Day 1.016: Lake effect

Well, one year on from our first Day at the Beach it was our intention to have a family day out at the Grafton Lakes State Park winter fun day. Once again, things did not go quite according to plan. Exile #4 was coughing this morning and seemed quite ill, although professed (at first) to a desire to go. Then E5N1 threw up everywhere on sampling some fairly innocuous breakfast - he later repeated the feat at teatime, so it was definitely a reflection on his health not the food. So in the end only Exile #3 and either Exile #2 or myself were in the running to go and in the end it was just Exile #3 and me who left Exile #2 and two sick children and picked up Albaniana and family for a grand day out.

There were many things going on - indoors was a sort of trade-show including an appearance by the New York State Correctional Department and (at the next stand) the Geico Gecko (without his normal cockney accent). Around the lake were snow shoe races, horse and cart rides, and a "Winter-tree identification guided walk" - learn to identify trees not by their leaves but by their bark and twigs - who could resist - well us for starters. On the lake itself, disc golf (played with special frisbees), ice-hockey, skating, a rescue demonstration and a fishing competition. Not bad considering this sign was still up:


In fact, much like last year the lake was very solidly frozen - 7 to 9 inches we were told, not 79 inches as someone (not in our party) mis-heard - but there was not much snow (none in places up to a 3 or 4 inches in others). Still, it was enough for a bit of tobogganing.


The other event on the ice today was the first holding of the (possibly) annual ice-plunge. The sight of people walking across the ice, barefoot (in many cases) and wearing only swimming costumes then jumping into a hole in the ice (only kept liquid thanks to the attention of a man with a rowing oar) virtually defies description, so you can see for yourself:

When we got home, Exile #4 was curled up on the sofa with (as it turns out) a 104 degree fever. However, half an hour ago, she surfaced seeming much better for a cool-down and a sleep.