“Lions and Tigers, and Bears! oh my!” – the famous line from The Wizard of Oz came to my mind as I sat down to record this blog. However, in my movie, it was about trout fishing, cherry blossom trees and runners in a 10K Run.

Hundreds of young anglers lined the lake bank of this shore community and anxiously awaited the official start of the Kids Trout Fishing Contest at Spring Lake, New Jersey. “Spring Lake” is named for the fountains of crystal clear water which emanates from a multitude of underground springs. Paths, shady nooks and rock gardens extend through the weeping willow lined shores of the lake and provide a peaceful spot for a quiet evening walk or fun-filled “kids fishing contest” day.

Portable tents housed the weigh-in station and the stand where free hot dogs were given out to the young contest participants. The weighmaster and contest scale was kept busy throughout the morning by trout caught by the young anglers.

Members of the Shark River Surf Anglers fishing club and other volunteers helped to organize and run this annual event. This event for kids is in it’s 18th year!

Supported by funds through generous donations the club was able to supplement the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife’s trout stocking program with additional trout from the Musky Trout Hatchery, Asbury, NJ. Many of these trout weighed in excess of 5 pounds were released into the lake the prior week with the help of many of the young anglers.

Events such as this one and others help to ensure that future generations of anglers will continue to enjoy the sport of fishing by spending time in the great outdoors with there families.

…so what about the “Cherry Blossoms and Runners”?

Who would have thought that in the densely populated Essex County of New Jersey that one could find a public park containing Cherry Blossoms trees which rival or quite possibly even surpass that of Washington DC.

The Essex County Park System boast the Branch Brook Park, which has over 360 acres including vast lawns, playing fields, winding paths and over 4,000 cherry trees. This would also be the site of the the Cherry Blossom 10K Run.

Two of our daughters and a good friend would be joining the thousands of other runners for this event. Proceeds from the race participants registration fees would go to help support Special Olympics. Our three runners and the other race participants picked up their registration packets, number and t-shirt from in front of the Cherry Blossom Welcome Center.

The Cherry Blossom 10K Run course winds its way through Branch Brook Parks cherry tree-lined roadways.

After the runners lined up at the Starting Line and a Blessing was given, the race started with a cannon shot of pink confetti “blossom petals” filling the air and the feet of the thousand or so runners pounding the park pavement.

I could not resist taking a photo of this runner who carried the American Flag throughout the entire race. I would have been happy just to finish. This patriot took it a step further – Make America Great Again!

And eventually “our runners” raced past the strategic location I had staked out 100 yards from the Finish Line.

Well, our trio seems happy now that they have finished the 10K Run and have their medals and bagels in hand and mouth. They might not be quite ready for the Boston Marathon yet, but they will sure be ready for their next adventure in the Discovery Outdoors!

The language arts teacher had invited my science class to participate in a video call with the award winning book author, Ben Mikaelsen, who wrote- Touching Spirit Bear. This got me thinking about a catchy title for my next blog. I briefly thought about calling this blog, “Touching Spirit Turkey”. Instead, I recalled the adventure novel, The Call of the Wild, by Jack London.

The thunderous gobbling call of a “Tom” (mature male) wild turkey is a sound that is a rite of spring- kind of like seeing that first red-breasted Robin or yellow dandelion on the lawn. Except this bearded “gobbler” can weigh twenty-five pounds and with it’s razor sharp, inch-long spurs on it’s heels, can send that robin flying back to where it came from – this Butterball is built to brawl! The gobbling calls are intended to entice a nearby hen turkey for breeding. As a turkey hunter, these calls and the urge to breed can be the “Achilles’ heel” that may lead to the downfall of the otherwise keen-eyed and sharp sensed, hunter wary, “Gobbler”.

My bird hunting outdoor adventures have allowed me to successfully harvest Ring-necked Pheasants, Bobwhite Quail, Ruffed Grouse, Canadian Geese, and ducks of many species. However, the one feathered game bird that has eluded me is the Eastern Wild Turkey. For many mornings, I had been hearing these taunting gobbles outside my bedroom window. Having successfully being selected to receive a coveted first-week NJ turkey hunting permit, made me decide to take this seriously and put an end to this “turkey-less curse”. My “ace in the hole? -New Jersey Fish and Wildlife was going to be conducting a Turkey Hunting Seminar and Calling Clinic at Batsto Historic Village in South Jersey. https://goo.gl/maps/Gu6iALaS1Yx

Driving the Jeep Wrangler from Central New Jersey down to the Batsto Historic Village brought me past acres of blueberry fields and through the “Pine Barrens”. The Pine Barrens are a part of the Atlantic coastal pine barrens eco-region where the legendary, “Jersey Devil” (not the NHL professional ice hockey team) is said to reside. According to New Jersey and Philadelphia folklore, the Jersey Devil is a legendary creature said to inhabit the Pine Barrens of Southern New Jersey. The creature is often described as a flying biped with hooves, but there are many variations. However, on this day, I was not going there to see this Jersey Devil, but rather the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), State Chapter President and turkey hunter speak on the topic of turkey hunting.

