January 5 : I have to say that Marc did it to me again!!!

The ‘mild’ weather Quebec City had been experiencing just prior to our arrival and for the first day of our stay changed dramatically last night. This morning we awoke to heavy snow driven by fierce winds. Glancing out the window we saw VERY FEW pedestrians walking around and those that were seen were scurrying quickly, presumably to get to work. The Weather Channel told us that 11+cm of snow was due to fall today and mostly in the morning. The windchill factor brought the temperature down to a predicted -17deg. It looked so cold…. I did not want to go outside!

Marc had planned a walk to the Plains of Abraham and the Museum which was dedicated to the battles that occurred there during the 7-year war. I looked out through the hotel window not impressed at all, ready to crawl back into my nice king size bed the hotel had provided us (you definitely get lost in this bed believe me!) but Marc persuaded me that it ‘was a chance to check out our cold weather gear.’ Another challenge to pursue?

Now, as always, my research informed me, that walking outside in extremely chilly air can reduce stress, increase serotonin (the happiness hormone), and even though the action may be slower, walking in snow leads to greater heart conditioning and increased endurance over time.

Really?

Increase the happiness hormone? Reduce Stress?

Looking at the conditions ahead of me, did I really believe this research? Where did they get their information from? Tropical conditions when it gets colder? When just a cool breeze provides relief! Nevertheless, donning lots of layers we exited the hotel.

Just at the front of the hotel the surrounding buildings made a wind tunnel of the area, and we were instantly blasted with icy gale type winds  blowing, stinging snow onto any exposed skin surfaces. Think about those movies where you see a person staggering through the snow. The wind howling around them as they push forward, trying hard to get to their loved one’s warm place, calling out to their beloved…I’m coming, I’m coming! Well, that was me, except I was going in the opposite direction, I was heading away from the warm haven and saying ” I’m going, I’m going, don’t make me! “. Immediately I was unimpressed to say the least. Truthfully, I was not at all happy, gazing longingly towards the warmth of the hotel we had just left.  Freezing cold, glancing backwards from where we had just come, Marc persuaded me to move further away from the sanctuary of the cosy hotel and onwards towards the park and museum. Luckily, the wind was from behind us, meaning we could see where we were going, and it would be a significant improvement, at least initially. Well, that’s what he said anyway. Did I believe him? I was still freezing!

During the previous warmer days, much of the snow in Quebec had at least partially melted but the cold nights, and today’s artic blast meant that most of the pavements were covered with irregular black ice, and now, layers of varying thickness of incredibly soft powder snow hid the treachery of that hidden ice below. Walking was confined to a small stepping gait, testing each foot placement to assess the depth of the snow and how slippery the base was. To walk safely in the snow, ice, and slush, I felt that I really had to walk like a penguin. That is, turn your feet slightly outward and take little, short flat-footed steps!  Your head is down watching your feet, but of course you must pay attention to your surroundings and look ahead as you walk to avoid trip hazards.

Add to that the swirling snow and my constantly fogged glasses obscuring my vision, walking was not a ‘pleasant’ experience today. I am not sure you could even call it walking but being blown along as the icy wind whipped around my body! What a wonderful way to explore Quebec City! Yes, he had done it to me again!

At one point, just in front of us, a woman, a local, slipped and fell striking her head during her fall. She was literally quite shaken and took some time and, after some assistance from us, to get up again, gather her bags, and walk on. You can imagine how I felt after that incident! This just added to my already shaky conviction that I too would at some point fall very heavily. I was already skidding along in my snow boots and so her fall (as a local) added so much trepidation and hesitation to my normal walking gait. It became “little steps, little steps, even littler steps…just tiny ones!”

We finally made it the museum and were able to unburden ourselves of some of the many layers we were wearing. Including the mascara, I was wearing. A good lesson learnt today! I have been wearing foundation to stop my face from burning as I burn quite easily, so was aware of the snow reflections. Today I wore mascara just to enhance my face. At the arrival to the museum, the attendant must have thought Marc had beaten me up. One look in the mirror and I was horrified because with the wind howling around, wet snow falling on me, the result was that the mascara (not a waterproof one) decided to add black streaks around my eyes and down my face … creating two huge black eyes! A horror looks indeed. After washing my face clear of its black downpour, we viewed the museum. New lesson, no more mascara in windy snowy conditions! The museum however was definitely worth it but that is another story.

On leaving the museum, Marc had planned to walk further out on the Plains of Abraham, which have nothing spiritual about them but refer to a historical area of 240 acres where the Battle of the Plains of Abraham took place in 1759.  He wanted to see some other sites in this land area, but the snow flurries were now horizontal and the wind chill even worse. I was quite confident it had dropped even more lower! The icy base on the walking paths was even more treacherous as we turned once more into the wind.

But, like that stubborn horse that will not move, that was me! I simply had had enough of the blizzard conditions and was starting to panic ‘knowing’ I was going to fall as I skidded along the icy path!  Marc tried to reassure me we could make it and he even had brought some boot spikes in his backpack for me to put over the soles of my boots for better grip. But where was that happy hormone I was supposed to be feeling? Where was that reduced stress? This was increasing stress, it rather than reducing it, and the happy hormone had melted away!   At that point I was not being friendly or reasonable and just wanted to get back to the hotel. Marc then basically man-handled me, pushing me backwards into the lee of a small monument and forced the boot spikes onto my boots then telling me to walk! Once my confidence grew, I was able to walk more safely. Amazing what tiny spikes do on your feet to give you that air of confidence and it was me who suggested it was far too early to go back to the hotel and to explore further.

