ALL TRAILS LEAD TO ICE CREAM

A few February's ago, my wife and I stepped out of Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport and into the warm dessert air.  Robin looked at me with a smile on her face.  When I inquired about the big smile she respond that she was reacting to my smile.  Six hours previous to that moment we boarded a plane at BWI and escaped the deep freeze of winter.  I couldn't help but be excited about being outside...and apparently, the expression on my face said it all. I've been doing a lot of solo mountain biking after school this year.  Last week, while riding the Lakes , I paused to  the appreciate the amazing Autumn Pennsylvania weather and take in some Vitamin N. -- October 19, 2017 I crave nature and I crave being outdoors.  I don't know the science behind it but I feel better and I'm happier when I'm outside.  There are plenty of studies out there that say that exposure to nature helps with depression, high blood pressure, anxiety, ADD, and just about a...

I've been getting out on my mountain bike at least once or twice a week after school the past month and a half.  Within 45 minutes of my students leaving  my classroom , I can be on the trails at Rocky Ridge County Park or the Lakes .  A few times I've ridden solo...but most of the time Mark or Chris are able to ride with me.  Our rides haven't been epic...but they've been fun.  Chris and I rediscovered the fun of decending down (and climbing up) Trail #7 at Rocky Ridge.  Mark and I rode what he called "the Agitator" at the Lakes....a nice ride around Lake Williams in both directions.  It's probably the hardest ride you can do at the Lakes.  I've been challenging myself and switching up the trails ...making each ride new.  There hasn't been much stopping for photos and there hasn't been may rests.  There's just been a lot of riding...and it's been fun.  Tim snagged this pic of me at Rocky Ridge a few weeks ago. -- Se...

Friday morning I loaded my mountian bike and my gear into the back of the truck before I left for another wonderful day in 8th grade.  The plan was to meet Mark at the Lakes  immediately after school and kick off the weekend with a mountain bike ride.  Circumstances, more important that mountain biking, brought me directly home instead.  I felt bad texting Mark at lunch time and cancelling...but I would have felt worse had I not come home to help my wife.  I hope Mark got to ride (I'm not sure)...but I felt good with my decision and I know that he understood. I didn't expect to be able to ride today.  I made sure to make my way up Starview Road. -- September 23, 2017 It's not just Mark...I'm super blessed with friends who love to ride but who also understand that family comes first.  As much as we would all love to get together and hit the trails...it can't come at the expense of our loved ones.  I didn't expect to have to cancel yest...

I stumbled upon Cunningham Falls State Park by accident.  Years ago, I needed to head south into Virginia on Interstate 81 and I desperately wanted to avoid the traffic in Gettysburg and Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.  So...before I hit either town...I turned south onto Route 15.  After crossing the Mason-Dixon Line, I began looking for a side road to take me west and connect onto I-81.  The road my very first GPS hooked me onto was Route 77.  Making my way up the hollow I was stunned by how visually stunning the landscape was all around me.  On either side there were streams, dense forests, trails, and eventually a sign for Cunningham Falls State Park. Robin and David Raymond at Cunningham Falls State Park, Maryland. -- September 17, 2017 Nearly three years ago, Robin and I...looking for somewhere different to hike...decided to pack a picnic lunch and head to Cunningham Falls.  I really had no idea what to expect...I had only driven through ...

As we made our way out of the parking lot at the Lakes on Tuesday, Mark turned to me and asked, "Which way do you want to ride this?"  I instinctfully nodded up the hill to the right.  Afterall, it's the way we always ride it.  That's the way the trail is "suppose to be ridden."  But why?  Somewhere along the line, we decided that riding that particular trail counter clockwise was more difficult.  So...ride after ride, year after year, I've ridden trails 4 and 2 at the Lakes clockwise.  So much so, I could probably navigate the trails in my sleep.   Taking a break at Rocky Ridge County Park .  All by myself on a solo ride...I thought I'd challenge myself and climb clockwise out of trails 8 and 9.  Super tough...but super cool! -- September 1, 2017 Coming down an off-shoot of Trail 4 at the Lakes .  I hardly ever ride this direction...made for a great afternoon. -- August 24, 2017 David Raymond and Chris Keller. ...

A few months ago I was mountain biking at the Lakes with Mark, Glenn, and Mikey.  I was riding in front of the group and then, a quarter of a mile into the ride, I suddenly stopped.  When Glenn asked me what was wrong I told him that I was skittish.  I wasn't riding...I was looking for snakes.  Only three weeks into my summer and I had already seen four snakes along the trail (Mark and I would encounter the fifth...and largest snake of the summer...a couple weeks later in Tuscarora State Forest).  It's surprising to some people that, as much time as I spend in the woods, I'm seriously afraid of snakes.  When I see one I tend to do that "Scooby jumping into Shaggy's arms" thing.  For the rest of that particular ride I let Mark (the man who fears no animal) take the lead. My good friend, Mark Lentz, admiring a rattlesnake.   WHAT A DAY WE HAD in Tuscarora State Forest! -- July 6, 2017 Rattlesnake in Tuscarora State Forest. -- July 6...