Hiking in Hemlock Lace

 
Today was the monthly Spirit of the Woods hike. Eleven enthusiastic hikers and a beautiful day! Not much sun, but some fresh snow, no wind and not too cold. We did 3.5 miles on the North Country Trail.

This is a section I sometimes drive to just for a quick hike because it's pretty and not too far away from home. You've seen it before, at Wimpy Dog and Porky Paws, for one example.

The lineup!



This little creek has no name I am aware of, but it's one of the prettiest features of this section. The creek is lined with hemlocks (where I've found Hemlock Polypore).



Even the hemlock roots are attractive.



The bridge was icy and required some careful navigation, but everyone made it across safely.



Of course, the creek flows to my old favorite, the Pere Marquette River.



My current total for the NCT Hike 100 Challenge is up to 12.5 miles. Not much, but I'm not worried. I haven't made any effort beyond the chapter hikes at this point.

Great day! Napped in the afternoon (not much sleep between work and hike), and am headed back to bed very soon.

Upper Branch Bridge to 40th St, Lake County, MI

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Helical

 
One of the interesting things I saw last Saturday on my walk was this white pine that has died and all the bark is stripped off. The wood has grown in a helix. I've seen this before, but this time I wondered why bad enough to go hunting for answers.

First of all, a helix is a smooth curve in three dimensional space. I like this animation from Wikipedia, which apparently won't display in blogger. So click the link and watch it. It's mesmerizing.

helix

You can see the two sine curves in two dimensions each on the YZ and XZ planes. Project them into XYZ space and there's your helix!

Have you ever watched squirrels chase each other around a tree in that pattern? Fun.

So the bottom line as to why... is... nobody is 100% sure.

It happens as a result of some kind of stress that causes uneven growth. There's some data to suggest that if there are strong prevailing winds, or if one side of the crown gets considerably more light it can occur.

It's NOT true that trees grow one way in the northern hemisphere and the other way in the southern. In fact, quite a few trees spiral one direction for a while and then change directions (so the deeper layers of wood will go the other way). They can even change more than once. Now that is weird! And that doesn't support the prevailing wind or sun theory.

Pinaceae (pine, cedar, fir, hemlock and spruce) are more likely to have the condition than are junipers or redwood. I've seen it on pines and cedar for sure.

If you want to read the best article I found about it, follow the link below to the Gymnosperm Database.

Then again, maybe it's the stress of the squirrel racetracks.

	See Why Do Trees Form Spiral Grain?
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A Lakely Story

 
No, that's not a typo. My story is more than likely, it's true. Out doing cases today, and saw several lakes. I bring you pictures from three of them.

First, here are the Three Sisters sand dunes on the far side of Bass Lake. I have yet to tell you their story. The dots out there are geese walking around on the ice.



Next, I went to a house on a bluff above Lake Michigan. I thought these were going to be my favorite pictures of the day, but nope... stay tuned.



I always love that lonely long view. Calm but cold today.



I passed by Pentwater Lake and Silver Lake without taking a single photo.

Ended up far south of my usual haunts, at Stony Lake. This is just a boring long shot looking up the lake, but it gives you an idea of the shape. It's long and narrow.



But my favorite picture of the day is this one of a white birch with Stony Lake behind it.

	See Three Sisters
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Time for a Project, Eh?

 
You know I can't go forever without getting involved in making something. This time the idea was generated by the fact that I really need a black vest for handbell choir. I HATE black, but it's what we have to wear. O well.

This is the back and I'm just at the row where I'll decrease for the armholes.



I hunted quite a while to find a pattern that at least has a little bit of interest in it.



This is crocheted, in case you can't tell.

	See Those Darn Bunnies! for the last crochet project
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A REALLY New Skill Set

 
I've been given some expanded hours at work to learn to be a backup person in the press room. Here's the press.



Today, I mostly listened and watched, and got to do a little hands on with removing some of the used plates and being a gofer. Enough to get black and magenta and yellow and cyan!

I'm really comfortable working with the guy in charge because I've known him a lot of years. And I've known the other primary guy in there for a few years. Neither of them have any issues with my gender, so there isn't any silliness about that. Thank goodness.

There is a lot to learn and understand, but so far it's very interesting.

They had to reset the machinery because of an "oops" that happened yesterday. The papers were being cut in the middle of a page instead of at the top/bottom. So I got to watch them work on those adjustments.

This press can print up to 24 pages at one time.

I won't be back there for a week. Hope I don't forget everything I learned today. Then the next day, I'll be doing some cleaning of the machine. That's a good way to get acquainted with big toys.

	See I'm Flying
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