Heather's Hangout

Sharing the people, places & little moments that make a difference.

You are beautiful wearing your bike helmet August 31, 2017

Filed under: Life Lessons,Random Travels & Exploring — Heather @ 4:00 pm
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HH_Carolynjersey

Post-ride sweaty, happy appearance

I recently enjoyed a beautiful evening bike ride on a local bike trail. While I started out alone, I often encountered other cyclists throughout the 30+ miles who rode alongside for several miles here and there. I loved the friendly people and awesome reminder of how great summer evenings can be.

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At one point, I started to pass a young woman on her bike. She struck up a conversation so I stayed alongside her. We had great conversation and rode an almost perfect pace together. As the miles clicked by, I really enjoyed cycling with her. However, one thing kept nagging at me – she wasn’t wearing a helmet.

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I try to keep opinions to myself on lots of things because I believe people should make decisions best for them and others shouldn’t be quick to judge. But…..she asked me many questions about my Specialized Ruby (and you all know I LOVE my bike) and some tips about being new to cycling. So I decided it was a good opening to mention the helmet.

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She smiled when I suggested wearing a helmet, actually agreed that she really should wear one. Then she asked if I was single. I replied yes, although I had no idea what that had to do with wearing a bike helmet. Turns out, she feels she looks silly in a helmet and her hair is a mess after a ride. What if she met a good-looking guy while biking or at the parking lot? Uh, okay. A whole lot of thoughts raced through my head, including flashes of how crazy, frizzy and completely messy my hair looks after I take off my helmet! I have passed a mirror or reflection after many rides and thought ‘oh my goodness, am I in public looking like that?’ But I can’t recall worrying that a guy won’t find me pretty because I’m sweaty and my hair is a mess after an awesome bike ride. If anything, I want to be with a guy who enjoys participating in these type of activities with me, appreciates the effort it takes to get sweaty and messy, and also understands I clean up pretty nicely.

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I almost replied “I think you’ll be much more beautiful with your head intact.” But you know, I wasn’t sure how to kindly say that. Lol. I also recognize that she is 27 and I am in my early 40s, so I have a bit more ‘worldly experience’ and a few more relationships on my side. I’m at a point in my life where people need to accept me for me. Especially my next significant other. I have learned to be true to myself, particularly over the past few years. The next man I’m with must take me as I am, crazy helmet hair and all. That means the sappy, emotional moments and energetic, dance around the living room moments and confident, take on the world moments and feeling overwhelmed, I need support and encouragement moments and goofy, singing in the car moments and everything in between. I want that man to be willing to share, laugh, love and choose me. To not judge so much and expect me to change who I am. I don’t want to settle for a “sort of happy and make it work because that’s expected” relationship. I want mutual real, true happiness, joy, laughter, support and encouragement in my next relationship. Heck, I want that in my life, whether it’s with a special man, friends or family. I want to enjoy the good moments, work through the tough moments, appreciate the good people in my life and embrace the opportunities awaiting me. That’s why I made the decision to change my life a few years ago and that’s why I wear a helmet every time I bike (and I’d rather not suffer a head injury). I want to do everything possible to be alive to enjoy and experience life.

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HH_bikePeachride82017

When you love what you’re doing, you forget you might look a mess. 🙂

To be honest, I didn’t always wear a helmet when biking. I wore one when biking near traffic but when on the rails to trails routes, I sometimes would simply wear a baseball hat to block the sun. And, frankly, what hit me a few years ago was this realization: I busted my butt to survivor bone cancer and am always careful not to hurt my leg with the titanium rod.  How stupid to survive all that, only to suffer a brain injury because I didn’t have a helmet.

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Oops, I think I digressed. Ha. Focus, lady. Back to my point about wearing a bike helmet. Consider these facts:

