Frosty Morning

I was up early (for me) to get to Onekama on time for the vendor event. Very frosty morning with thick, tight frost on the car.

It went pretty well for me. Nicely run event.

Afterwards, I wanted to try to get in a hike. So when I went looking (yesterday, online) for a convenient trail on the way home that I haven't hiked recently... surprise. I found a trail I didn't even know existed! And it's been open since at least 2016, maybe earlier.

It's called the Manistee Non-Motorized Trail (not a romantic name, but hey. A trail by any name is still a trail). It has loops for hiking, bicycling, skiing, and snowshoeing. Trailhead is on M-55, 3 miles east of the junction of M-55 and US 31, on the north side of the road.

So I got there at 3:50, and it's the end of November. Not the very shortest days of the year, but getting close. So I wanted to see if I could hike all the trails that are for foot travel.

Because these are groomed for skiing in the winter, they are wide.

This is about the most level, natural surface trail I've ever seen. It was originally purchased by the city for an airport, but then the airport was built elsewhere). But that meant I could walk fast, right?

There is one section that is created for technical mountain bike skills. It has various structures.

Did I get all the loops? I think so. I think I didn't find the east side of the snowshoe loop, but the light was fading, and it wasn't obvious. Most of the intersections were well-marked though. Anyway, I had to return to the car, so I got the full distance.

It measured on my tracker as 4.01 miles in 1 hour and 18 minutes! Not bad.

We've entered the brown season, until it turns white. So pictures aren't really pretty. But I liked the shape of this stump.

And there was one little patch of mushrooms. Maybe honey mushrooms- not sure

I'll have to go back to hike all the loopy bicycle trails another time. There are supposed to be 5.6 miles of those. They are hikeable until they winter groom them for fat bikes. In fact, this is a good time of year to walk them because it's not a season that bikers are out as much. I just make sure I give them the right-of-way when I'm on their trails.

Miles hiked in 2025: 454.6

Manistee Non-Motorized Trail. All hike/ski/snowshoe loops. 4.0 miles

See Dumaw Nature Preserve

Done Before Noon!

  Cathy hustled me along this morning, and we completed a hike on the North Country Trail and were home before noon. If you know me, that's pretty amazing. We went to Timber Creek and walked south. Here's that grove of hemlocks in a low area that I love.

There was still frost in some spots. Nifty little spikes on the grass.

This is just some dried stems (maybe peppergrass?), but I liked the contrast with the water behind it.

Tank Creek is flowing! The warmer temperatures are doing their work, although the trail was snow covered and the walking was still difficult. We didn't break any speed records.

And there has to be a blue sky picture. Just has to. I'm such a sucker for these views.

NCT Hike 100 Challenge 2021 is at 82 miles.

North Country Trail, Lake County, Michigan, Timber Creek south to S. Branch Road and back, total of 4 miles

In other news: I've been editing all afternoon.

See Timber Creek South

Crystal Dawn

  What besides a hike can get me out of my pajamas and into layers and boots before 9 in the morning? How about a gorgeous hoarfrost morning?

I don't have a lot to say about these pictures other than to tell you they are all in color. I did not change any of them to grayscale!

Yet, this picture of apple tree branches is the only one where any color shows up.

No one was at work yet at the dentist office next door. I wonder what they would have thought of the crazy lady lying on her belly in the snow to get these shots.

Maybe there is a hint of brown in this one of the Queen Anne's lace.

It was all gone in an hour!

In other news: I edited. I had a meeting. I walked to the Post Office (to mail my sales tax check- trying to be responsible about business paperwork) in 40 degree weather under blue skies!

See Frost and Sun

Frilly Frost

 
I think this is the best picture I've ever taken of frost patterns. This was the situation on the car when I left for Cadillac.



In other news: I did quite well at the vendor event today. That helps! However, for some reason I couldn't sleep last night and so although I was fine all day, now I'm crashing. See you tomorrow.

