Black Friday
Dunkirk NY - I understand the term “Black Friday” as the day that ushers in for me the darkest time of the year – literally. The next 60 days are the days with the least amount of daylight in them, and of course I can expect from this point on a series of winter events such as snow, slush, freezing rain and the like. Today is grey and rainy, which at this time of year is considered a good day. Any day which does not bring snow is considered a good day.
I would like winter better if I had a snowmobile, but of course they are too expensive and used too little to justify their cost. But I did go snowmobiling a few times with a friend who had one, and I must say the I really, really enjoyed it. Traveling along trails through the woods is a fantastic experience. It’s a way to get lost in the woods and see a lot of open country and actually feel like you’re going somewhere. The inns and stops along the way make it possible to have a destination in mind and then return home.
Particularly exciting to ride is Alleghany State Park. Just getting to the park via snowmobile trails is a challenge. Once there, the trails lead all through the park and then into Alleghany National Forest in PA. You can travel a good 70 miles via trails and get pretty close into central PA by the time you’re done. It’s really a great way to enjoy winter.
I had also found that another way to enjoy winter is snowshoeing, although you have to be in pretty good shape to go very far. The best, of course, is to go snowmobiling to a nice place in the woods, and then pull out the snowshoes and find a nice trail to walk.
My recent foot injury has prevented me from starting up my winter routine of exercising, which is the way I fight the winter darkness. I have been staring at my treadmill waiting for the day I can get back on and go, but the ache in the bottom of my foot still remains. A little blue light therapy and some exercise will have to serve for the time being until I can splurge for that snowmobile. I am willing to take any and all suggestions on fighting the blackness. -twl
