by Shane O’Handley
The good weather has returned to us, the stubborn winter is behind and it’s time to recharge our personal solar batteries. It might be a little too early to set your blanket on the grass to soak up vitamin D and that catch-22 UV, but a little fresh air can really do some good after stuffy winter living. Taking advantage of this weather can be as easy as that short walk to the store or work, but the air is a little fresher in the country. Besides the benefit of a little exercise, there’s a sense of relief you can feel getting away from the ever present noise in our lives. Our days are filled with the sounds of radios, televisions, computer fans and refrigerators. And although we don’t acknowledge this daily background noise, its absence can be enough to make you comment “it’s so quiet out here”.
There are many places and parks to pick from if planning a walk outside this spring. One I’ll advertise is Dalem Lake Provincial Park off the St. James road on Boularderie Island. The small, almost perfectly circular fresh water lake has a 1km walking trail and a small sandy beach. Licensed trout fishing is also permitted in the park and has been a favorite of locals for years. It’s a good spot if you only have an hour or two to enjoy some time outside, and by early summer the beach is filled with young families. But finding a good place to hike on Cape Breton Island isn’t that hard, pick any road to drive down, and if you keep going long enough, you’ll at least find the beach.
