Let’s get the bad news out of the way first: We should avoid long or intense outdoor activities today. Wildfire smoke in our region is making it hard and unhealthy to do so.
As we prepare to venture back outside safely again, here’s what we’re getting up to:
Tracking ticks: Experts say we may be in for one of the tickiest tick seasons in years.
Isn’t she lovely? A central Pennsylvania town hosted its first beauty pageant in one hundred years — for cows.
Live view: See what Philly’s air quality is like right now, in maps and charts.
😶🌫️ Your weekend weather outlook: Hot and smoky. Good air quality is not expected to return till Saturday, and it’s expected to rain then, too. Sunday should be mostly sunny.
— Paola Pérez (outdoorsy@inquirer.com)
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I’m sorry for the mildly horrifying photo.
But given that the Northeast is usually hit hardest by ticks — and it’s peak tick season — it’s important to recognize these pesky creatures so we can avoid them at all costs.
Here are some quick anti-tick reminders:
🌾 Cut tall grasses.
🧦 If you must go into dense vegetation, wear long pants and closed shoes.
🔍 Perform routine checks for ticks on yourself and pets.
Get the rundown on all things ticks.
News worth knowing
Pa. officials advise that all residents limit their time and exertion levels outside Friday due to “very unhealthy” air from Canadian wildfire smoke.
Whether you are planning to go out or stay home, here’s what experts suggest to stay healthy, and here is our live air quality graphic. Look out for updates at Inquirer.com.
An environmental group says Philly stores routinely violate the city’s plastic and paper bag law.
Leaders in New Jersey and Philly are assessing flood damage from recent major storms. They may need federal help — at a bad time.
More Burlington County farmland could be preserved for years to come. Trail improvements are also headed to the county to the tune of $500,000 in funds.
🌳 Your outdoorsy experience
My colleague Michaelle Bond and I recently got to talking about our shared enjoyment of kayaking. Here’s what she told me about the activity:
I love kayaking. And every year, I make at least one trip to the Pine Barrens to paddle on one of the rivers there. I’ve gone in the spring to see the foliage waking up, the summer when everything’s green and lush, and the fall to see the leaves putting on their colorful show. I rent a kayak from the folks at Pinelands Adventures, who drop me off in the river in the morning and pick me up when I reach the end of the route. I spend a few hours on the water, alternating between floating gently and working to navigate obstacles and tight turns. I enjoy the tranquility and relative silence – just the wind in the trees and chirping birds – before getting in my car and heading back home to Philly.
Sounds like total bliss. Thanks for sharing.
📥 Now it’s your turn: Tell me about what you like to do outdoors. We love pictures if you have them. You may see your memories and stories featured in this spot.
🎤 Now we’re passing the microphone to Jason Nark.
TOWANDA, Pa. — Her full name was Cashells Jry Shakira-Red-ET — Shakira to keep it simple — and like her namesake, the big red and white Holstein had 6-foot hips that didn’t lie as she hoofed down Main Street.
Shakira is a showgirl accustomed to winning, one of the few cows that allowed judges to place a floral crown on her head at the Bradford County dairy cow beauty pageant in Towanda on June 20, about 100 years after their last one.
“The most beautiful dairy cow in Bradford County, folks,” said Duane Naugle, Bradford County’s community planner and the day’s emcee.
Bradford County, population 59,600, sits about 175 miles northwest of Philadelphia in North Central Pennsylvania. County officials said they found an old, black-and-white photo of a similar beauty pageant from 1926 in the county courthouse recently.
The purpose of that contest a century ago, organizers said, was to highlight the county’s bustling dairy industry. — Jason Nark
It’s all in Nark’s full feature story. Keep reading on how the pageant’s meaning has changed over the years.
Paola’s picks
👏🏽 A legend: This 91-year-old hiker taking on the Appalachian Trail (again!).
🥵 A doozy: How Philly-area kitchen professionals keep cool in sizzling hot kitchens.
🎣 An activity: Free, family-friendly fishing with Friends at Pier 68 on Saturday.
🌲 A read: The transformation of Centralia, Pennsylvania’s burning ghost town. Nark wrote about it back in 2017.
😎 A song: “Keeping versed and on my feet (If you steal my sunshine).”
A sparkling view
Near the tail end of a recent hike, I took a beat here to enjoy a mango gelati. It was divine.
👋🏽 Take care, Outdoorsy friends.
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