Michigan Vacation 3

Just like last year we made a trip south to Clare for some tasty pastries at Cops and Doughnuts.  Ellen didn't hesitate to enjoy the sugar.  Our good weather continued and it warmed up later in the week, making swimming in the lake more enjoyable.  More fish were caught, I got in another mountain bike ride, and there was plenty of chasing after the kids.

Doughnut time.

 Which is bigger... hanging basket or

the bike seat?

I spy an Ellen.

Someone forgot their pedal.

 I'm being watched.

Not so much a tan line, more a sand line.

  I thought it said $6k... I was ready to buy.

 Thanks for the fun MMCC trail and Karate Monkey.

After another summer trip to the cottage I wonder where we will go next year.  I guess we'll have to take requests from both kids when the question of "where do you want to go on vacation?" is asked again.

Michigan Vacation 2

It's nice to be on vacation.  We've spent time flying a kite over Lake Huron, hiking around sand dunes along the Au Sable River, and jumping off the dock at our cottage.  Never a cloudy sky so far.

Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron.

Lumberman's Monument, Huron-Manistee National Forests.

Budd Lake, Harrison, MI..

I made it back to the MMCC for another ride.

Parked amongst registering students.

Slow riding past the camera.

There's fungus among us.

 Sandy puddle ahead!

 British Soldiers Lichen on a stump along the trail.

 The "powerline climb" of the trail.

Michigan Vacation!

Back in the spring we asked Daniel where he would like to go for vacation.  Without much hesitation he said, "the cottage!"  KT and I agreed, remembering the good times we had last year on Budd Lake in Harrison, MI.

A major goal for this year's trip was for Daniel to catch a fish.  Without much delay, we headed to the boat dock upon arrival.

KT and Daniel casting away.

Fortunately fish are not very smart, at least not at first.  We soon caught a nice sunfish by simply dropping an un-baited hook into the water.  Subsequent attempts were not as successful so we progressed to banana chunks and finally bait on the hook to catch several more sunfish.

Nice first catch fisherman Daniel!

The temperatures were pretty mild the first part of our week on the lake.  It was mid to upper 70's by day and in the 40's at night.  We still spent plenty of time down by the water.  Tuesday I headed 5 miles south to Mid Michigan Community College for a mountain bike ride.

Forgot bike pump and didn't have presta to schrader

adapter.  Solution... shoot air into CO2 pump head.

It worked!

Last year I really grew to like this ~10 mile course.  It's not flat but rolling, there's plenty of corners and twists, and the occasional sand puddle adds to the interest.

In the woods.

The course was in great shape this year.  From some web reading I'd heard there were some storms resulting in down trees earlier this year.  I saw very little evidence of damage and constantly thought this is a cared for trail.

Plenty of interesting 'shrooms along the trail.

The Karate Monkey was my steed this year.  I knew it would be a perfect match to the course and there were no disappointments in this choice.  Only one gear is needed, though I could've used a smaller cog on this course, and suspension is not necessary here.  The quick handling and agility of the Monkey made for tons of fun.

Banana stop.

KT and the kids went for a hike while I rode.  As we relaxed under a tree near the parking lot a mountain biker car pulled in.  We talked with a retired couple of school teachers who came from nearby to ride.  They also had a really positive review of the course.

Post hike rest break.

This is how retired teachers roll.

 

Less than 10 minutes from our cottage to the trail, there will be more rides this week.

The end.

Knob with Patrick

After being rained out yesterday afternoon, which has not happened very often this year, Patrick and I went to the Knob after work today.  We enjoyed a nice ride.  I asked Patrick of his first memory of the Knob and he said his first visit was about 1995 just after the official opening.  It was interesting to hear his comments about different sections of the course and how they had changed over the years.

Towards the end of the course.

One Way Commute

Set out on an extended morning commute this morning.  After work KT will be in the neighborhood anyhow and pick me up at work, so I added some distance to the ride in.  Once again I was on the road while the sun was rising and enjoyed the brightening sky.

A pastel sky in the morning.

 

The weather forecast called for afternoon rain so the plan to ride in and get a lift home was a good one.  I rode further east before turning north towards work.  The back roads are nice and calm in the morning.  Sure, there's the occasional car that flies by, someone hurrying to work, but these passings are few.  I sure do enjoy the ride in.

Having the road to myself.

Carbon Control

It's been long enough with the Bontrager Big Sweep bars that came stock on my Trek Paragon.  These are abnormal bars with 17 degrees of sweep.  They were awkward at first, I sort of got used to them, and this summer I've come to blame them for the mild wrist pains I've had the past year.

The Big Sweep.

I upgraded to a carbon Bontrager bar with "only" 9 degrees of sweep.  This matches the setup of the Race Face bars on my Karate Monkey which have treated me well.  Now what to do with the boomerang?

An expensive carbon fiber tube and some cheap grips.

Rising Sun on the Commute

Finally made a bike commute happen today.  Though I often think about it, the schedule rarely cooperates.  I set my alarm for 6:15, rolled out of bed at 6:20, and was on the road by 6:30.

Bike was in the garage the night before and pointed out.

On my way out the door I questioned whether or not to bring the digi cam.  I was already carrying two cell phones and some food in my jersey pockets.  Do I really need the camera?  Yes, no, yes, no... yes, may as well in case there is something interesting to shoot.

More than half way to work I realized I never even thought to take a picture.  Why did I bring the camera?  To justify the carrying it along I paused eating a banana, holding it in my mouth, pulled out the camera and snapped four quick pictures towards the rising sun.  Later in the afternoon I had a look at the pictures and was glad I packed the camera!

Eastward on Secrest Road.

Nice morning light.  Cold enough for arm

warmers when I first left home. 

Lovin' the morning commute.