Today was the day that I got 'back on the horse that threw me' so to speak.  I purchased a kicksled last spring, just before the snow began to melt.  My grand-daughters had fun with it on the driveway a few times.  I got out on it only once.  That was the beginning and the end of my winter sledding fun for 2015.

When I purchased the sled, the vendor was great.  He provided me with lots of helpful tips.  Move forward on it like a scooter.  It is flexible so it is easy to turn.  Wear cleats to assist with kicking and braking.  Keep your foot centered on the foot pad.  All good advice but when one actually puts it into practice, one should stay on a trail with gentle sloping hills.  Let's just say that one was not so gentle and it had a curve at the bottom.  It was more challenging than what this greenhorn should have been on.

Whoopee!  I came down that hill like a race car driver.  It's all fun and games until you end up head over heels.  Before I knew what happened I found myself in the underbrush on one side of the trail and the kicksled tipped over on the other side.  Bad move.  That's all I can say in hindsight.  It took months for my bruised shoulder to heal but it is good as new now so I ventured out with the sled this morning.  I wanted to try a new trail and the description for the Hayburger Trail at Elk Island National Park sounded perfect; 12.2km of flat terrain.  My goal was to stay out of the shrubs.

I could not have asked for a better day.  A cloudless sky with plenty of sunshine was overhead.  The wind was minimal and the temperature was perfect; not too warm or too cold.  I packed up and layered up to give kicksledding a second chance.

There was nobody else on the trail today.  It was me and Mother Nature.  The snow conditions were perfect.  The hard packed snow made for easy sledding.

I had to get the hang of kicking and switching feet.  The first hill appeared and it was a gentle one.  I did stop at the top and come up with a plan as to how I was going to bail out if things went sideways like the last time.  I made it to the bottom and remained upright.  Success!

The next hill had a gentle slope as well but it also had a curve at the bottom.  Success again!  I was getting the hang of it.  There were many straight away sections on the trail where I practiced the switch over of kicking legs.  I was totally enjoying the ride.

What a great day it was to 'cruise' through the forest on the sled.  My camera gear was fastened to the seat back so I didn't have to carry it.  I tied a blanket to the seat so I had a nice spot to rest my legs when I wanted a break to take in the surroundings.

It was ironic that before leaving the house today I listened to a radio talk show.  The host was interviewing a life coach who spoke of finding a way to get rid of the 'brain chatter' that everyone experiences.  She said for some it may be tuning out and going to the gym.  For others it may be a bike ride.  For me it is just being outside.

My 'brain chatter' consists of deadlines, phones ringing, crowd noise, distracted drivers and so much more.  When I am outside I leave the chatter behind and focus on the sights, sounds and smells around me.  There is no technology in my pocket and there is no thinking of what is sitting on my desk.  I take the time to stop and watch the chickadees flit from branch to branch.  I listen to their 'cheeseburger' songs.  I watch for animal tracks and try to figure out what else was walking on the trail before me.  I pay attention to the shadows that are cast across the trails as the sun shines through the trees.

My outing was quiet today but for the birds and the breeze.  I stopped on the trail so I was not hearing the crunch of my boots on the snow or the sled runners.  The trees creaked in the wind as they swayed back and forth and a pileated woodpecker called out from a treetop.  

The trail brochure said it should take 3 to 4 hours to hike the loop.  I walked some of it and used the sled for some of it and it took 2.25 hours to get back to the parking lot.  That included numerous stops.

What fun I had today.  There were no wipe outs.  I remained upright and had a very peaceful couple of hours in the fresh air.  I am looking forward to my next outing with the sled.  

There are a number of videos on You Tube about kicksledding.  If you live within the Edmonton, Alberta area, the company that I purchased my sled from also rents them.  The fee is reasonable and would make for a fun outing for anyone that wanted to give it a try.  Check out https://www.facebook.com/KicksledAlberta/?fref=ts or http://www.kicksledalberta.com/