SELF-PROPELLED

Seeking Serenity The Case for Self-Propelled Leisure }}

JUDY PAUL, WRITER-AT-LARGE

The lake is like glass and with each kayak stroke I feel like I’m flying. Sunlight shimmers on the water like diamonds. Gliding up to a loon, I am close enough to see its white necklace before it slips below the surface. As I paddle around the smooth, rocky islands I feel a deep connection to the elements.

I fell in love with canoeing, cross-country skiing and wilderness tripping as a teenager. Drawn to the chal lenge and exhilaration of moving through the natural environment without using gasoline or batteries, I made these activities part of my life. Now, over 40 years later, they seem more important than ever as our well-being and that of the planet hinge on a slower life style more attuned to nature. On past outings I’ve caught a glimpse of a moose on the shore, and watched an osprey feeding its young.

Research tells us that exercise and con necting to nature are essential to our physical and mental health. Nick Cavill of the University of Oxford’s department of public health points out that moving around is what we were made to do. We are essentially huntergatherers, designed to be physically active all day long, outdoors rather than inside. Moving our bodies in the natural environment helps us to stave off heart disease, strokes, cancer and diabetes. It can keep blood pressure steady, improve sleep, stabilize our weight, overcome anxiety and boost self-esteem.

Travelling on foot can also slow down the mind. As wilderness writer Edward Abbey reminds us, “Life is already too short to waste on speed … Walking makes the world much bigger and therefore more interesting. You have time to observe the details.” Hearing bird song, noticing animal tracks, being surround ed by the silence of the snowy woods: the experiences that feed our souls require a slower, quieter pace.

Many self-propelled leisure pursuits are easy to do with a little investment in acquiring skills and equipment. Hiking boots, a small daypack and some binoculars will get you started hiking and bird watching. While you can paddle a canoe or cross-country ski the first time on your own, some initial instruction will give you greater enjoyment and confidence. In Haliburton County, Yours Outdoors provides instruction and guided experiences to introduce you to a range of recreational activities. Kawartha Lakes residents looking for something new to do should consider that every

The lake is like glass and with each kayak stroke I feel like I’m flying. Sunlight shimmers on the water like diamonds.

CONT’D ON PAGE 24

READER SPOTLIGHT Courtesy of Kawartha Lakes Public Library

MPP LAURIE SCOTT

HISTORY OF KINMOUNT FAIR - By Guy Scott Like all of you, I’m adapting to daily life in a global pandemic. As a cabinet minister, I’m reading volumes of content on new regulations, legislation and emergency orders. Put through a literary lens, it’s somewhere between The History of Kinmount and the soon-to-bepublished History of Kinmount Fair, celebrating 150 years, and what my niece is writing about; the 109th Battalion during the First World War, where 1,050 local soldiers served Canada, including my grandfather Wallace Scott. The history we are living now, helps shape us as we live through this new war.

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September, the Hike Haliburton Festival runs, offering 100 free, guided hikes and is a great way to explore new trails.

Snowshoeing has surged in popularity in the last few years as people discover how simple it is to get out and experience landscapes transformed by snow and ice. I enjoy the easy rhythm of snowshoeing, but it is the thrill of cross-country skiing that makes me eagerly anticipate winter. One moment I’m gliding over the snow marvel ling at the delicate patterns of ice on a stream and the next I’m zooming down a hill with the wind in my face. Returning to the warming hut at the end of my ski I sit by the fire thankful for the snow and the volunteers who maintain the trails of my local Nordic ski club.

Spring’s warmer weather brings opportunities for other self-propelled activities. Avid cyclist Art Hornibrook is president of the Kawartha Cycling Club. For him, cycling is a way to keep fit and meet people. He cycles indoors during the winter, but much prefers riding outside, enjoying nature and observing the details of his surroundings. Hornibrook is one of the club’s des ignated ride leaders, who take responsibility for organizing a group ride. The quiet roads and trails of Kawartha Lakes offer excellent cycling routes. He describes feeling “a rush” after completing a few hours of cycling; when he’s part of a group, “it feels good when everyone has had a good ride.”

The Kawartha Cycling Club also works with the City of Kawartha Lakes on active transportation planning, advocating for better trail systems. Each year the club holds the Kawartha Lakes Classic Cycling Tour, bringing people together for a healthy challenge and raising funds for A Place Called Home.

Whether I’m hiking, cycling, paddling or skiing, my senses are heightened; I’m energized by the physical effort and I feel content. Engaging in self-propelled leisure has never failed to provide an entry to beautiful places, enjoyment and adventure.

The recent pandemic has forced us to reflect on our most cherished values and the kind of society we want. Recreational activities that deepen our connection to nature, enhance our health and leave little impact on the environment are part of a future in which the good life doesn’t cost the earth.

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