Day 276: Icy bridges

"But which is the stone that supports the bridge?" - Kublai Khan

Project 365: #276

On my run in Saturday I did a little cross-countrying to see the snow. Although it has pretty much been blue skies and above zero temps in the day there is still tonnes of snow on the ground. The streets are a bit scary to run in because the minute you leave the borough there are no sidewalks and you have to run in the street....and some of that is taken up by piles of snow, with nowhere to go when a car heads your way...luckily on most of those roads the speed limit is 20 miles per hour, and hopefully the cars you come across are actually driving at the speed limit...anyway, I took myself to India Brook Park to see the river which was stunning, trickling through the ice, forging a path with the snowmelt. I was getting a little tired after my expeditioning, so decided to shortcut home the way I usually go - across the river and along the path home...well, I actually missed the causeway as the stepping stones were  covered, and only realized when I came out at a road further along. I surveyed it for a little while, wondering which ice-stone was supporting the bridge, and whether I would be able to get across. I did take a chance as I figured the water was only about a foot deep, and my feet were already soaked through from the snow, so a splash in the river would not be entirely disastrous, as long as I kept my phone dry!

I made it across easily, and it turned out that the icey snow on the top was a superb support for the bridge, and was actually easier than jumping from pillar to pillar that you usually have to do! What I was not expecting, however, was the depth of snow on the other side. Rather silly, I know, as we have the same amount still sitting in our garden! That section of path was the hardest I have ever run, worse even than running on the beach in the sand! I was completely exhausted, so decided to exit sooner than later, and get back onto the road. Well, the path I took got me to the road, but what I forgot was that I had to detour a huge section to get back home as there was no direct route...so my quick little 5 k run turned to a rather exhausting 10 k and today I can hardly move! What I also learned from running in the snow is that ice crystals are rather like little needles, and have cuts around my ankles where my skin was exposed! Will remember the long socks next time! There is a quietness the snow creates, almost like a dampener, and it makes the most amazing crunching sound underfoot. Despite all my moaning - it was awesome, the snow was stunning, and well worth the expedition!