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  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that less than half of all Americans who ride bicycles wear helmets.
  • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recorded 45,000 bicycle injuries in 2015 (latest stats), with cyclists age 50-59 having the highest rate of injury
  • The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that head injuries are the cause of death for the majority of bicyclists killed in accidents with automobiles. Helmet use is estimated to reduce the risk of head injury in these cases by 85 percent.
  • Eighty-five percent of bicycle-related head and brain injuries can be prevented by a helmet, according to the Snell Memorial Foundation and Safety Education Center. The center also reports the number of bicycle head injuries annually that require hospitalization “exceeds the total of all head injury cases — including baseball, football, skateboards, scooters, horseback riding injuries.
  • If you’re in any sort of accident with your helmet that may have damaged the helmet’s padding, replace it. The plastic and expandable foam that absorbs the impact and protects your head may no longer able to absorb the impacts. If you notice the plastic cracking, replace it (regardless if you’ve been in an accident).
  • There’s no good research on if a helmet has a ‘shelf life’ but most of what I read suggested replacing a helmet after five years, unless you use it excessively, sweat a lot, wear lots of hair gel, etc. Anything that may make the foam padding decompose, the plastic crack or damages the straps.
  • Make sure your bike helmet meets safety standards and fits properly. If you’re uncertain, visit a reputable bike shop to ask for assistance.
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These are sobering statistics and reminder that biking can be amazing fun and great exercise, but requires a degree of caution and safety (as most activities!). I shared in a previous blog post that a good friend was recently injured after a fall from his bike. Afterwards, I held his bike helmet in my hands, with dings and dents very visible. It was unnerving. His head was thankfully well-protected. What a real example of the importance of wearing a helmet!

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The young woman I biked with? We talked about relationships and being yourself, not settling for anyone – whether significant other, friend or even family – who doesn’t appreciate you for who you are. And we also discussed strategies for post-helmet hair. When we parted miles later, she smiled and promised to buy a helmet. I assured her that she would look beautiful.

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Tips for solo hiking and biking August 25, 2017

Filed under: Random Travels & Exploring — Heather @ 4:07 pm
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trails

All this talk of summer being almost over is depressing. I’ve had a fantastic summer! It’s actually been a fantastic year! We’ve been fortunate to have great weather in southeast Michigan, comfortable temps and bearable humidity. Perfect weather for hiking our local nature trails and biking many rails to trails and road options. I love being outside with family and friends, yet also enjoy some quiet “me” time. Let’s admit it though – these are some crazy times we live in so I take precautions when on the trails alone, or even with a group. These precautions are not only to protect me from crazy strangers, but also in case of an accident or emergency. I hope you’re all careful doing whatever activity makes you happy!

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Most backpackers/outdoors people know the 10 essentials to carry. These include a map, compass, sunscreen/ sunglasses, extra clothing, fire starter, headlamp/flashlight, first aid kit, knife, matches, and extra food (REI has a great webpage dedicated to the 10 essentials and updated “essential systems”). Cyclists carry a variety of personal items, but definitely should have a spare bike tube, CO2 cartridge, water, snacks and sunscreen. These important items for both activities are of course in addition to the appropriate gear (shoes, clothing, helmet when biking, etc.).

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On short outings when I’m staying near civilization, such a day hikes or bike rides, I carry the basic items (bike tube, water, etc) but usually skip a fire starter (pretty sure you can’t start a fire at the local parks!) and the other obvious. I also follow some random, basic safety tips that I wanted to share.

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  • Park in a populated, designated area. Always be aware of your surroundings. Pay attention to who is near and behind you.
  • Pay attention to your surroundings on the trail too. While I sometimes get wrapped up in thoughts, I am always looking ahead, behind and around me. I always know if someone or something (animal, car, etc) is approaching or if a hazard (hole, rock, etc) is near.
  • Always let someone know where you’re going and an estimated time you’ll be back to your car. If you have no clue when you’ll return, text or call someone when you do get back to your car. Even if you want some alone time it’s smart to not go off without notifying someone. What happens if you get hurt and can’t make it your car? Or darkness comes and you get lost?
  • I wear an ID bracelet when hiking and biking (I wear it whether I’m alone or with people). It lists my name, two emergency contacts, and that I have a titanium rod in my femur and a serious allergy. Road ID is a popular brand with hikers and cyclists but there are many options.
  • Listen to your gut. I’m a friendly, outgoing person. I smile and talk to anyone. But I also try to be smart about the situations I put myself in, especially when alone. A few weeks ago, two fairly obnoxious men were biking along the trail and started making idiotic comments when I came upon them and wanted to pass. I was polite, yet also tried to ignore them. I finally squeezed past them and went on my way. A short while later, I spotted them at the parking lot loading their bikes onto their truck. While I had reached my mileage goal, I decided to keep going and then circle back once they were gone. They were most likely just obnoxious, lewd men, but my instinct said to avoid them so I did.
  • I always take (and use!) sunscreen, snacks and water with me, whether biking or hiking. I also typically bring a hat and sunglasses in case the sun is bright (of course I wear a helmet when biking) and chap stick (who wants dry lips after a windy ride?). If you’re uncertain of the weather, consider rain gear, sweatshirt or a piece of clothing to add or remove if necessary.
  • Since the point of hiking alone into the woods or biking on a quiet trail is to get away from the chaos of life and people, I’d rather not carry my cell phone. However, I usually do in case of emergencies (and admittedly I use the camera all the time). The ringer is on silent though. Of course, keep in mind that you can’t always get a cell signal in the woods.
  • I clip a small, yet loud whistle to my shorts, pants or watch when I’m hiking.
  • I carry my medical insurance card and cash too in my bike saddle bag. On local bike trails, such as the Macomb Orchard Trail or Paint Creek, there are stores or small restaurants to grab a snack, more water or anything else you may need.
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I hope you never experience an emergency on the trail, but better to prepared and safe. What steps do you take to stay safe and smart when on the trails?

