On 15-Jan-2005, Melissa wrote:

Is it bravado? Or can it simply be an appreciation of life?

It's definitely not bravado for me. The only way to survive here
in the Great White North is to learn to love the winter. After
all, it happens every year.

Winter weather is _not_ extreme - it's normal. You learn to deal
with it or you suffer. I know lots of folks who complain about
the winter. Personally, I'm one of those that loves it. If
you condition yourself to the weather by living in it, it is
easy to deal with.

Winter carnivals are common here - Quebec City's is famous
(complete with an ice hotel - yes, you can stay overnight in
a hotel made entirely of ice). Ottawa has Winterlude - two
weeks of fun in the snow - there's nothing like skating on
a 7km long canal. We celebrate the season.

Kayaking in the winter is just one more way to enjoy the
season. Yes, paddling while it is snowing is something
special - the silence and whiteness is something few
experience.

My family tree goes back hundreds of years in this country,
with one branch going back thousands. The winter is in my
blood - like the Gilles Vigneault song goes:

"Mon pays ce n'est pas un pays, c'est l'hiver"

or in English: "My country it is not a country, it is the winter"

(Full lyrics he http://languageproject.com/english/canada_eng.htm)

The earliest I've paddled is Jan 1. The latest is Dec 23.
Life is to be enjoyed.

Mike