Ice Carvings

As I had mentioned, Confederation Park returned to being a rightful host of ice sculptures this year. I paid a number of visits during Winterlude. Most of the big sculptures were under shelters, preserving them for the entire event. Others were wrapped up during off days, and did rather well, including this one with the festival logo. 

There was a stage set up at the west end of the park for performances.

The provincial gaming organization is a major sponsor of Winterlude, and their logo was carved out of ice.

Another Winterlude logo in ice.

And the Ice Hogs, again in ice form.

This being a Winter Olympic year, this large skate carved out of ice is appropriate.

Another big sculpture was found nearby.

Over towards the east end of the park, the main sculptures were found. This was set up for photo ops, and very appropriately winter in nature.

Another ice sculpture- an old fashioned snow mobile.

With an ice wall at its base, a large screen was set up over here. At the time of this visit, the Opening Ceremonies of the Milan Winter Olympics was being shown.

Sculptures

 A set of sculptures was found on Plaza Bridge, outside the Government Conference Centre. They featured the Ice Hogs, the mascots of Winterlude, along with animals like the bear, Canada goose, and beaver.

Nearby, I looked out over the Rideau Canal. The skateway starts down there.

I took a photograph of the ice sculptures from the back, where I got a view of the Chateau Laurier.

I was heading to Confederation Park, where the main sculptures were to be found, and took this photo of an ice sculpture outside the National Arts Centre.

Sculpted

 Winterlude is also about ice sculptures, of which we'll see plenty in the days to come. This first shot was taken before Winterlude, and my first on the theme. Around town, a number of small ice sculptures were placed, with a small sculpture beside the standard one. This one was in the Byward Market.

This one, featuring a bird, was in a courtyard at Fourth Avenue Baptist Church in the Glebe.

I found this one outside the Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park.

Also at Lansdowne- this was outside the west entrance of the Aberdeen Pavilion.

The Lord Elgin Hotel routinely puts up an ice bench outside during Winterlude. No, I did not sit on it, but have done so in the past. I took these shots, plus a spare I'll use for the upcoming theme day White.

For a number of years, the big ice sculptures were hosted at Sparks Street. It was the wrong location, and they were rightfully returned to Confederation Park this year. However, the pedestrian street mall did put up some ice sculptures, some linked to businesses along the street.

Skate

 Continuing where I left off yesterday, another view towards the Arboretum.

This looks into the home stretch of the skateway- it curves to the left, where it meets the Hartwell Locks at Carleton University.

My path this morning took me north- towards the top end of the lake and back towards my home.

I looked back. The sun was peeking through the clouds.

The Dow's Lake Pavilion is at the northwest corner of the lake, housing a couple of restaurants.

My exit was at the end of this stretch, through Commissioners Park and back to my apartment.

I took one last shot before heading that way, back where I had come. We'll return back to the Canal as the series goes along.