	See Frost Flowers
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Along the Way

 
It was a good day to travel. Very cold this morning, but the roads were fine. I left just at sunrise and the sky coughed up a sun pillar. It actually got a lot prettier, but I didn't stop for another picture



The cold made frost patterns form on the windshield.



And then, a tiny rainbow appeared in the ice crystals dancing in the air right in front of me. After I took the picture it was like I drove right through it!



The sun came out mid-day, but it was still frosty.



I arrived safely at Irene's just before dark. We visited a bit, and I have the Women's Health and Wellness show tomorrow. So after that, we'll work harder at having a good time.

My back doesn't tolerate that many hours in the car quite as well as it used to, but no real complaints. And I'm here safe and sound.

	See Packed
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Spirit of the Woods Hike - January 2019

 
Today was the monthly Spirit of the Woods hike, and we had 13 hikers! Since it was out and back, people could choose their own distance. About half turned around to do a five mile hike, but some of us stuck with it and did the full eight miles. This is at the bridge over Jenks Creek.



The fog was still lurking in some places. I liked the way it looked at one of the two-track crossings.



We walked through Sterling Marsh, where I hiked with Cathy last fall.



This sign about wetlands is posted near the marsh, but I don't think I've showed it on the blog before. Our youngest hiker, Sophie (not the dog Sophie of course!) says she's going to try for the Hike 100 Challenge this year.



And I have to show you the sunrise again. The foggy frost was really cool.



After hiking, six of us went out to get something to eat and visit. That was fun because three of those people are always way out front and I don't get to talk with them very much.

Hike 100 2019: 8 miles

In other news: I did a little bit of bookwork and made split pea soup.

North Country Trail, 76th St to 96th St and back, Lake County, Michigan

	See Spirit of the Woods Hike- Dec 2018 See Sterling Marsh with Cathy
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Hot Blue

 
I thought maybe the subtitle would be "There and Back Again," but I never went back again. The morning started with delivering my car to have some work done and walking home. It was still frosty in the shade.



But then the repair place called. Their parts supplier had sent the wrong thing! So they are keeping the car till tomorrow. Then I'll go back.

Meanwhile, I was looking for pictures to bring home. Somehow the sky looked like a hot blue to me. Does that even make sense? It was a strong, glowing blue.



The strong light made all the colors intense.



I loved the depth and shadows of this asparagus field through the trees.



That's about it!

In other news: I'm formatting the trail guide for the Midland to Mackinac Trail, and finished reading a book.

	See Frost Shadow
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Frost Flowers

 
Not to be confused with frostweed, these ephemeral beauties appeared on my windshield the other morning. I know they weren't from today, but I wanted to share them.



The outside word of the day was wind. It blew strong and cold all night long. I thought today the new front (warmer) would be here and it would stop. The sun was shining, but that cold wind continued to blow all day and it was rather miserable out, despite looking so cheerful.

In other news: I wrote two chapters in The ABZ Affair. My goal was three, but I also had to write my monthly newspaper column. My brain seems to sort of self-destruct after about 3000 words, most days, so I don't think another chapter will happen yet tonight.

	See Frostweed See Frosty
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Frost Shadow

 
This actually happened Sunday morning. The past two days it has been raining as the sun came up.

When I first looked outside that day there was frost completely covering the ground. Not enough to make the trees white, but all the grass. As the sun came up, that began to melt. However, in the lee of this apple tree the heat wasn't strong enough to melt the frost at the same rate. Result... frost shadow.



Although the crystals weren't long, they did make some nice sparkling edges on the blades of grass.





In other news: I have worked super hard the past few days and have the first run-through editing of DMS Druggist done. Now I need to let it simmer while the heavy-duty work days thru Friday night take over. Then I'll go through it one more time, and then do the formatting. I thought I wasn't going to get it done on time, but I ended up not having to work a couple of hours this morning and that was just what I needed.

	See Fog Frost
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