I thought yesterday morning was the perfect day for a cross-country ski. I loaded my skis and poles into the back of my van and headed to the Northumberland Forest trails off Beagle Club Road. I even had enough time to do the blue trail instead of doing the shorter orange trail I choose when I’m short on time or feeling less energetic.
The minute I clicked my toes into my skis and started I should have known. My skis were sticking to the snow, and experience has taught me that this is a situation that generally doesn’t improve as you continue. But on rare occasions it does, and I told myself maybe once my skis got colder they’d glide better. Off I went, quite slowly, and with jerky half ski/half step motions.
Those motions only got jerkier, but I reminded myself that being out on the trail amongst the trees and the snow-silent morning was the best way I could be spending that time anyway. Even though it wasn’t going as I planned - really, really far from the way I had planned - I was where I wanted to be, sort of doing a thing I wanted to be doing, and with a funny podcast in my ears that had me laughing out loud from time to time.
The time did come, though, when I decided it was a lost cause - but I was too far along the trail at that point to turn around and go back. So I walked the entire trail, on my skis, which each sported a couple inches of hard–packed snow on the bottom.
When I finished the trail, blistered and somewhat deflated, I sat down in my van and googled “should I wax waxless cross-country skis?” I’ve owned these skis for several years now, and never touched a smidge of wax to them because, duh, they’re called waxless skis. Well, would you just guess what? There are two types of wax for cross-country skis, glide wax and kick wax. One is for smooth gliding, the other is for traction.
Waxless skis don’t require kick wax - they’ve got the traction part covered.
But waxless skis do require glide wax.
So, yeah. That is the life revelation I had yesterday, and it had me trying to come up with all kinds of deep meaning and life lessons but I think it boils down to two simple facts: waxless skis are poorly named, and I don’t ask enough questions when I buy things I don’t understand.
xo
Shannon
Upcoming Shows
Sunday Song Circle
March 15, 1-3pm
Old Camborne Schoolhouse
Let’s make some music together!
Siren Songs
March 29 - 6pm and 8pm seatings
Black Cat Cobourg
Tickets $30 on sale now
Under 18 free, contact me directly if you plan to bring a young person and I’ll put them on the list. This probably isn’t the kind of show children under 12 would enjoy.
I am happily back in the hosting game, and have invited two of my favourite female artists (to be announced soon) to join me for an intimate evening of songs and stories at Cobourg’s coziest coffeehouse. There will be two seatings of this show since it is such a sweet little space, and doors open 30 minutes before each show time. Tickets are on sale now!
April 26 - Sustainability Expo (Port Hope)
More details TBD
SAVE THE DATE - May 9
More details coming soon
Featured Music - Weaving Gold in Broken Places by Medusa
Do yourself a favour and go download this gorgeous new album by the magical quartet that is Medusa. Most of you know Saskia Tomkins, one of the members, and besides supporting her with all my heart I also am just beyond mesmerized by this music. Go listen!