By Staff
I officially have a new favorite hobby.
Some of you may remember a column I wrote a while back about my snowmobiling experience and ending up in someone's back yard. No crazy stories this time, but I am officially addicted to the outdoor sport.
This is very surprising for me because I absolutely dread cold weather. I cringe when I have to walk to my car in the morning. I warm my car up in 60 degree weather and I'm the type of person who wears socks and a sweatshirt in 80 degree weather, so to see me riding on a sled in zero degree weather going 50-plus miles an hour is a shock even for me. Something about snow and cold weather has never made me jump up and down.
My better half got his first snowmobile a few weeks ago. Let's just say I don't see him very much anymore! He has been out almost every single night since he's had that sled. I don't mind. Hey, he's a guy and they sure do like their toys. Besides, I have just as much fun on it as he does.
I go out with him a few nights during the week and we have a blast. We ride with other friends who have snowmobiles and hit the trails of Cass County. I'm truly amazed at how nice some people are. It's almost like riding a motorcycle. You pass a fellow biker, you give them the hand signal (or wave). The same thing applies for a snowmobile – pass a fellow sledder, give them a wave.
Last weekend, we were with a few of our friends and one's snowmobile blew up. Not literally, but something happened with the engine and it stopped running. We were only sitting on the side of the trail for about five minutes when a huge group of snowmobilers stopped to ask if we needed help. Oddly enough, one of the guys that stopped was the same guy who sold our friend his snowmobile! Let's just say it's getting fixed as we speak.
After they left a few other people stopped, just to make sure we were ok or to see if we needed help. If people on the road could be this nice, the world would definitely be a better place.
I have to give credit to bikers, though. They have to be some of the nicest people on this earth. Yeah, some look big, bad and mean, but strike up a conversation and they are the most down to earth people.
I have met some very nice snowmobilers as well, but some have also been not so nice.
It doesn't really matter to me, I just enjoy riding. People called us nuts last weekend when we were out at night in -20 degree wind chill. It didn't bother me one bit. We all dressed in layers and off we went.
So, believe it or not, I actually am starting to like the snow and cold weather. It's also a great workout! I had muscles sore that I didn't even know existed.
If you ask me, it was a good investment, even though you only get a few months of pleasure out of the year. Hey, at least in the summer I have jet skis – bring on the warm weather! Naw, let the snow stick around for another month.