 

Favorite memories of biking in Iowa (RAGBRAI) August 3, 2017

Filed under: Cancer Tips,Random Travels & Exploring — Heather @ 8:45 am
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HH_bikeMissRiver2

Dipping in the Mississippi River

I made it back to Michigan after a week in Iowa with Team LIVESTRONG. Three loads of clean laundry are ready to be put away. My tent and sleeping bag are aired out and clean. My bike received some TLC. My friends are all at their respective homes. I returned to work yesterday (at least physically; I’m still mentally adjusting). After a week of biking in Iowa with friends at the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI), raising awareness and money for LIVESTRONG’s programs and services for people facing cancer, decompressing from the real world, and achieving a personal goal as a cancer survivor….well, I’m ready for more biking adventures. Or adventures in general.

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While last year was fun being on the support team, it’s true that you don’t really understand RAGBAI until you bike it. My friend told me so many stories from on the route, and I saw picture after picture of fun that I was hooked before I left last year. But I didn’t ‘get’ RAGBRAI until I got on my bike and joined thousands of other cyclists on the route from Orange City to Harper’s Ferry.

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There was a lot to experience and enjoy during the week. Admittedly, it doesn’t usually take much for me to enjoy any adventure that I’m on. I love the excitement of being in new places, trying new activities, food and more, meeting new people, making new memories. I’m a fairly ‘go with the flow’ person, especially on vacation. But I knew this would be a special week. Not only was I attempting to ride my bike many miles in Iowa, raising money for LIVESTRONG’s programs and services, and hanging out with friends, it was also a recognition (personal goal) of 20 years since my bone cancer diagnosis. I needed to show myself that I could accomplish what I set my mind to, titanium rod in my leg and all. While I was nervous driving into the week, there was no doubt that I was going to open myself, my heart, to making the most of this special week.

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I enjoyed so much during the week. Here are just a few of my favorite experiences:

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Love biking with these girls

Spending time with friends. My teammates live around the country so we don’t see each other as often as we’d like. I was excited to spend the week with some of my great friends, and have the opportunity to make new friends. No matter where I was, riding my bike, eating lunch, standing in line for the shower, riding in the RV to the next campsite, driving to Iowa, there were great conversations to be shared. I reinforced special bonds with current friends, and discovered kindred spirits in new friends.

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Riding my bike. Is it funny to admit that I love my bike? I love the freedom and power I feel riding mile after mile. Knowing my legs and my body, which survived some torturous chemo to kill cancer, is strong enough to bike mile after mile. Sometimes I marvel that it took me so long to purchase a road bike, but maybe it was never the right time until the time that I did buy it. I loved biking through Iowa, enjoying the scenery and towns from the freedom of my bike (although I started deeply sighing at the sight of the large wind turbines, which typically meant a lot of wind to bike through/at)! I gained so much confidence as a cyclist by the end of the week (shucks, I can now even stay clipped in and not look down to remove/replace my water bottle. Don’t laugh, I had to work at trusting my balance for this achievement!).

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Welcoming communities. One of my favorite experiences was exploring the small towns along the route. What a way to see Iowa! Some of the towns had banners, bands and community members waving and cheering as the cyclists approached the towns. Many children set up lemonade stands along the road (I stopped at one on Thursday – the little girls were so adorably excited!). The overnight towns hosted entertainment, food and drink vendors, games, and more. Imagine being a small town, with a very small population, that suddenly has an influx of thousands of bikers, tents, RVs, shower trucks, vendors and more! I fell in love with these small towns. So very different from the busy suburbs of metro Detroit.

