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» More: Bloomington man's love of cross country keeps him gliding

Clop. Swoosh. Glide. Smile.

Secluded bliss.

It has a nice ring, doesn’t it, especially during this time of year.

I never thought I’d find it, much less adjacent from a Grease Monkey, feet away from one of Bloomington’s busiest thoroughfares.

But that’s where it found me. Or I found it.

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Cross-country skiing is the ultimate in getting away from it all—while getting in a great workout.

For Hoosier-Times writer Carol Kugler, it’s the perfect winter method of staying in shape. It strengthens the gluts, legs, arms and back.

Kugler has enjoyed the sport for years; first on her own and now with her family. And on the first big snowfall of the year, she agreed to take out this first-timer. We headed to one of her favorite spots, the gravel Bloomington Rail Trail. After fastening our special shoes (hiking boots with a latch) into the 5-feet long skis, we headed south down the trail, our backs to traffic, our skis toward isolation. Kugler took off like a pro. I clopped through the snow as if I had boulders in my boots. Think of it as skating, Kugler coached, bend the knees and push off with your poles. And, most importantly, look ahead. This is a view you won’t find in any gym. Trees lining the trail glistened as if freshly coated in pearly paint. Only one sound broke the silent stillness, the swooshing of skipants as we charted a path.

We then followed our tracks back.

It was a smooth ride back, with some minor turbulence. Glide. Glide. Glide. Glide. Fall. Smile. Get up and glide again.

Back on the busy road, the trail behind us, Kugler explained that she and her family ski in various places, including their backyard. That’s the beauty of cross-country skiing—the bliss is wherever you want it to be.

Photos of our trip along with Jean Smith and friends skiing at IU Golf Course