One year I heard about the Becoming an OutdoorsWoman workshop from
someone who subscribed to the My DNR mailing list. The workshop was a
blast, what with zooming around on four-wheelers, and policemen
letting us fire their guns, including one that they themselves weren't
allowed to practice with very often (we got one shot each), and a
karate club coming in to instruct us on punching out guys who get
fresh. Well, I didn't like that last one very much, because they had
us practice punching and my hands were already getting arthritic. And
I knew more about cast-iron cookware than our cooking instructor. But
I *didn't* know how to bake over a campfire in ironware. I baked a
lot of kettle bread in the following years.

So I subscribed to My DNR, but I haven't yet seen an announcement of
another event I wanted to attend.

But I did see an announcement that amused me:

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Indiana State Parks is celebrating its centennial year in 2016, and
one way it is commemorating the milestone is with the Centennial
Fitness Challenge.

The challenge encourages visitors to walk, run, bike, paddle or swim
at least 25 miles, or ride on horseback 100 miles, by Nov. 30. Those
who do will be entered in a drawing for prizes, including a 2017
Annual Entrance Pass, Outdoor Indiana magazine subscriptions, DNR
camping gift cards and State Park Inns gift certificates.

As a bonus to celebrate the centennial, anyone who completes 100
miles, or 200 miles on horseback, by Nov. 30, will receive a free
Indiana State Parks commemorative centennial coin. Find out More: http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid= ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYwMTI5LjU0NDUzOTAxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MDEyOS41NDQ1MzkwMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2OTgwMDc5JmVtYWlsaWQ9am95YmVlc29uQGNvbWNhc3QubmV0JnVzZXJpZD1qb3liZWVzb25AY29tY2FzdC5uZXQmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSY
mJg==&&&100&&&http://www.in.gov/activecalendar_dnr/EventList.aspx?view=EventDetails&eventidn=8605&information_id=17857&type=&syndicate=syndicate

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That's twenty-five miles total, not twenty-five miles in one sitting.
I guess the challenge for cyclists is getting to the parks. The
nearest state bike trail is near South Bend -- Google Maps says it's
fifty miles each way. I got poohed out driving twenty-three miles to
Nappanee, though the cycling was wonderful. Nappanee is almost devoid
of curbs built across rights-of-way, and the one I did encounter was
hardly an inch high. Every last rider I saw knew how to ride -- and
we smiled and waved to one another. There are lots and lots of places
to go in and near Nappanee, including a superb bike shop. I'd love to
go again, if I could find someone to drive me home afterward.


--
joy beeson at comcast dot net
http://wlweather.net/PAGEJOY/
The above message is a Usenet post.
I don't recall having given anyone permission to use it on a Web site.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)