It would be safe to say that the final few months of 2017 were milder than normal. Sure, we had a few cold mornings, but seldom did the daytime highs remain so low that one was forced to wear a coat throughout the entire day.
Having grown accustomed to the conditions, I had full intentions of spending the first day of 2018 in an outdoor setting. But I was somewhat torn on what to do.
I couldn't think of a better way to kick off the new year than fishing on one of our local reservoirs. It certainly would not have been the first for Sandy and I. And I was confident she would have been more than game to wet a hook.
I was also considering yet another activity, however, that I thought she might find even more enjoyable. Sandy had a brand-new backpack hanging in storage. Although we had full intentions of embarking upon some extended walks into the forest, things just hadn't worked out. Hectic schedules and other responsibilities had stifled our plans time and time again. So New Year's Eve might prove the perfect time to spend an overnighter in the midst of Mother Nature.
But things began to change as 2017 neared its end. Those aforementioned mild daytime highs were dwindling, and the nighttime lows were certainly starting to dip into numbers that were far from tolerable.
My hopes of spending an overnighter under the canopy of a forest really began to dwindle as Christmas neared. It was only days until that much anticipated holiday. And if the extended forecast was remotely accurate, neither of us would even consider spending a night in the woods.
They were talking overnight temperatures in the teens and the daytime highs would not exceed the freezing mark. I had experienced backpacking trips during comparable conditions and there was no way I would even suggest that my wife give it a try.
I'll be the first to say that Sandy is a trooper. And she would have likely agreed to tackle the conditions if I would have shown a serious interest in beginning the new year with a backpacking excursion. And I'm confident the night would have gone without a serious hitch.
But regardless of my wife's ability to overcome just about any obstacle tossed her way, an overnighter was out of the question. I saw no value, nor any potential fun, in hovering around a fire while backsides grew cold. We would eventually resort to the comfort of our sleeping bags where we would remain for the rest of the night. And let's not even consider having to crawl out of our warm bags if overwhelmed by an urge during the wee hours.
But crawling out of our warm sleeping amenities would eventually become inevitable, as we would have to rise on the following morning. And I couldn't think of anything more miserable than putting on a pair of boots that had been soaking in the frigid air throughout the entire night.
And to be honest, a fishing excursion could prove practically as miserable. Although we would benefit from sleeping in the comfort of our own beds, an early morning boat ride would prove most miserable. And comfort would still prove practically impossible to obtain upon reaching our destination as a stiff wind was in the forecast, which would drop the temperature several degrees.
All that in mind, Sandy and I opted to spend this New Year's Eve in the comfort of our own home. In fact, after watching television till the clock struck midnight, we took advantage of a day off and didn't rise till later in the morning.
But that was OK, as we both welcomed the rest. And if the good lord was willing, we would wet a hook and embark upon an extended stay in the wonderful outdoors on another day.
Sports on 01/07/2018