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Enjoying life. There were some definite emotional ups and downs during the week that brought tears, but overall I laughed a lot. My teammates are funny with the stories and antics we shared. The sun shone most days. My body felt awesome riding my bike. How can you not laugh? I loved the moments of sharing stories with teammates and others along the route. I loved the impromptu whiffle ball game (where I discovered an almost embarrassing competitive side to myself – except I think I laugh too much to be considered serious competitive). I felt healthy, free, relaxed and alive.

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Beautiful camping spot

Meeting new people from all across the world, from all walks of life. I met a doctor, farmer, college student, fellow marketing colleague, teacher, chef, retirees, and bum traveling around the country (that’s how he described himself!). While the average RAGBRAI participant’s age is 46, I saw young, old and in between on bikes. I even saw a dog riding in a basket and Batman.

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Stopping along the route. There are many opportunities to stop along the route for a rest, food or drinks. Back Pocket is a popular ‘watering’ hole to enjoy Iowa craft beer. The ‘pass through’ towns are full of vendors selling food, drinks and merchandise. The meeting town (half way point) is packed with entertainment, food, drinks, merchandise, games and more. These are the best places to people watch, meet up with other teammates and soak up the moments of RAGBRAI.

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Helping others. Team LIVESTRONG is at the event to raise awareness of and funds for the nonprofit’s programs and services that support people affected by cancer. Our team raised $145,000 (you can still donate!). Throughout the week, I had wonderful opportunities to share information on LIVESTRONG, listen to others’ cancer stories and share my own, and my dad’s, to help others. Every moment was inspiring and motivating. I always come home from these events wondering how else I can help others in their journey with cancer. There is still so much to be done; I’m grateful I can help where I can.

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The week could not have closed in a more special way. At the end of our journey, standing together at the Mississippi River, one of my teammates asked some of us to stick around. When she approached me and took my hand, she asked me if I’d help Terry share our adventure. Terry is her husband who died from cancer. As she sprinkled his ashes in my hand, my heart immediately warmed at the honor of sharing this moment with her, and him (and of course I cried at the honor being part of a beautiful moment). As a small group, we stood together on the dock and sprinkled the ashes into the Mississippi River and across the soft breeze. As I looked at these special people, and at the great river flowing beside me, as I heard laughter and yells of accomplishment from others dipping their bikes in the river, I was reminded again of how precious life is, and how grateful I am to be alive to enjoy it.

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So, my friends, spend your days being happy. Sometimes we must make tough decisions to find that happiness. Sometimes we have to struggle first to then find our peace and contentment. Sometimes we have to look in the opposite direction to find the path we are supposed to walk. Life is full of adventures. I’m ready for the next one.

 

8 reasons I’m excited to bike across Iowa July 12, 2017

Filed under: Cancer Tips,Random Travels & Exploring — Heather @ 12:01 pm
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HH_bikeLS52017The countdown for leaving for RAGBRAI to join LIVESTRONG in Iowa is quickly getting smaller as the “BIG day” is almost here (eek!). Some days, I can’t wait for the adventure to begin. Other days…..yeah, well, other days I admit I practice my breathing exercises to remain calm. It’s a lot of darn miles to ride on a bike. But I’ve been riding, a LOT. My leg and knee have, thankfully, felt amazing, and my butt, well, it’s getting there (yep, padded shorts and chamois cream are my best friends).

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This ride will be worth the anxiety and nerves. Because at the end of the day, Team LIVESTRONG is raising a lot of money – more than $120,000 so far! (you can help increase that total by donating here) – for programs and services that support people affected by cancer. And I’m personally excited to prove to myself that a thing like bone cancer causing my femur to be replaced with titanium can’t stop me from biking a few hundred miles to help other cancer survivors. (You can read more about why I’m biking across Iowa in this past blog post)

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As the “BIG day” approaches, there are many aspects of RAGBRAI that I’m excited to experience. Here’s a few things that keep me motivated:

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Raising funds for and awareness of LIVESTRONG’s mission, programs and services – LIVESTRONG offers some outstanding programs for cancer survivors, caregivers and people touched by disease. Whether newly diagnosed or out of treatment, the organization provides support at every point of your journey. From direct services to community programs to school programs and more, I’m grateful to know there is so much available to help others. If you haven’t read their manifesto, you should. These words are so powerful to me – “We believe in life. Your life. We believe in living every minute of it with every ounce of your being. And that you must not let cancer take control of it…..Unity is strength. Knowledge is power. Attitude is everything.” I was stopped in the airport a few months ago by a woman who noticed my LIVESTRONG shirt and yellow wristband and wanted to share how useful the guidebook and journal were during her cancer journey. I love hearing these stories and am happy to be a part of the organization as a volunteer.

