Temperatures are staying below zero, Christmas has come and gone, and sadly, at marinas
around the country, yards are still full of boats wrapped in blue and white shrink wrap for the winter. All we have left of the 2012 boating season is memories.
While some of you may find it hard to face 2-3 more months of cold, cruising-less/waterskiing-less/wakeboarding-less or whatever it is you do on the water-less, winter, it’s often a good time to reflect on how we spent our last summer and make plans for making the next summer even better.
Should you upgrade your boat? Buy a new wakeboard? Put in a new dock? Maybe it’s time to do some renovations to the cottage. Or maybe you could do something simple like put in a new fire pit…is there really anything better than sitting around a fire, enjoying a few beverages while reliving the fun of a day spent out on the lake?
See? There are lots of ways to keep your mind occupied while waiting for summer. Or maybe you have your own ways of coping with winter. Share them with us!
And about those memories…
Perhaps the best way to capture and keep memories is through pictures and videos. I know in our house we have photo albums dotted with pictures of messing around on Big Rideau Lake, or locking up and down the Rideau Canal (including a few with my dad, beer in hand, chatting with folks in the boat beside us while going through Jones Falls…ah, the good old days) as well as shots of beautiful sunsets as the backdrop for the kids jumping off the dock into Sand Lake.
And these days, with iPhones, digital cameras, and countless other marvels of modern technology, it’s easier than ever to capture, save, and share all these great experiences.
That’s why we’re creating a contest for all those who love boating on the Rideau Lakes. Send us your favourite pics and/or videos from the 2012 season (or even better, post them on our Len's Cove Facebook page here). We’ll review them and pick a winner, who will receive a $50 Len's Cove Rewards for use at The Galley or in our marine store. We'll let it run through till after the end of the Ottawa Boat and Sportsman Show. We'll announce the winner March 1st, 2013.
We see it as doing your little part in helping your fellow "frozen boater's in waiting" through the trials and tribulations of a long, cold winter.
In the meantime, keep warm, keep safe and keep thinking, “only a few more months”.
Guest Blogger: Chris Stanton
(Portland resident and The Galley faithful!) http://www.facebook.com/chris.stanton.5454
