Zippy would have my head if I didn’t remind you that Mother’s Day is this Sunday. No, I haven’t bought her anything…not even a card, but I am planning on a cookout with the kids around the pool. She understands that I always seem to order her gift last minute, so her Mother’s Day gift from me won’t arrive for a while. Then again…as I always tell her – YOU’RE NOT MY MOTHER 😉
WHAT?
First of all, I’m not a fishing kind of guy. I could be, but I don’t think that I’ve held a rod in my hand since fishing off the bridge near my home when I was in middle school. Oh, I’ve been out on plenty of “fishing boats” but the only thing we were really fishing for was another beer and another story. So, why am I writing about fishing from a kayak in the days of social distancing?
Because it’s a great way to spend time alone
Mind you, I’ve never kayaked either, but Zippy and I live near the ocean and there are plenty of kayak rentals that dot the beach area, making them inexpensive and easy to access without even owning one and I imagine that there’s nothing quite like the combination of the thrill of fishing and the solitude of ocean kayaking (except maybe hitting a bucket of golf balls or skiing down a quiet mountain trail).
Don’t you think ocean kayak fishing sounds like fun?
Apparently, anyone can do it, not just professional kayakers, and all that is required is the right kind of kayak and you can be on your way. Imagine floating in your kayak in the middle of the ocean, having a peaceful day of fishing. It could be you (or it could be me – just not you AND me)! I do know that it’s really important to have some basic kayaking skills for this kind of kayaking activity. The only difference between fishing in your back yard, fishing in your kayak and fishing in the ocean is the kind of kayak that you use.
If you’re going to buy one, I’m pretty sure that you will find that ocean-style kayaks cost much more than other types of kayaks. And, you want to be sure that you buy a good ocean kayak, because the ocean can be a dangerous place if you do not have the best equipment. Ocean kayaks are easy to find, but they may be hard to select among. Choosing a kayak is a difficult decision unless you are well-informed. Knowing what is required is important. It makes your decision so much easier. That’s why I suggest renting at first, to make sure that you really enjoy it and exactly the type of ocean kayak works best for you.
The good thing is that ocean fishing kayaks are very much more durable than other kayaks and are built for comfort and speed (vs just floating along down a lazy river). They have tall backrests to keep you in place when you encounter waves and is storage space to keep your fishing gear and other equipment in so you do not dump them in the water.
Kayaking is a wonderful way to fish. It makes for a relaxing and enjoyable trip wherever you go. Now’s the time to start catching those huge ocean fish. Or if you’re like me, you’ll come home and tell your wife about the one that got away.
With that in mind, it’s not much of a choice but to pack up my new Subaru Outback and head from Fort Pierce, Florida to North Conway, New Hampshire. This is a journey of approximately 3,000 miles round trip. The perfect trip for me and my Outback to get to know each other a little better.
This Outback may have saved my life!
The pre-collision system proves its worth.
I started out to beat the traffic by leaving at 4:30 am. It’s pitch black outside and I a in the far left-hand lane on Route 95 North with the cruise control set at 67 mph. All of a sudden I feel the cruise control snap off and the car breaks HARD. I thought there was something wrong with the car. As I stared into the darkness, I realized that there was nothing wrong with the Outback, but that the tow truck in front of me had NO LIGHTS ON and I couldn’t see it. I don’t know if the Subaru saved my life, but it at least saved one heck of an argument with the tow truck driver.
To me, it does not get much better than having my Sirius XM radio churning out the music of the ’60s, ’70s, Beatles, Tom Petty, Classic Vinyl, ESPN, MSBC…the soundtrack of my life at 75 mph.
If I didn’t drive, I’d never know that there is a Horse Stomp, South Carolina, home to the Little Pee Dee River and its big brother, Greater Pee Dee. How would you know that Pedro at South of the Border has all new signs (a breath of fresh air compared to years past).
How would you know that you can stop at Peach World in Georgia or appreciate the same billboards that advertize pecan rolls, pecan pie, pecan candy and peanut brittle? Can you go wrong making a pit stop to see live baby alligators?
Forget McDonald’s. You can go to one back home, it’s Stuckey’s , Shoneys, andthe Waffle House that make up the dining destinations on the road.
The GW Bridge – New York
The roads can go from just okay to okay depending upon the route, road, and state. By far, the best (and most improved after years of doing this trip is The New Jersey Turnpike. Three crisp lanes, crisp white lines, and smooth pavement make driving much more of a pleasure.
