Everybody loves taking a vacation. It's that special time of the year void of routines, staff meetings, alarm clocks, and deadlines. It's traveling off to places where drudgery is left behind, and stress melts away like fat grams on a treadmill.

For many, the planning stages for these family migrations take root right after the Christmas gifts are returned. Spring thaw is the sign to have those suitcases aired out and assigned for packing. Another annual exodus will soon be under way for the Carolina beaches. Others head back to America's camp grounds in the ole family camper. And like the swallows of San Juan Capistrano, some families return to the same condo year after year.

Then there are couples like Lee Ann and Dennis Blevins who are content with simple, low-key vacations like kayaking down the New River, or rappelling over the side of the New River Bridge on Bridge Day.

Before they became involved with travel and vacations together, they attended the old Ceredo Kenova High School where Lee Ann was involved with being a cheerleader and flag corps member. Dennis was busy with football, pole-vaulting, playing trumpet with the CK Dixieland Band and being restricted from driving on campus after burning figure eights in the parking lot with his 1968 Nova.

The true reason that drew this couple together may never be known, but Dennis swears that it was Lee Ann's colorful fingernails that first got his attention.

"It's no wonder she ended up as an elementary art teacher," he said. "In high school, she painted weird geometric designs on her fingernails. I especially remember beach scenes, polka dots and burning flames painted on each one of her nails."

After Lee Ann graduated from Marshall, and Dennis finished his classes at the Vo Tech Center, they were married in Pearisburg, Va. After a honeymoon at Virginia Beach, Lee Ann found work as an educator, and Dennis began repairing office machines.

One of the milder activities this couple shares is their love of bicycle rides and races. For eight years they have been riding bicycles together. Their garage contains over a half dozen bikes, each designed for a special purpose. They have completed the annual bike ride from Portsmouth, Ohio to Columbus on their tandem bicycle. They have also traveled to Columbus, Indiana for the annual three-day tandem bike marathon. When they decide to eat out, they often ride their bikes from Kenova to Pullman Square for dinner. Dennis says it solves the parking problem.

Their involvement with bicycles began when the motorcycle they were riding collided with a car backing out of a driveway.

"The driver just didn't see us," said Dennis. "And when he did, that's about the time he hit the both of us. Lee Ann broke her right ankle, and left hip, she can still activate a medal detector because of the screws in her hip. I was lucky with only stiffness, cuts and bruises."

Dennis has had a love of motorcycles ever since the eighth grade, especially cross country bikes. The kind that jump, and fly through the air; a sport in which he has won many awards.

"Between his skate boarding and motor cross awards, we have enough marble bases from trophies to cover the entire kitchen floor," said Lee Ann. "I suppose that's what attracted me to him, was his love of the outdoors."

What she didn't know was just how much this guy really loved the outdoors. Besides hiking the trails together at Carter Caves, Beech Fork, Grayson, and Greenbo Lake, they have also climbed Mt. Fuji in Japan -- a vacation they will always remember as being quite special.

Another summer found them in the United Kingdom, where they went hot air ballooning over Wales. A few years later they were snorkeling along the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and feeding animals at the near by Taronga Zoo.

Another love they share together is kayaking. Doesn't matter if it's Beech Fork Lake, the Ohio River, or West Virginia's famous whitewater, they simply love the sport. Some of the other places they have gone kayaking are Yellowstone Lake in Wyoming, Mexico, and even Italy.

"We try to not live the same day twice," said Dennis. "I'm quite fortunate to have a wonderful wife who shares my love of travel and the outdoors. While we do share many activities, we always place a great deal of emphasis on proper equipment, safety precautions, and correct procedures that are involved with each sport. The motorcycle accident we had a few years back would have been fatal for Lee Ann, if she were not wearing a helmet. We do not even ride bicycles without helmets and bright-colored clothing."

When Dennis isn't racing his old sport cars, or flying model airplanes, they still find time to volunteer teaching a safety course on rappelling at Shawnee State College. They have also helped with the annual triathlon at Beech Fork Lake.

So there you have it. A middle-aged couple still staying active, staying away from junk food, and singing the praises of using safety equipment -- regardless of the sport you choose. Even if some locations are nicer than others.

Clyde Beal is a freelance writer always looking for stories of interest. Write him at archie350@frontier.net.

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Dennis and Lee Ann Blevins