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Team LIVESTRONG (aka “my tribe”) – I’m most excited to hang out with this team, my team, my friends, my yellow family. We all start with the common bond of this terrible disease, as cancer survivors, caregivers, family members and friends of cancer survivors, family members and friends who have lost someone to cancer. It doesn’t matter what circumstance brought us together, we have a bond. In addition to this bond that ties us together, these are good people who find many ways to fight against the disease. They commit to spending a week on a bike, raising money for LIVESTRONG’s programs to support others. So no one has to face cancer alone. I’m already in awe of them, and humbled and honored to be part of their team.

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The people I ride for – While there is never a day that goes by that I don’t think of being a cancer survivor in some way, there is also never a day that goes by that I don’t think of the many other people who are also cancer survivors or died from this disease. My dad is always in the forefront of my mind, as I miss him daily. I’ve said good bye to too many people because of this disease, many of them way too young (since I was diagnosed at 21 and treated in pediatrics). I’ve also been blessed to have met thousands of cancer survivors in the past 20 years, all of whom reinforce that our fight against this disease is far from over. So throughout that week, and always, these people will be in my heart and mind.

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The cycling jerseys – Let’s not stereotype – I know it sounds like a girl thing to focus on clothing but that’s not my intent (and, trust me, not all cycling jerseys are fashionable). LIVESTRONG designed an awesome team jersey that we’ll all be wearing on the first and last day to help raise awareness of the organization and team. Then, we’ll wear our tribute jersey, designed in memory of the wife of one of our team members who died from cancer, featuring some of her favorite things. I also have a cool Michigan jersey (that would the state of Michigan, not university…I bleed maroon and gold, friends) and some other fun options. I like seeing the variety of jerseys that others wear. And, okay, yes, you might as well look good if you’re biking 50+ miles in the Iowa heat (or any heat).

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Garmin_LSbandMy personal goal/peace of mind/’take that, stupid cancer’ – I shared in a previous blog the challenges, physical and mental, I face as a bone cancer survivor. Super grateful to be alive and have both of my own legs. But unable to fully quiet the whispers of doubt, frustration and insecurity in my physical limitations from the titanium rod in my leg. I’ll be honest…this training is certainly a good source of confidence building. This experience has also shown me how many people have more faith in my ability than I do. So sometimes I simply need to remind myself that I survived cancer and can do anything I put my mind to. Including bike across Iowa. I’m proud of myself for taking on this challenge and for all of the training and focus I’ve put into it. I get so nervous about hurting my leg that sometimes I forget to simply enjoy the activity or moment. Enough with the doubt and anxiety, it’s time to kick some ass and remind myself who’s in charge of my attitude.

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Biking – Despite the nerves at biking so many miles for multiple days, I’m really looking forward to being on my bike. I love Ruby (my road bike for those who haven’t met her) and the more I ride, the more I enjoy biking. The freedom, the satisfaction of a great workout on my legs, different places to explore on a bike, new people you interact with on the road, adventures in the making. I’m also excited to ride with so many people from LIVESTRONG, getting to know them better and making memories to hold dear for decades to come.

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Meeting people – It may not surprise you that I talk to people almost everywhere I go (like mother, like daughter. Right, Mom?). Isn’t this one of the beauties of life – learning about all walks of life from a variety of people? You never know who you may meet or what you may learn from others. There will be thousands of people at this event from all across the country so there are bound to be some great encounters!

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Exploring Iowa – I love to travel and explore new places (and old!). Plus, my grandma was born and raised in northern Iowa, my mom spent summers at the family farm and my family took some vacations to the state when I was a young child. So I feel a little kinship to the state. 🙂

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If you’d like to support LIVESTRONG’s programs and services for people with cancer, click here to donate to my fundraising page. For every $10 donation increment, you’ll be entered to win a Michigan themed gift bag!

 

20 of my favorite activities May 28, 2017

Filed under: Life Lessons — Heather @ 12:56 pm
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trails

Ready to explore?

One of my favorite pieces of the start of spring and summer weather is the opportunity to sit outside on the deck, at the park, or anywhere outdoors and enjoy good conversations with family and friends. I’ve been doing that recently and several of our conversations have drifted to what we’d do if we didn’t have to be at the office every day, whether we won the Lotto, retired or some other plan arose to keep us financially independent. It makes me think about all the activities that I would love to do more regularly if I had more time. I don’t think I would get bored!

