Labor Day weekend isn’t really Labor Day weekend unless you spend it camping. Take my word on this one. To be in the middle of the woods, surrounded by trees and wildlife, and getting away from all the huss and fuss of everyday life is an experience like no other. Fishing for relaxation and off-roading for the thrill has made me realize that dust can actually be quite palatable. Here are four sensations a mouth of dirt can be:

1. Stimulating.

Hopping on an ATV can be a bit intimidating when one hasn’t been on one in years. Being in complete control of a toy that could potentially crush you is not a pleasant thought. The fact that one wrong move could result in unforgiving consequences can cause you to be quite timid. Especially when you’re responsible for another passenger. However, somewhere along the trail, chasing the tail end of another ATV, swallowing endless amounts of dirt, you find the nerve to let loose and live for the thrill. The speed of the motorized vehicle and the beat of your heart accelerate at the same time – a race like no other. Rather than worrying about the risks, you find the courage to be daring. Adrenaline takes over your body and fills your veins with a rush so powerful, it’s impossible to stop a smile from spreading across your face.

2. Refreshing.

Camping allows one to unplug from the rest of the world. Having no service gives you the greatest opportunity to ignore everything else and live in the moment. Rather than stressing about deadlines and obsessing over drama, the woods allow you to do activities simply out of enjoyment. You don’t have to worry about what other people are doing, what other people are thinking, what other people are saying. All that matters is what you are doing, what you are thinking, what you are saying. Or rather, what you’re not saying. You’re granted access to total peace and serenity, listening to nothing but the breeze flowing through the trees and the birds singing their morning song. The sound of the river water’s steady flow provides an exit for unwanted thoughts to escape your conscious. There’s no sense in stressing or worrying because, in the woods, time does not exist.

3. Enriching.

It’s impossible for one to not grow closer to their companions in the middle of nowhere. You form incredible bonds that only get stronger. When you’re part of a dust train, your trust is poured into the person leading the pack. You allow yourself to let someone else make decisions for you. You trust that they would never lead you into something dangerous because you believe that they would never do anything to put your well-being at risk. If you’re the passenger, you put your faith into the driver, trusting that they know what they’re doing. Then, once the dust train reaches a halt at the top of a mountain, the feelings you experience are unreal. Once your eyes are freed from your dirt covered glasses, you are granted an impeccable view. Beautiful green treetops that go on for miles and miles, eventually meeting up with a vibrant blue sky. Such a breathtaking panorama generates a one-of-a-kind bond that you will share with your companions for eternity.

4. Invigorating.

The woods are filled with beautiful, tall, sturdy pine trees. They provide oxygen for your lungs and strength for you heart. Life throws curve balls that hit harder than bearable. But when you’re climbing the hillside, dirt flying everywhere, and you see that beautiful blue sky peeking through the branches, you’re able to look at things differently. You realize that those pine trees are you. They stand tall through the hazardous winds, the flooding rains, the blizzarding snow falls, and the wicked lighting storms – all things fighting to tear them down. Their pine needles take steady hold on their branches and hang on. Their roots are planted firmly in the ground and refuse to let anything bring them down. Just like the admirable pine tree, you are reminded of the strength you forget to give yourself credit for.

So with all that being said, although dirt can be an intrusive sort of taste, it turns out to be an acquired tang in the end.