nPostednon January 24, 2014
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Thenchallenge: can you skate over all the frozen canals that connect alln11 towns in the province—in just one day?
Thenchallenge: can you skate over all the frozen canals that connect alln11 towns in the province—in just one day?n
nInnthe 1700s, young men who lived in Friesland, a province of what wasnthen the Dutch Republic, began trying to accomplish this feat.
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nThesendays, thousands of men and women take part in the “Eleven CitiesnRace,” skating about 200 km (120 miles)!
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nThisnrace is not held every year. It is only held when the natural icenalong the entire course is at least 15 cm (6 inches) thick, and somenyears that doesn’t happen. (There have been gaps between races of 5,n10, even 20 or more years.) However, when the ice isnsuitable—BAM!—the race is announced and is held within the nextn48 hours!
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nActually,nthe race is accompanied by “the tour.” The first is anspeed-skating race, and about 300 contestants participate. The tournis people skating the course at a more leisurely pace, not competing,nand around 16,000 skaters participate in this way.
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nHerenare the years that the Elfstedentocht has been held since I’ve been alive:
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1956
1956n
n1963
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n1985
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n1986
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n1997
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nTherenhasn’t been thick enough ice since 1997—that’s 16 years! Becausenthe event is so rare, people get really excited when there arenseveral days of freezing temperatures; people begin to ask each othernif this will be the year; weathermen make predictions; news reportersnpublish predictions and speculation; and officials begin to makendecisions that will help the ice thicken (such as not allowing use ofnthe canals). There was such a build-up of excitement in January andnearly February in 2012, and it seemed obvious that the race – wouldn– finally – happen! But then the weather warmed, and everyone’snhopes were dashed!
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SomenDutch people want their 11-city-tour so badly that they travel to getnit! Since 1974 people have held an Alternative Eleven City Tour innanother country—meeting on particular days for 200-km races andnleisure tours in nations such as Norway, Finland, Poland, and evennthe US/Canada. Since 1989 the race has been held on a gorgeousnmountain lake in Austria. Today is a recreational tour, withndistances up to 200 km, open for everyone. Tomorrow will be anspeed-skating race. Monday there will be team-pursuit racing fornpros. A variety of other recreational and professional tours andnraces occur during the January 21 to February 1 event.
SomenDutch people want their 11-city-tour so badly that they travel to getnit! Since 1974 people have held an Alternative Eleven City Tour innanother country—meeting on particular days for 200-km races andnleisure tours in nations such as Norway, Finland, Poland, and evennthe US/Canada. Since 1989 the race has been held on a gorgeousnmountain lake in Austria. Today is a recreational tour, withndistances up to 200 km, open for everyone. Tomorrow will be anspeed-skating race. Monday there will be team-pursuit racing fornpros. A variety of other recreational and professional tours andnraces occur during the January 21 to February 1 event.n
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nAlsonon this date:
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National Peanut Butter Day
National Peanut Butter Day n
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nPioneernin the study of memory Hermann Ebbinghaus’s birthday
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nBallerinanMaria Tallchief’s birthday
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Anniversarynof gold discovery in California
Anniversarynof gold discovery in Californian
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nANDnTalk Like a Grizzled Prospector Day
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nPlannahead!
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nChecknout my Pinterest boards for:
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nJanuaryn holidays
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nJanuaryn birthdays
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in January
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nAndnhere are my boards for:
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nFebruaryn holidays
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nFebruaryn birthdays
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in February
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