My Outdoor World

(added Nov. 12th, 2003)

 I love the outdoors.  I love being outside.  I like the sun on my face, a breeze in my hair.  I'm a summer child.  Odd since I was born in December, but it's the truth.  I prefer to be outdoors all summer.  Screw A/C, gimme the real world.  I've found that there are a lot of things I like to do outdoors.  Whether it be riding my motorcycle off to a campground for the weekend, or just hanging out with some friends in a drive way around one of those porch fire pits drinking beer and talking, I feel most happy with no roof over my head.  

One of the things about summer that gets my heart pounding is that I can pull my bike out and start riding everywhere.  Better gas mileage is only the smallest plus of a motorcycle.  It's the feeling of freedom, the exhilarating thrill of an open rode.  While I don't yet have the bike of my dreams, the 1100 Yamaha Virago  that my uncle sold me cheap.  It's a great bike.  Comfortable, runs great, can ride it all day and still be able to walk.  It's not the Harley I hope to someday have, but I love it all the same.  It lets me ride, and what more can I really ask for?

Another great thing about being outdoors is my love of fishing.  Can't really say that this is a summer activity though.  I will fish from about February/March through the end of Oct.  Stripers and walleye in the Illinois River early in the year, bass, catfish, and panfish locally or anywhere I can get to over a weekend all summer.  Rainbow trout locally in the spring and fall at select stocked ponds, or anytime I can find my way back to the White River in AR.  Can't let Lake Michigan Perch or Salmon fishing go either.  All in all, if I don't have anything else going on in the summer time, I'm at a lake, river, or pond with a line in the water.  Hope to get to the ocean soon too.

I also really love camping.  How fun is that?  Sleeping in a tent, spending half the night up drinking beer with good company around a campfire.  Getting far enough away from 'civilization' to really see the stars at night?  I can't get enough of that.  One of my favorite places for a weekend trip is at Lauden Miller state park in Oregon, IL.  This state park is right on the Rock River, offering some nice hiking and fishing oppurtunities.

More to come soon...