Unfortunately in the last two decades good winters have become scarce. But 2009 started of very well providing the skate crazy Dutch abundant open air skating options. On this particularly fine day we also had beautiful frost on the trees and scrubs. This shot was taken when touring with my sons and a friend through the Alblasserwaard. This is an area that is not very popular throughout the year, except when its many canals and waters are frozen over. Open air skating is very addictive. It is healthy and very relaxing: no signs, no traffic lights, no speed limits, no billboards or neon lights. You pass small villages and just go with the wind, against the sun or the other way round on roads paved by nature. On and on and on and on...