Steam rose from the pavement, the short summer shower doing nothing to quell the intense heat in the air. I rode out of town, each pedal stroke pushing out bits of frustration and doubt that had been plaguing me for days. Every part of me was grateful to be on a bike---my legs felt strong, …
Happiness.
I’m having one of those days when I am so unbelievably happy that I am smiling to myself for no reason whatsoever. So happy I want to laugh out loud, even though nothing is that funny. So happy I want to dance, just because. I am satisfied with the present, content to be right where …
Going places on bicycles.
I woke up with a smile, still basking in the happiness of my college graduation the night before, and excitedly anticipating what the weekend would bring. My first bike touring trip. After a breakfast of salmon and cheese on rolls and chocolate chip muffins, and the gathering and packing of gear, we were off. The …
New things.
Today is a special day. This morning, I took my last final exam of my undergraduate career. I am now officially done with my degree, a task I've been working on for the past 5 years. Though I took some time off over that period of time, it was always in the back of my …
To the nth degree.
I've been trying to come up with a good name for this blog for a while. The first, "Human Nature," came to me one day last fall, when I first started the site. My thought was, I write a lot about being outside, in the woods, in nature...but I also write about life, about being …
The Hyner.
I stared up at the shadowy silhouette of the mountain looming against the clouded sky. My anticipation grew. I'm going to run up that? And then another 12 miles, up two more mountains, after running up that? I must be insane. And can I really do this? I was going to find out. It was …
Where not to be in a thunderstorm.
I guess I had asked for it. I said a storm might be nice. Really, all I wanted was some rain to cool me off a little. It was one of the first warmer days of the spring, and my body was rebelling against the drastic change in temperature as I sweated my way up …
Canoe trippin’
I threw my drybags, PFD, and assorted other paddling and camping gear in my car just as a hint of light was beginning to illuminate the sky that Saturday morning. Soon, I was on Rt. 80, cruising east. I was bound for the Delaware River, where I was meeting up with a group of canoeists …
Wet, muddy, happy.
Trading a warm bed on a lazy Sunday morning for the promise of legs burning with exertion in wet 45-degree weather, I stand, slightly chilly, in the parking lot as the rain comes down and he gathers the last of the gear. Riding to the lake, in slightly-nervous anticipation, raindrops pattering on the windshield that …
A return to the love of mountain biking.
As a preteen to young teenager (about ages 11-14), I went through an intense mountain biking phase. I biked nearly every day, having fun pushing myself to get better and better. I got into racing for a while, which resulted in several medals that are still hanging somewhere in my old room at my parents …
helena kotala 