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If we haven't touched winter, will we feel spring? If we don't walk on ice, will we ever walk on water? If our cheeks don't get cold and rosy red, will they turn warm and pretty pink?
As we transition into the next season here in Victoria, Minnesota, we've had the singular opportunity to personally touch winter, walk on ice, and put rosy red into our cheeks. It all happens each year at the Victoria Ice Fishing Contest.
With global warming radiating into our region, whether in rhetoric or reality, a winter ice fishing contest is no longer a sure thing. Only a week before the annual event of 2006, we had temperatures well above freezing. We also were recovering from six weeks of gray skies and gloomy days.
But the ground hog saw its shadow this year, and so winter set in for another six weeks, just in time to put smiles on the faces of the Victoria Fire Department, sponsor of the annual Victoria Ice Fishing Contest. The ice on Stieger Lake measured 14" thick in most places, according to Victoria Fire Chief Tim Walsh. "They say that 12 inches is good for small vehicles."
Along with the return of colder temperatures came a brilliant blue sky, blinding sun glare, and a little bit of breeze to put the rosy red right where it belonged. A cavalcade of cars was still not allowed on Stieger Lake on Sunday, February 5th, 2006, but fishermen with fishing poles and other friendly folks could safely walk on the ice. Two school buses circled nonstop -- between several parking lots in downtown Victoria and the icy shores of Stieger Lake - carrying approximately 300 people to their destination. It was a grand afternoon. "There were fewer people than last year," said Chief Walsh, "but I think we're coming out to look pretty good." In other words, there were generous donations to the Victoria Fire Department, and the Department sold lots of raffle tickets, hamburgers, and hot dogs.
Thank you, Victoria Fire Department, for your work and dedication on behalf of the Victoria community. Now that we've officially celebrated winter, we can officially look forward to spring.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
There is a special page of related photos in Sue's Album. Simply scroll to "Rosy Red Cheeks."
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