Miscellaneous

I'll start with my drive to get to a cleaning job this morning. I took Conrad Road where it goes through the tunnel of trees. Link below will lead to other seasons. It's just a favorite local place.

Now we'll back up to some more from the weekend. Jean and I stayed at Tahquamenon Falls State Park. It was everything you would expect at a popular park in the summer. Full, busy, semi-noisy, and almost more wood smoke than was pleasant. But it had a bathroom and didn't cost what a motel or cabin would have. Basically we just used it to crash.

I have a lot of leftover hiking food yet. I ate backpacking meals for most of the weekend. I did allow myself to buy a hot dog and an ear of roasted corn, and a blueberry muffin, but that's it. OK, I had a slice of pizza in the car on the way home but I needed something I could eat in the car. I need to keep making a dent in the leftover trail food! This is one dinner. Cous-cous salad and some mixed fruit. I know this doesn't look like much, but that's the point. A small amount rehydrates and is very filling.

Here's one of the friends I ran into. This is Les. I don't think I've seen him for maybe 15 years! We both belong to the same organization from Ann Arbor days. We had a nice visit. And you can see what a great trail advertisement the new shirt is.

Today I had the cleaning job, answered a lot of correspondence, and tried to chill a bit. I'm really grateful for the cleaning jobs. They require no thought or decisions. I just show up, do the work, receive money, and leave! I can use some of that in my life.

See Conrad Road Tunnel of Trees

Adventures on the Way Home

 
There was one more place I wanted to hike before I left Ann Arbor. It was my favorite hike when I lived there for grad school- partially because it was close to where I lived, and partially because it's a lovely trail. You couldn't do the full loop when I first moved there, but then the city opened Bandemer Park at the north end and opened a closed bridge to the public.

After that you could walk on both sides of the Huron River, and make a loop of about 2.5 miles. At first, some was on sidewalk, but now it's all trail.



I always enjoyed seeing the kayaks, canoes and sculls on the river, but now there's another water sport that is making itself heard. Paddleboards.



The west side of the river is more like urban path. Part of it is paved multi-use, but on the east side, the side I walked with dear little Chips almost every day, is an amazing oasis of natural pathway in the city.



Along the way, I passed the cabin that belongs to The Society of Les Voyageurs. Lots of great memories there. I stopped in and one of the student members was home. So I introduced myself (I'm considered an Alumni member) briefly and got to see some of the repair/remodeling work that has been done in recent years. I've been to some events with this group since I've been blogging, but maybe not at the cabin.

This is also a nostalgic oasis in the city. Since "we" own it, the city has to put up with the Society, but the large Argo Canoe Livery is across the street and next door is a park. We have this prime little corner of real estate, and have had the cabin here for almost 100 years. The city just has to continue to grind their teeth.



I actually lived just a couple of blocks up the street. Here's the house I shared with four other people. My room was the upstairs right window (and the window on the side). It was a small room, but I loved that space. It was a great place for me to spend those grad school years. Close enough to campus and stores to walk, but close enough to the river and trail to not feel like city.



On the way home, I stopped once for ice cream- Espresso Express flavor. Then when I got near home I stopped again to get in a few more miles on the North Country Trail. Just went south from Timber Creek and back, but added 4 miles to my Hike100 total, and the day.



Summer leaves are pretty well developed. Spring wildflowers are gone. But I found half a robin egg.



So I walked 6.5 miles today. The four miles ups my Hike 100 Challenge total to 28 miles.

Tomorrow I need to hunker down and write!

Bandemer Park trails and Argo Nature Area trails loop- 2.5 miles
North Country Trail, Timber Creek south to Wingleton Road and back- 4 miles

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Petoskey Weekend Begun

 
Although the driving was a bit dicey, I arrived last evening at the home of my dear friends Doug and Pam, in Petoskey.



They hosted a winter weekend for a group we are all members of (Society of Les Voyagers), which I joined when I was at the University of Michigan. Lots of lively conversation and laughter around the dinner table.





Evening activities included a campfire



and making music, which you know I love! Pam is a music teacher and just brings musical magic from anyone she is near. We sang and played instruments till we were hoarse and our fingers were tired.



Some of us attended church this morning. The "kids" left to return to Ann Arbor, and I'll be here one more day to enjoy time together. Lots of goodness.

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Cold Magic

 
The weekend was amazing. I'm home safe and sound with a little sore throat and more tired than seems reasonable. I'm going to get lots of sleep tonight and hopefully hold off whatever that might be all about.

The snow stayed on the trees both days, and although the weather stayed cold, we took many outdoor excursions. I skied, snowshoed, and walked, played games, sang songs and ate way too much!

While looking at the thermometer, keep in mind that this is Fahrenheit.








Here, the weather warmed to almost 40 again today, but we are supposed to get snow tonight, so we may get to keep winter. Just south of us, they are saying rain, however. Great weekend, but now I have tons of work to do.

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A Weekend with Friends

I have limited internet access until I get home, but I've just had a wonderful weekend with a group I belong to called The Society of Les Voyageurs. 29 of us gathered at a cabin in northern Michigan for skiing, snowshoeing, campfires, singing and lots of food. I'll just share a couple of pictures today. Perhaps more this week.

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