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Here are 20 of my favorite activities (in no particular order):

    1. Hike
    2. Bike
    3. Read
    4. Garden
    5. Dance
    6. Sing
    7. Write
    8. Make candles
    9. Photography
    10. Geocache
    11. Camp
    12. Wine tasting
    13. DIY craft projects
    14. Relaxing with good people
    15. Beer tasting
    16. Puzzles
    17. Golf
    18. Volunteer
    19. Try new food recipes
    20. Road trips
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What activities keep you busy? What would you try if you had more free time?

 

Biking on a race track May 14, 2017

Filed under: Random Travels & Exploring — Heather @ 2:43 pm
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Biking on the Grand Prix course!

My friends and I decided to head downtown today for a bike ride on Belle Isle Park, one of my favorite places to bike in the morning. The 982-acre island in the Detroit River offers a paved 6.5-mile bike path, plus many interior roads, so it’s easy to get some distance after a few loops. We looked forward to the promise of a beautiful weather day and hanging out together while on our bikes. We didn’t, however, plan for the start of preparing for the Detroit Grand Prix to be held June 2-4, 2017 on Belle Isle.

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If you’re a racing fan or history buff…..the Detroit Grand Prix started in 1982 as a Formula One race through downtown Detroit (that doesn’t sound safe to me!). It moved to Belle Isle in 1992 and was held annually until 2001. It occurred sporadically through the years until 2012 and has been held annually since with a variety of races held during the weekend, including the IndyCar Series.

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A lot of set up has already occurred for the race, including cement barricades for the track,  grandstands set up, sponsor banners and tents in place, and more. There is lots of high fencing up, I’m assuming to protect spectators during the race, but it kind of blocks your view of the river and nature. The track and festivities are set up on the west side of the island so once you get closer to the east end, the stands, banners and other event melee end. There were a lot of geese with adorable babies so I feel bad for them on race weekend. So loud and chaotic. I hope they hunker down on the other side of the island!

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We made the most of the obstacles and laughed at biking on a race track. After all, it’s not every day that you get to ride through a Grand Prix race track…on your bike! And your new Chevy SUV, which I thought was fun since Chevrolet is the major sponsor. We had a beautiful day to bike throughout the island and added some good mileage to our ride. I remembered how fun it is to ride with a group of people and how easy it is to rack up miles because you’re distracted talking and enjoying the time with others. It was a great start to the day.

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Now I’m off to celebrate my awesome mom! Wishing all of the moms a wonderful Mother’s Day!

 

5 favorite activities that spring brings May 7, 2017

Filed under: Life Lessons,Random Travels & Exploring — Heather @ 8:41 pm
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HH_hike42017

Love hiking in the woods!

The spring weather is slowly trying to make a steady presence in Michigan. The temps have been a sporadic but I’m grateful for the days filled with sunshine and mild temperatures. I’m loving that the days are staying lighter longer. More time to play outside after work and on the weekends!

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With spring comes opportunities to participate in some of my favorite activities. Here are few that I enjoy. What are some of your favorite spring/nice weather activities?

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Biking. I love being on a bike. Whether it’s my road bike or mountain bike, I enjoy the ability to explore the area on a bike. From the physical rush to the mental clearing of my mind to great views to the simple joy of feeling the strength of my legs, biking is definitely a favorite activity. Our mild winter let me get several rides in even during traditional winter months, but it’s much nicer to bike in sunshine and warming temps!

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Hiking. Nothing chills me out faster than spending time on the trails, surrounded by trees, plants and friendly animals. It’s such great physical exercise and mental relaxation, but rarely feels like either since I’m usually enjoying myself so much.

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Logged this geocache find!

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Geocaching. This GPS outdoor scavenger hunt is a fun past time to do with friends, family, or alone when I have some time to spare. I especially love taking my nieces and nephew on this treasure hunt and also logging a cache when I visit new places.

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Gardening. It’s not quite warm enough to plant flowers but it’s soooo close! I’m getting excited to plant bright flowers in my new pots and put them on the porch and deck. Flowers always bring a smile to my face.

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Grilling. Yes, I know that many people grill year-round, even in the snow and cold. But…..I don’t! I have a great new grill that will be often used to make yummy vegetables, burgers, chicken, and much more to enjoy while eating on the deck.

 

 
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