Well, we can’t say that we haven’t been experiencing some summer weather.

Do you remember not that long ago when we were wishing for summer weather? Well we’ve got it, and it’s time to enjoy!

When I was on one of my morning walks on the path to the access at Frank Hall Park, I encountered quite a bit of wildlife. First I saw a couple of rabbits and then a hawk that had what must have been a blackbird in its talons. The reason that I suspect that is because as it flew away it was being escorted by quite a few other blackbirds that were chirping loudly. I guess I’d call it chirping although they seemed to be scolding the hawk, and I always thought chirping was a happy sound.

The next thing I came upon was a crow that flew across my path carrying a small bullhead which I assumed was going to be breakfast. As I got closer to the access there was a flock of turkey vultures that seem to be there most mornings as I pass by (hopefully not waiting for me). There were also several geese with their little ones in tow close by.

To see all these natural wonders within a couple of minutes in that small area of the lake tells me that there is a lot of wildlife to be observed right here close to home. I have some rabbits hanging out in mine and the neighbor’s backyard, and of course there are the gray squirrels that always seem to enjoy spending a fair amount of time in my garage.

Whatever your outdoors activity of choice, now is the time to take advantage of the nice weather and get out and enjoy. We have an abundance of nice parks in the area that offer everything from basketball and tennis to disc golf. With all the walking trails we have in the area just a nice evening stroll is a great way to get outdoors and get rid if that day to day stress.

Pioneer Park has some nice facilities, and I guess it’s kind of a special place to me because it was one of those places my folks would take me for a little family picnic. We didn’t always do the hot dog thing, sometimes Mom would make cold meat sandwiches and we’d have Van Camps beans and her out-of-this-world potato salad that I loved.

I can still recall the time that I had come home for a short leave before heading overseas.

As a kid, Beaver Lake was one of my favorite places to go fishing and Mom and Dad thought I’d like it if we went to Beaver Lake for a picnic and some shore fishing.

It was in June and I can remember it being cold and windy with an off-and-on-again rain. Mom felt really bad about the weather because, of course, she wanted it to be perfect. I told her it really didn’t matter because we were doing it as a family and it brought back a lot of fond memories of my younger years. I don’t think the fishing was very good but the hot dogs, her famous potato salad and the beans were as good as I ever remembered and the memory of that day is still priceless.

This is just an example of what the outdoors experience is really all about. It is not always about catching fish or winning a game — it’s about being there making memories that will last a lifetime. If you introduce a kid to something as simple as having a picnic and roasting hot dogs on one of the barbecue pits that our parks offer it can make those memories. My boys will from time to time bring up something that we did as a family when they were growing up, and I am sometimes amazed that it made such a lasting impression on them.

Frank Hall Park has a lot to offer with its two small pavilions and there are barbecue pits scattered along the walking path back toward the public access. It also has easy access to fishing and also has a nice fishing pier. I guess you can say the same for quite a few of our area parks.

Bancroft Bay Park has a beautiful setting plus the aforementioned disc golf course, and Edgewater has a fishing pier and pavilions to accommodate any number of people. I have enjoyed some good shore fishing at Edgewater Park over the years and it’s a great way to spend a family outing. Many times when the kids were small, we’d take them there for a little picnic and some fishing. The area offers so many different ways to enjoy a summer evening or a weekend afternoon in the outdoors.

Bicyclists must use common sense

I see that the bike lanes are now in place to test our driving skills.

I have seen plenty of cars, a person on a Rascal and a guy riding a stand-up motorized scooter in my numerous trips on Front Street since the painting was finished but I’ve only seen one bicyclist. One person that I talked to mentioned that the bicyclist that he saw came to a four-way stop but didn’t bother to stop. The car in the opposing lane was attempting a left turn and the bicyclist gave him a verbal scolding and a finger shaking. I may be wrong, but I always thought that a bicyclist had to adhere to the same rules of the road as a person driving a motorized vehicle.

I think that bicycling is great exercise and what a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors but it seems that all the rules of the road for navigating this maze that are published in the paper are for car drivers. The cyclists need to adhere to at least one rule — the common sense rule. You need to remember one thing, even if you are in the right, in a collision between a car and a bike the bike always loses.

Until next time, enjoy a picnic in one of our parks, do a little fish’n and enjoy the great Minnesota outdoors!

Remember our brothers and sisters who are proudly serving our country so that we can keep enjoying the freedoms that we have today.

Dick Herfindahl’s column appears each Sunday in the Tribune.