The worst and not even CLOSE has to be the George Washington Bridge. Sixteen dollars worth of shaking your dental work and jarring of your bones. I felt terrible putting my little Outback through this torture. Couple that with perhaps the worst, life-threatening drivers you could ever encounter. I am always shocked when I make it through New York without having an accident.
But, all of that is worth it when you turn the corner onto the Spalding Turnpike in New Hampshire and come face to face with the White Mountains as your guide. It feels like a total decompression.
I’ve been coming to New Hampshire or the better part of 50 years…mostly to North Conway…mostly in the winter to ski. But it’s just as beautiful in the summer as it is seeing those white-capped mountains with a chill in the air.
Most people (like my wife) think I’m crazy, but what I’m going to do is pack my car, place my coffee in the cup holder, set my radio to my favorite tunes, place the key in the ignition and head home.
P.S. In fifty years I have skied at Mt. Cranmore, Attitash, Wildcat, and Loon Mountain, but the best of the best has always been Bretton Woods with its friendly staff, beautiful and friendly lodge, and friendly and forgiving trails. The BEST!
P.P.S. I could tell about all of the different places that I have stayed in North Conway, but after all of these years, there is only ONE that I go back to time after time because it is simply beautiful. Tucked in the woods and overlooking Mount Washington with the BEST food in the area you’ll find the Stonehurst Manor (and yes, it’s dog friendly as well). If you go, tell Heidi I said hello and give Samantha the Rottie a pat on the head for me.
It happens DAILY. We waste an hour and a half just PREPPING for our workout, only to get to the gym and have to wait in line for the equipment.
Here’s the deal, you and I both know that exercise should be a regular part of our daily lives. This practice alone provides an enormous amount of benefits to virtually every facet of not only our bodies but also our quality of life in general. It gets our day off on the right foot, keeps us healthy, and has become an important part our of life.
But, with all that we have to do during the day, the idea of cramming literally anything else into our daily schedules seems out of the question. Especially WASTING all of that time just getting their.
I am going to propose a solution that serves as a middle ground between knowing that we should exercise and the time wasted: working out in your own home. Fitting in an exercise routine at home comes with a lot of good benefits. Here are 3 examples of how this routine can finally provide you with a way to manage the craziness of day-to-day life, while also keeping your body healthy and fit.
As you can see with my own schedule, when it comes to going to the gym, there always seems to be a lot time required in the process besides the actual workout (not to mention the REVERSE on the way home). For most of us, the commute to and from the local gym can often take longer than the actual workout! This is especially true if you are in the habit of working out just before (or even after) work. That morning rush hour really sucks.
I know for me, that this fact alone keeps me from even attempting to establish a fitness routine. Time, especially in our world today, is such a precious commodity. The last thing most of us can afford is to dedicate several hours of our day to workout for, at most, an hour (cough, cough…okay, half an hour).
Working out at home is the best solution to this issue. There is no extra time involved (you’re going home anyway), and you’ll have no time spent waiting for a piece of equipment or rushing to make it to a group exercise class on time. When home is your gym, everything you need is already right there waiting for you any time you are ready!
 While having access to the large array of equipment included in most commercial gyms is great, it is certainly not a necessity required to get an effective workout in. Even without buying a single piece of equipment, you can easily get the job done. I know, because secretly I have been doing a LOT of this for a LONG time….right at home
Your body alone is capable of doing a ton of things. One of these things is serving as your own personal set of weights. You are probably already aware of the usual bodyweight exercises such as push-ups, squats, and burpees. These simple movements alone can whip you into shape in no time. However, there are many more creative exercises you can literally perform in your living room and around your ow neighborhood using alone your body.
Even if you decide some equipment is required, the price you will pay for a few items such as resistance bands, a jump rope or even a couple of kettlebells will still cost you less than a one-month membership at most gyms, and save you so that you can play more golf.
Whether you decide to build a fitness routine around bodyweight exercises alone or pick up a few extra pieces of equipment, working out at home certainly saves money in the long run!
 Two common factors that keep a lot of people out of the gym are the annoying gym rats that hog the equipment while they incessantly check social media and the feeling that other people in the building are judging them. You know who I’m talking about, the mirror mavens, the loud grunters, and the ones who simply stand next to the equipment and flex
By making your home the gym, it solves both of these annoyances right off the bat. At home, you are able to enjoy a focused workout in which challenging your body and improving your physical fitness are your #1 priority and not worrying about that guy in the corner who’s a PITA.
