Not Quite, but Quite All Right!

 I didn't quite do a "whole thing" of several things I like. But I did enough, and it was all great.

I started writing my Mason County Press column for this month and realized I did not know enough about access places to the Little Manistee River, and I could not find the info on line. Road trip!

The leaves are coming down; the peak color is past. But the sky was blue, and there is still plenty of lovliness. This is the Little Manistee from Old Grade Campground off of M-37. This is as far upstream as you can paddle from. At that, it's going to be iffy for the first few miles. The water is mostly 5-8" deep.

This was taken from the road bridge at M-37. Love the eelgrass.

I'm not as good at fish ID as with most other wildlife, but I think this is a trout of some kind.

I found the piece of road that I had wanted to take Omer on last week. This is Little Manistee River Road. It's mostly a 2-track, but I love it.

One of the actual Forest Service campgrounds along the river is Bear Track. Here's the view upstream from the landing.

I also discovered today that the parking for 6-Mile Bridge is up and away from the actual bridge. I followed the trail that said "to parking" which seemed mysterious because it was going away from the bridge. There's a nice view at the top of the hill. Yes, the river is down there somewhere.

Enjoy some red maple leaves.

Finally, here is another view from where the river valley gets deeper, near Chicago Boy Rollway.

Oh, the things I didn't quite do? Well, I didn't follow the river all the way from source to mouth. Close. Maybe I'll finish that quest another time. I didn't even get to all the campsites along this portion of the river. I think some of them are not accessible by vehicle, and they also don't have signs as you are paddling (this info comes from two separate sources), so I'm not sure how to locate them accurately, but I tried. I also didn't finish the article. I'll do that in the morning. I wasn't planning for this to take all day, but it's OK. I had a lovely time, learned a lot, and I do need to write an article.

One thing I did do? There was a couple just taking their kayaks out at 6-Mile Bridge. They were going to roadwalk the 4+ miles back to 9-Mile Bridge where their truck was. I gave them a ride. It was already after 4 pm when they started walking.

I only managed to walk 2 miles. Most of what I needed to do was from the car with quick hops out and in. But the FS Campgrounds are already gated, so I had to walk in to those to check things out.

I do love days like this.

Miles hiked in 2024: 511.2

See Leaf Peeping Part 2

Feels Like Fall

 Up until now, it has really seemed like summer with great colors. Today, fall really settled in. The sky was gray and there was a breeze. That fall "nip." Not that it was unpleasant. I walked to town to do all the usual errands. This maple is beautiful.

I know these aren't really primary colors, but they are very complementary with the bright orange, prussian blue, and avocado green.

I tried a recipe for muffins that is supposed to be free of all the things that are bad for you. They are apple oatmeal. Well... they taste just like warm oatmeal with apples mixed in. I'd rather fix the oatmeal and apples. That is a lot less work and mess than these were. Not a keeper.

Some of you will be happy to hear that 726 new words appeared in Vacation from Dead Mule Swamp today. It took me a few days to get back into the flow of the MS, because I didn't make detailed notes for what I had in mind for the upcoming chapters. Then I had to find the research pictures I had taken so that the story could move ahead. It's approaching the crisis of the book where the real crime occurs, and that is going to be tricky to pull off. But, I'm back in the groove.

Also edited, put the repaired table back in place, and did a bit on other projects.

Miles walked in 2024: 509.2

See Mason County Garden Club Program

Mason County Garden Club Program

 There was a good turnout for the trail program at the Mason County Garden Club. The food table was really attractive, and the snacks were yummy.

The general tables were nicely decorated too.

Afterwards, I did two loops around the School Forest, and managed to get 3 miles. I love that there is a real, forested trail right in town, but it doesn't have features of interest or much topography.

I managed to get some editing and stuff done in the morning, but the above took the whole rest of the day.

Miles hiked in 2024: 506.3

Ludington School Forest, 2 full loops, 3.2 miles

See Mason County Flower Show

Table Fix

 This "rustic" drop-leaf work table broke a while back and dumped a load of stuff. What broke was one of the braces that swing out to hold up a leaf.

I managed to ignore the whole mess until last week when I needed to get something out that was stored under the table. Big mess.

This is not a valuable table at all. I don't know how old it is, or where he got it, but it was my Dad's "garden table." He did sll kinds of sorting and potting and whatever on it. It spent a lot of summers outside on the kitchen porch. That brace probably had some dry rot going on. The leaves are warped, and it has been fixed multiple times in very ugly ways that made it functional. I continued the tradition!

It did take me a couple of days to get something to replace the pin that held the bracket. But once I got myself in gear, it was an easy fix.

As an example of how it had been previously fixed, the hinges must have pulled off at some point, and they have been inset and bolted right through the top. I suspect Dad did that.

Still, it's very functional. It's a good size, and it was Dad's. So hey.

Well, you know what a table that is clear is good for, right? Yup, I had a puzzle I'd never yet done. Actually, I have a couple of them, but this seemed a reasonable number of pieces and it would fit on the center part of the table.

I did do a reasonable amount of work before starting this, so I'm not going to apologize for the goofing off!

Chocolate is good for the soul... to eat or to puzzle with.

Tomorrow, I am giving my trail program for the Garden Club.

See Changing the Season

Nordhouse and Bells

 Cathy and I took a hike today at Nordhouse Dunes. I should be spending more time working, but the colors are peak, and the weather is phenomenal. I really can't stay inside. This is the road into the Dunes.

The trails have names now, so we took the Nipissing, Middle, and Algoma Trails for a loop of about 4.4 miles.

This passes Nordhouse Lake which is often completely dry at this time of year. Three years ago in October, it still had water. Not this year!

Loved this line of ferns

And a gnarly oak tree. Looks spooky enough for October, right?

The witch hazel is in full bloom, and the sun made it look great.

There was even one branch with a fruit from last year still attached.

Managed to do some work, hike, do bell practice, get groceries, and go to the hardware store. Starting to get in gear to get back to writing the next mystery.

Here is the second bell choir piece from Sunday, "This is My Father's World." I think it's one of the prettiest pieces we've ever done.



I've made it to tired. Didn't sleep well last night.

Miles hiked in 2024: 503.1

Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness, Nippising, Middle, and Algoma Trails. 4.4 miles

See Nordhouse Dunes Hike