Josh Daugherty’s desire to connect to nature is palpable. He’ll do anything possible to immerse himself in a rainstorm, wade into a river, throw a frisbee barefoot and all along remind us that ego is the enemy. He also might be skinny dipping in that lake so – fair warning.

He’ll also build a thriving outdoor community out of nothing by aiming his frisbee at the light pole on your corner. Frisbee golf, or disc golf for the purists, is just one of the ways we can, in Josh’s words, “create a greater connection to the planet and to each other.”

He’s a mountain man – forest bather – fly fisherman, hunter and practicer of what he likes to call “vertical yoga.” Also known as, rock climbing.

Come along with us on our conversation that covers everything from the need to reduce our ego to the identification of local garlic plants. It’s an inspiring and thought provoking episode with someone who truly proves that a deeper connection to nature provides meaning and happiness.

The 3 x 3 Main Street Challenge: Tom Dick and Hank BBQ Restaurant

We start this time on a main street in south Atlanta in the College Park neighborhood at a local BBQ restaurant called Tom Dick and Hank BBQ Restaurant. https://tomdickandhank.com/our-story/ They have two locations, one in downtown Atlanta and one at 3807 Main Street, College Park.

3 minutes away is Brenningham Park and the Wayman and Bessie Brady Recreation Center. 30 minutes away is the Silver Comet Trail. It’s a free, paved, non-motorized 60 plus mile trail for bikers, walkers, hikers and horseback riders. It starts in Smyrna Georgia just West of Atlanta and goes all the way to the Georgia/ Alabama border. https://www.silvercometga.com/index.shtml

Youtube video for the Silver Comet Trail. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiN0Hy0mUA8

3 hours away is the Blue Ridge Parkway

Called “America’s favorite drive” this wonderful roadway goes along the spine of the Blue Ridge Mountain chain from the Great Smokey Mountain National Park through North Carolina all the way to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.

The Blue Ridge Parkway was the first national rural parkway to be conceived, designed, and constructed for a leisure-type driving experience. Its varied topography and numerous vista points offer easy public access to spectacular views of central and southern Appalachian rural landscapes and forested mountains. It connects Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.

https://www.blueridgeparkway.org/

https://www.brpfoundation.org/

Where Art Meets Nature

DJ Shark and I breakdown the wonderful storytelling and rich images of Lucinda Williams’ song, Lake Charles, from her astonishing Grammy award winning album, Car Wheels on a Gravel Road.

There’s No Planet B

For inspiration and resources on one of the great outdoor activities and how to do it in a responsible way look no further than Fly Fisher’s International.

https://flyfishersinternational.org/