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Gas prices are up over $3.50 a gallon and that really sucks. Meanwhile, most of us Americans are fatter than pigs on butcherin’ day. On the positive side, maybe that’s a wake up call for us to get off our fat asses and get some well needed exercise. Listening to Howard Stern this week and the misadventures of some of the crew’s trip to Amsterdam, brought up some interesting points…other than the two things Amsterdam is infamous for…drugs and painted ladies. It seems that almost everyone over there ride bikes and they’re all thin people. The Stern crew led by resident grizzly bear, Artie Lange mentioned that everyone stared at them in wonder, due to their portly American, super-sized physiques.

With cholesterol levels up as high as gas prices, maybe it’s time we should all grab a bike and one of them funny looking “turtle-head” helmets and hit the road. The Tour de Kingdom is taking place in the gorgeous Northeast Kingdom of Vermont in June. Seems like a great way to enjoy some scenery, breathe some fresh air and lose a few pounds. I draw the line at fitting up with the spandex biking duds though. Why is that everyone has to dress like a super hero to go for a bike ride? Maybe it’s because THEY CAN. The rest of us (myself included) would look like a trussed up pork sausage in one of those outfits. Jean shorts and a t-shirt should be fine for us locals!

I’ve always enjoyed Oakledge Park which is located along the shores of Lake Champlain in Burlington. With Spring finally here, I decided to take a walk in the park yesterday and noticed a new addition. If you’ve been to Oakledge Park, you’ve probably noticed the remnants of crumbling foundations and brick barbecues on the upper ledges and throughout the area. I always wondered what the origins of those artifacts were. Now, anyone can find out the history of Oakledge Park as there are a number of displays installed throughout the park with photos and diagrams that do a terrific job of presenting the park’s history. Plus, there is also a UVM website with much of the same information that is well worth a look.