I’m
not tired of the summer yet, so don’t get me wrong, but I love to cross country
ski. There are plenty of times when I can just hike a little way out of town
with my skis and venture into the woods right outside my door. But there is
also plenty of time to take little trips to the hills and speed along on the
groomed trails around here. Winter is that time of year for me when it is really
hard to get myself out for a run. I don’t like to run on icy roads because more
than once I have fallen and injured myself. But with skiing none of that
matters. Yes, of course I’ve fallen when skiing also, but landing in a pile of
snow has never injured anything more than my pride. I guess I don’t ski fast enough
to do any serious twists to injure myself either.
But
aside from all that staying fit stuff, skiing is just beautiful. Trees covered
in snow, white vistas over the hills, sunny skies, cloudy skies—it doesn’t matter.
I love going with friends and as I get older I’m prone to believe that is the best
way. But I still enjoy it alone in the spaces close to my house.
I
know it’s not a particularly American thing. In fact, I think with its Nordic
title it must be European. But in these northern climes it’s an activity that
pretty much anyone who can walk can get out and do to keep themselves active
and to see new scenes. It’s like one of those beautiful snow globe scenes and
you get to be the guy who shakes it and the little figurine inside that gets to
enjoy the falling snow. And it’s a pretty painless fee when you consider the fact
that you can go almost anywhere where there is snow. So as an American of
European descent who is a bit of a cheap skate but loves to be active, I highly
recommend cross country skiing in the winter if you live somewhere where there
is plenty of snow. It’s just one more way to enjoy our beautiful country and
take pride in being American.
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