A visit to the Basilica of Notre-Dame, a shared bowl of the ‘must try’ poutine (hot chips, gravy, and curds) and two hot chocolates, it was decided a shopping trip was needed for us to think about future weather preparedness! So sometime later, we each bought better pairs of boot spikes to put over the soles of our boots, and I found the best snow pants that fit me. (My existing snowpants were originally bought in Finland from a Kmart equivalent store and over the years had deteriorated where I could not walk properly or even breathe happily!) These new pants were amazing and to top it off, they were slim fit, turning my Michelin baggy huge woman appearance leaning heavily into the snow, into something resembling me! I even looked rather trim in these new “chic” (as the attendant called them) pants. I felt good! Even better, I could now walk, sit, bend up and down and stretch my body so easily and the best part was, I could breathe! (No, I couldn’t do that before!)

The wind had now dropped, but the temperatures were still exceptionally low, so to end the day, Marc had an ice-skate on a public rink under the shadow of the city’s historic walls! No, I did not do it… I already had been there, done that…but I enjoyed watching him and took some twilight photos of him skating within the confines of the old city!

What started as a ‘not being happy, Jan’, ended up with each of us having a good day.

Yes, Marc did it again! I was challenged but I overcame the challenge, and it WAS a good day!

Friday January 6:

The wind had stopped but the snow was still falling, but I could handle that! After the intensity of both freezing conditions and high emotions yesterday, today felt different and I was determined it was going to be even a better day! And it was!

Near where we are staying there is a Toboggan Slide nearby – a historical slide first built in 1884 and still providing thrills to the locals and tourists alike 138 years later (hopefully with some maintenance in between)

Yes, the two old ducks went up and down that slide quite a few times for a few hours play!

This toboggan slide was a little different to the natural ones we had used in previous snow experiences. This slide was a wooden structure covered with a white felt that was made slippery through embedded ice and snow. The sled was a wood sled with a curled-up front and a long base covered with a long cushion. It was extremely long and a group of four could fit quite easily onto each toboggan. Having paid for tickets plus added some complimentary ones from the hotel, we trudged our way up a long slatted wooden ramp to the top of the slide puling our toboggan behind us…. yes quite a long way and slippery to the unwary! It was so long to walk and so high, but so much fun!  Marc of course being the gentlemen pulled the sled all the way up each time we did it ( I mean he owed me for my snow thoughts yesterday….), but in reality, truth be known, it was much easier for him to pull it than me.

My first ride, yes, I screamed all the way down, but you can clearly hear on the video taken…a little girl saying, “let’s do it again, let’s do it again”. That was me! The line for the ride was not very long and so at that morning hour of the day, we walked up and slid down many times. The attendant at the top of the slide, when we would arrive again, with sled in tow, began to converse and laugh with us about “those Australians are here again” and began using us as the example to the others sliding beside us of where to put your feet’ or “exemple: in French. At the top of the slide, one time, I even had one young lady behind us in the line inform me that she was proud of what we were doing at our age! Oh, ha ha…! Our age indeed! I was feeling like a little girl. What ‘age’ was she talking about?

An aside here, without asking, we had been getting a senior’s discount at most of the attractions we have visited during our stay in Canada. I ascribe that to Marc’s silver and thinning locks since I am sure I don’t look ‘that old’ but of course, I didn’t speak up and correct the attendants who chose to give me the ‘Senior’ discount too. Must be that little bit of Scottish blood in me.

After a few hours of sliding, we decided to do some practical things like two weeks of accumulated laundry at the laundromat. But the day was not over yet and after the laundry was done, we made our way back to the toboggan ride just as evening was settling in for another couple of rides under lights. Magical. Two big (senior) kids that haven’t grown up yet. Not bad for two people in their sixties

Yes, it was a GREAT Day and heaps of fun.

By the way, I did slip on the ice today and landed heavily on one knee! Did I let it worry me? No, I was on my way up to slide down again!

Saturday 7 January

Remember those Plains of Abraham that Marc tried to drag me around in blizzard conditions, two days ago? Well, today we finally walked them. There had been a new dusting of snow leaving the plains covered with a soft mantle of clean powdery snow. The air was crisp and cool, but the wind was mild, so we were not battling with nature’s forces. The sun even tried on several occasions to come up and play and blue sky attempted to peak its way out to say hello. Armed with good cleats for our boots, (our new ones) a lightness to the air, not to mention a couple of pastries for lunch that we pinched from the breakfast buffet, we embarked out into the crisp beautiful whiteness. Marc compared it to a Norman Rockwell painting but what I experienced was an undulating pristine snow-covered par, people strolling along snow covered paths, children squealing and laughing as they tobogganed down slopes with their parents, a few people out on the Nordic skis gliding over the top of the snow foot warmers on dogs and their walkers out for a Saturday jaunt in the snow and a few ‘mad’ joggers running along snow- and ice-covered paths. A pleasurable journey!

In our 16.59 kms walk, we saw many aspects of this area, from Martello towers to outdoor skating paths, a Church dating back to 1710 that is now converted to a library, and old cottages, and made new memories, mixing history with present, the old with the new.

What better way to finish our stay than a horse drawn carriage ride in the evening around inside the city walls and buildings in Old Quebec!

Ah but that is a whole other story in itself!

See you in Montreal!