Carnivals and Cold Water

Winter Carnivals are among the very best ways to spend a winter's day.  Today the weather for the Dorset Snowball was incredible -- in fact, the colours just didn't look real! It dawned very cold, but soon warmed up to the kind of winter day where you just don't want to go back inside.

There's plenty to do for everyone, from the tiniest of the tiny to the biggest of the big.



The Fire Dept. from Dorset and Stanhope put on a demonstration of a cold water rescue. This is something you only want to watch. When they ask for volunteers, just say NO.  It helps to be in the right gear -- dry suits for those in the wet areas, a rescue kayak, and a crew on shore to help. Cold water is no laughing matter.  The guys did an awesome demonstration, to a spellbound gang on the shore. You can watch it here.

Later in the day, snowmobiles were running this stretch of open water. 

Up town by the Fire Hall there was plenty going on. From moose tongues (a pastry, for those who don't know) with a huge choice of toppings, hamburgers and fries for the hungry bunch, to a lot of indoor exhibits if you did get cold.

The patient team of horses made sure nobody who didn't want to walk Dorset from end to end had to -- every time we saw the wagon go by, it was crowded.  If you've ever wondered why this big fellas don't slip on the hard icy ground, check out the ice-shoes the horses wear. 



We still have some of these on display at Nancy's stable, left over from the days when the work horses were here at Bondi helping with the farm work.

It's not really part of the Carnival, the Zac Cole Playground, but it was a happening place. Kudos to the Community Group for creating this great kid space!

 The gyro-ride and zorb-balls were very popular.

You might bump into Mr. and Mrs. Snowball, wandering through the crowd, enjoying their Carnival and their Community.






Or you could try your hand at some old-style woodwork with the Shantyman's Tools, time warping back to the beginning of Dorset when it was full of lumbermen.  At the Museum there is an incredible display about the Gilmore Tramway and the Logging days in Dorset.





Junkyard Johnny has Got2Drum, and had his audiences under his rhythmic spell.

The rink was busy all day long, with shinny, families and pick-up games.  The Dorset Fire Dept. does a great job keeping this rink open all winter long.


And I never once saw the toboggan hill without a passle of kids on it having fun!










The Snowmobile Club brought in the big groomer, so folks could see just what goes into keeping the trails up here among the very best in the Province. It doesn't happen by chance, so here is a shout out to the volunteers who give their time so families can play!





And soaring above it all was the Re/Max hot air balloon. Just look at that line up!

So very well done indeed Dorset!  There are carnivals up here all winter long. Dorset's is one of the very finest.