A Hymn to Ice!

This is the northern sound heading out from town towards the open sea.  In the summer this quay is filled with sailing boats, moored with their stern to the buoys and their bow to the land. Now most of the boats are up on the land.
I love it when the ice arrives and covers the water. First it freezes the puddles, then small shallow lakes, then bigger lakes, leaving only the flowing water open. Then it starts to squeeze the flowing water, and the open areas shrink down.  The sea stays open, because the wind drives waves and mixes the water, and stops it from solidifying, but in the sheltered areas, the bays and the sounds, the ice quietens the water.
It goes quickly, when it goes. Three days ago this was all open water, but the water must have been very near freezing. The -12°C weather continued, the water “steamed” a little giving up its heat, and suddenly a tipping point was reached, and the sea in town froze over.
I love the ice because it is an adventure. I don’t skate but others have already been out skating. They skate in groups, with spare clothes in a waterproof bag in their rucksack, and a pole to check the ice if they aren’t sure. Falling through is not enjoyed, but it’s no big deal either, when everyone has a throwing line and the group is spread out. Once the snow arrives you can’t skate so if you want to skate you get out as soon as the ice forms. I want the snow to fall, so I can ski across the lakes, or around the coast.
I love the ice because once it forms, and the open water goes, the air is so much drier. The dampness disappears, humidity plummets, and you can enjoy dry cold days in a very different way to when the damp November weather rules.
Nowadays the ice doesn’t always form, and who knows how long it will last. Last year on the 3 December the ice was covered in puddles as plus temperatures and rain arrived, but this year the ten day forecast promises us below freezing until 11 December, mostly around -10°C. That should firm up the ice!
I'll continue the theme tomorrow but now I'm too tired to continue so I'll say goodnight and be back in about 10 hours!