Illusion

Glancing briefly up or down the Rideau at present, especially at night, you'd think there were patches of clear water. However, it's an illusion; that is not water but a sheen of black ice reflecting any light there might be. The sun melted some snow off the surface of the river on Friday, when we had a suddenly warm day, the temperature rising to 11ºC, but everything that was damp out of doors has frozen solid again now. The footpaths are treacherous. Winter is not over yet.