Sports commentary: Time to spring out of winter activities

Last week I was digging through my purse for my keys, as I commonly do, and I had to stop and laugh as I looked at the contents of my bag which included sunglasses, fleece gloves, sun tan lotion and my ski pass.

Only in Montana would I feel it at all necessary to carry such a wide range of things in my bag. However, with the weather changing its mind on a daily basis, I guess I'm prepared for it all. I have been doing my best to remember to still take a coat wherever I go, but my flip flops are already back in action pretty much permanently.

The whole thing feels a little strange, but not as confusing as trying to decide what to do with my free time.

It's been sunny out quite a bit so my friends and I have been feeling the urge to spend more and more time outside. I bought a tennis racket the other day; though I have not used it yet, it made me feel like spring is really here.

Then, on Daylight Savings day a few of my friends and I spent the sunny afternoon on a pedal boat journeying from near the freeway bridge to the state park in Woods Bay past Wayfarers.

We had a great time until the sun went down and we were reminded that winter isn't too far away.

It's been good to see people getting out and getting ready for the spring outdoor activities. There's still been plenty of cloudy, cold and even snowy days, but the worst is behind us. I'm looking forward to all the festivals this spring and all the fun to be had on the lake and river this summer.

It was a fairly gentle winter for us in terms of climate, but the past few months were still tough on people in many other ways. Luckily, the best months in Bigfork are ahead of us.

I think I will take one or two last trips to the mountain and enjoy some spring skiing and say goodbye to winter.

Then it's out with the golf clubs and that new tennis racket of mine.