Go outside and play: canoeing and field day

I'm teaching motorcycle class this weekend so I won't be out and about, but below are some events for you to try.


FIELD DAY: Take it back to grade school with Creative Loafing's popular Field Day '09. Expect wacky games, lots of sweat and big fun.


CANOE TRIP: This will take team work. Try paddling a 22-foot canoe with nine other people. UNC Charlotte’s Ventures Office will give you an opportunity with a paddling trip 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., June 20. It costs $54.

SERIOUS ROCKCLIMBING: Head out to the National Whitewater Center and see the NC State Games Boulder Climbing Competition & Kayak Competition. Climbing from 2 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. and kayaking from 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. www.ncsports.org/sgmain.php

Coming up:
Charlotte Breezers are organizing a white water rafting trip at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City.

July 25, 2009

$100-160* members or $125-185* non-members.

Price depending on overnight stay.

U don't need legs to bike

I have two friends who have physical disabilities that prevent them from running, but the Charlotte Observer story below shows how they can still stay in shape.

A $10,000 grant is giving people with physical disabilities an opportunity to experience the thrill of mountain biking.

Cornelius-based The Cycle Path has two off-road hand cycles available for riders to borrow. They are free to use, but Cycle Path owner Mark Sullivan is having a hard time finding riders. He bought the bikes hoping they would provide physical activities for injured veterans. So far, Sullivan hasn't had many takers – veterans or civilians – and he wants to change that.

“We don't want them just hanging there and collecting dust,” he said.

Transamerica Reinsurance Co. provided the grant for Cycle Path to buy the bikes, which cost $5,000 each. The bikes have two wheels in the front and one in the back. The arm-powered cycles can be steered with the rider's chest and hands.

Thanks to the Tarheel Trailblazers mountain bike club, hand cyclists can stay in the Cornelius area to use them. The Trailblazers built a mile-long trail at Jetton Park that is wider than typical trails to accommodate the larger bike. There is also an adaptive trail at Southwest District Park.

Several trails at Lake Norman State Park are also wide enough to accommodate the bikes, said Tom Mathews, past president of the Tarheel Trailblazers.


For more information: The Cycle Path, 20900 N. Main St., Cornelius. 704-896-3331.

Gator can't stop Fort Mill kayaker

Neither a broken oar or an alligator could stop Fort Mill's Dion Zucconi from paddling from Rock Hill to North Charleston. It took Zucconi five days and some frayed nerves to complete the trip. He deserves mad credit. I did a kayaking tour of Lake Norman last week. It started at 9 a.m., and by the time it ended at noon, I was more than ready to be on solid ground. I can't imagine five days in one of those.

I mentioned the Rock Hill Herald article about Zucconi last week because I wanted to know what type of outdoor or fitness feat have you always wanted to do. I'm still holding on to my goal of throwing the dogs in the car and hitting the road with a tent and cocktails. What about you?