You're bored. I can tell. I can see it in your face.

You say you're missing something -- the proverbial "it" -- and you want to find a way to challenge yourself and your senses, get out and feel like you're doing something. You're in luck.

WickedOutdoorsy.com has already filled the calendar.

It's 7 events designed to, in their words, "test the strength, stamina, and sanity of even the burliest New Englanders." From surfing icy Maine coastal waters to watching a Formula 1 race in Montreal, this list has it all. And, if you're going to do the loop, you're bringing me along. Remember, after all, you read about it here first, right?

“Spring fever is nasty this year,” said Drew Simmons, editor-in-chief of WickedOutdoorsy.com. “It doesn’t need to be warm, just get me out of the house.”

The criteria for the listing was simple -- it measured the ratio of discomfort versus reward and the likelihood that your wife/girlfriend wouldn't go even if you promised her a luxurious spa trip on the way home.

Without any further ado, here's the calendar. You've been warned...

* Surf Maine: The Kennebunk-based Aquaholics Surf Shop offers surf lessons starting April 1 with all the necessary equipment provided. Before you say, “that’s not manly, that’s just crazy,” you should know your instructor will be a woman.

* Ski Tuckerman’s Ravine: The quintessential backcountry skiing and riding spot heats up when warmer temps arrive in New Hampshire. With a variety of seriously steep terrain, the adventure begins with a 3-mile hike from Pinkham Notch, followed by a ton of hiking, just to reach a few minutes of glory. Definitely not for beginners.

* Raft the Dead River: As this winter’s record snow pack turns from white to whitewater, the local whitewater guides at Northern Outdoors in The Forks are expecting the Dead’s legendary rapids to be the biggest in the resort’s 32-season history.

* Blast Vermont turkeys: Home to New England’s most robust turkey population, Vermont will declare open season on these wild birds from May 1-31.

* Hang with 'Larry the Cable Guy': Sitting through Larry’s 2-hour comedy set at the Cumberland County Civic Center will require bravery, strength, and endurance.

* Catch stripers on the fly: Hosted by the Martha’s Vineyard Rod & Gun Club, the annual Fly Rod Striped Bass Catch & Release Tournament is never canceled, forcing eager anglers to fish through rain, wind and bad early season baseball.

* Formula 1 racing in Montreal: F1 fans from all over the world will bring their mullets to Montreal on June 8 to see some of the world’s most talented drivers race for the checkered flag. Oh, and Cuban cigars are legal in Canada.

So, it turns out No. 7 isn't so lucky after all.

It's a little strange to be rifling through the water bottles in the cupboards here at Casa de Barrett -- chucking any of the ones with a little No. 7 inside the familiar, 3-arrowed recycling triangle into the trash can.

Because, after all, there are complications with recycling these trendy little beauties.

It's obviously disturbing that what we thought was doing such a great job -- carrying a water bottle instead of using up hundreds (literally hundreds) of the tiny little bottles of water we buy at the grocery store -- could have been doing more harm than good. I don't know what "polycarbonate" means, but I know now that when it comes to having it holding my water, it's bad news.

I don't want bisphenol-A (a chemical used to make the plastic) getting into my system. Heck, I don't even like sugar getting into it -- and I'm pretty sure I know what that does.

What does all this have to do with the outdoors? Well, Nalgene mass produces the hip little liter-sized bottles that were supposed to help us live more "green," the ones that hiking, biking, skiing and snowshoe enthusiasts were impulse buying at the counters of their favorite outfitters.

But they're no good now, and I shudder to think that if -- even at room temperature, as studies have suggested -- chemicals are transferring into my water, what happens when they end up in a big pile at the town dump?

Can I drink the town water? Can I eat the fish I catch out of the town pond? Heck, can I take my kids swimming in that pond?

So go and rummage through the house for signs of ol' No. 7 -- you'll be doing yourself a favor.

Staff photo by Travis Barrett
BEACHED: Jason Frost of the Skowhegan Fire Department floats in a hole cut in Lake George recently. As part of Lake George Regional Park's annual Winter Carnival, the fire department was putting on a demonstration of cold-water rescue in new cold-resistant waterproof suits.

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