Category: Daily Life

A couple weeks ago my friend Brian and I met to carry out phase two of the backpacking plan we started last fall. This time we would start at the East Fork Park office and carry our backpacks to a primitive spot on the backpacking trail. Brian got some lighter equipment at Christmas for this year’s hiking since, unlike last fall’s backpacking trip, he would actually have to carry the pack. Brian’s load weighed in at about 35-40 pounds until he loaded on the 5 pound fire log I asked him to carry. Yes, I …

My life has settled into a calm, if not dull, routine. I’ve gotten into the habit of playing it safe. I probably got a lot of the desire for adventure out of my system back in my Asbury days. You might wonder how much craziness I could get into at a small Christian university nestled in the Bluegrass region of Kentucky. I’ll start by bringing you some of the escapades my buddies and I pulled off in the great outdoors. Many Saturdays were spent at Jessamine Creek Gorge. Walking along the creek, one might easily …

It was the last hour of the last day before Christmas vacation, and I was the last kid standing. It was my turn to tell all my first grade buddies what was coming my way on Christmas day. I felt ready for this now, even though I had some hard acts to follow. Apparently Santa was going to spend a big chunk of his time Christmas morning delivering goods to my little town, mostly to my three best friends. Richard would be rocketing past his pals on a sleek new racing sled in a few …

My friend Brian and I have been talking a lot lately about backpacking. Most of that conversation takes place, though, inside our cushy campsites at East Fork State Park. It’s fun to reminisce about former trips, and even make some vague plans for new ones, especially while sitting in our cozy camper chairs, sipping a Keurig-brewed coffee and munching a plate full of assorted fire-grilled meat products. But who really wants to hoist their entire camp onto their backs, hike for who knows how many miles and mountains, and then set it up every night, …