Tips and techniques on using the various types of turkey calls to imitate the luring calls of a hen turkey were discussed. Also present at the seminar was the maker of custom turkey calls, Uncle Dickies’s Yelpers, Newton, NJ. There are many types of calls; box calls, push buttons, slates, and diaphragms– all intended to fool a mature “gobbler” into coming within shooting range.

Armed with new found knowledge of the biology and habits of the Eastern Wild Turkey and hunting techniques, tips and advice, I feel better prepared for this upcoming Discovery Outdoors NJ turkey hunting season! Hopefully, I can be successful in harvesting one of these majestic birds like Nina and Dan with their -“doubling up” turkey hunt on the Eastern Shore of Maryland– GOBBLE! GOBBLE!! GOBBLE!!!

No. I am not writing about a new sushi roll at our favorite Japanese restaurant. Although recently, a very dear friend through some divine intervention knew that I had a very rough day at work and was craving sushi. When I arrived home there were not one, but two trays of assorted sushi rolls on the kitchen counter. God works in amazing ways! While on the topic of sushi, my nephew, would often order the inside out sushi rolls when we would dine together at the sushi places. Our family also enjoys making and of course eating our own home rolled sushi. Hmm???, perhaps I see a future posting for, “Rolling Your Own Sushi”.

Getting back on topic, the “outside” I’m referring to here is the world of saltwater fishing and boating. And by “inside”, it was the indoor Saltwater Fishing Expo held at the New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center in Edison, New Jersey. It was a nice way to spend the winter afternoon walking the aisles with other like-minded “stir crazy” anglers. It was an opportunity to gawk at the myriads of the latest fishing tackle and gadgets displayed by fishing tackle manufacturers and vendors.

This inside “outdoor adventure” was spent with my three fishing buddies. On this day they fished in the indoor Trout Pond and together we sampled cheese-filled pickles and venison products. We also hopped aboard many of the latest models of fishing boats, including the Fisherman Magazine’s Dream Boat Challenge Grand Prize – a Steiger Craft boat.

I chatted with SHIMANO Pro-Staff representative, Captain Alan from the sport fishing charter boat, MUSHIN out of Point Pleasant, NJ. He gave me a chance to try out a SHIMANO Stella spinning reel. That is one nice reel!

The guys at the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) booth were very pleasant to chat with and worked tirelessly generating interest with the future generation of anglers with their fishing simulator. RFA is an IRS 501(c)(4) non-profit political action organization. RFA’s mission is: To safeguard the rights of saltwater anglers, protect marine, boat and tackle industry jobs, and ensure the long-term stability of our nation’s fisheries. I renewed my membership and got a free t-shirt while supporting the RFA.

A highlight of the workshops and seminars at the Expo was a presentation by Captain Dave and Captain Paul from the National Geographic reality tuna fishing program, Wicked Tuna. The program is in it’s 8th season and has a strong following of viewers. These captains provided many behind the scenes stories and gave a glimpse of what viewers have to look forward to during the current season broadcasts.

Now that Spring has officially arrived, I’m not sure where my next adventures will bring me- time will tell…

Hello outdoor friends. I’m Ron- born in New York City and living most of my adult life in New Jersey makes one wonder what kind of outdoor adventures can someone enjoy in these densely populated states. As young boys with no money for bus or subway fare, I would ride on the handlebar as my uncle pedaled his bicycle from NYC Chinatown up the Central Park to fish hand lines baited with little bits of bread for sunfish. Time spent with my family boating and fishing at a local lake has lead up to participating in shark fishing tournaments with prize money and calcutta purses worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Even today, watching a cork fishing bobber get pulled under by a 3-ounce panfish to the drag screaming run of a Mako shark generates a thrill that would cause me to anticipate the next tug at the end of a fishing line.

Memories of driving across the country in the family Dodge Dart from New Jersey to the Grand Canyon, Arizona was one my first memorable travel excursions. Since then, with a passport in hand, my outdoor adventures have brought me to experience mingling with elephants in Thailand and seeing day-old Panda cubs at the Giant Panda Breeding & Research Center in Chengdu, China.

The sights and scenery of the tall pines from Acadia National Park, Maine to the cactus and dessert flowers of Joshua Tree National Park has fueled my love for the great outdoors.

Finding enough free time to discover and experience the great outdoors as a husband, father of three children, and working as a science teacher is a valued commodity. Many outdoor experiences take place close to home. The outdoor activities experienced are often within an hour drive of the Jeep Wrangler or even just stepping outside within our own 3-acre piece of property can be an opportunity for “discovery outdoors”.