I’ve been out of town and it has been hot in NW Arkansas the past couple weeks. Hot like over 100 degrees hot, which served to put the Saturday Adventure on hold. I have found some good ways to stay active, however. I spent the weekend of July 30 in Lexington, Kentucky for the privilege of seeing my youngest son ordained into the Presbyterian ministry.

He’s an R.U.F. campus minister at the University of Kentucky. It was a proud moment for me and the rest of the family, including my oldest son, who is also an R.U.F. campus minister at Purdue. I enjoyed a nice 4 mile road run with both sons early Monday morning before driving back home.

I drove the Western Kentucky Parkway back to Arkansas. It’s a lovely stretch of highway that ribbons through rugged tree-covered hills and placid rivers in southwest Kentucky. If I can’t hike it, bike it or paddle it, driving through scenery like this is the next best way to enjoy it.

Last weekend, I had my second opportunity to explore the city of Fayetteville on my road bike via the wonderful network of multi-use biking-hiking trails. I made a 17 mile round trip out of it and fortunately got an early start to beat the heat. I started the trail from the parking lot of Lewis and Clark Outfitters near Lake Fayetteville. I pedaled along scenic parks, crossed quiet tree-lined streets near the University of Arkansas and rolled by quaint, trail-side businesses that sell snacks and cold drinks to cyclists, walkers and runners.

I’m ready for the next Saturday Adventure. On the agenda for this fall are some backpacking and kayaking trips to the Buffalo Wilderness area and more cycling, hiking and camping adventures in beautiful NW Arkansas. Stay fit for fun.