with kids skating over the weekend. But keeping it skate-able definitely involves serious work commitment:
- 07:00 – We got about 3 inches of snow overnight but then by 05:00, it started to rain;
- 09:00 – With temperature in the 40s already, it is raining fairly heavy;
- 11:00 – Rain slowed down; Forecast calls for the afternoon temperature to fall into 20s and for overnight, into single digits. I have to get that slush off the ice before it freezes! Shoveling layers of slush is a backbreaking job. I am cold, wet, messy and grumpy. After 30 minutes of battling, satisfied that my “manly” job is done, I retreat into home to get some work done;
- 13:00 – My daughter screams in joy, “daddy, daddy, it’s snowing AGAIN!!”. Holy Batman, my back hasn’t even recovered yet from the previous job!
- 15:30 – The new snow is glued onto the ice and it is next to impossible to scape it off. I trudge out the hose, hoping to melt the snow into submission. Three layers of nitrile gloves and my work gloves fail to keep my fingers warm. Frozen feet and nose icicles add to my joy;
- 19:30 – A quick walk on the ice tells me the surface is almost like a sandpaper due to last snow dusting. I contemplate spraying another layer of water, but the temperature is already dropping like a rock. I will try to get another layer done tomorrow morning.
