A Rainy Day at Chippewa Pines

Monday, 6/10/2013

We needed a rainy day to catch up with things (blogging), grocery shop, check in with the bike shop, and relax!

Espresso Milano is Vickie's favorite coffee joint in Midland and she spends time her doing computer stuff and drinking fine java. We spent hours here this morning so that I could finally catch up on the last three days of our adventuring, and Vickie could do her computering as well. Gerry was most patient with us!

You who followed last year's trip will remember Len's cats:

Here's Snoopy who often does not leave Len for long

 

True to her name, Princess poses regally

 

Untrue to his name, Tiger keeps a screen between himself and any strange humanoids

Now, back to reading --- and more relaxing.

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SNAPPING TURTLE RESCUE

Sunday 6/10/2013

Shortly after beginning our ride for today there was a turtle slowly crossing in front of me, and had made it to the very middle of the road. I was concerned that it would not make it all the way across without being crushed to its death by a speeding vehicle. First I tried to scoot it along with the front wheel of my bike, but it would not budge. As I saw cars approaching I stood next to the turtle (in the middle of the road) so they would not run over it. Then I thought I might have to pick it up to move it. I put down my bike and leaned over the turtle to help it along and it SNAPPED at me!! And what a large (and dangerous looking) mouth it had, and my how far around it could reach with that long thick neck. Now I didn't know what to do. I was scared of being munched on, so there I stood as Vickie and Gerry approached wondering why in the world I had been standing in the middle of the road in the middle of traffic.

Fortunately (for the turtle), Vickie had just the other night watched a nature adventure show on t.v. and learned that you pick up a snapping turtle by its tail. Once Vickie tossed it into the ditch the snapper scampered at breakneck speed into the water, under the mud and away from human danger. It moved so fast (unlike the road crossing trek) that we could not get a photo of it on its way to safety.

Phew, narrow escape for me and the turtle

Turtle saved (Vernetta would be proud), we moved on to Mt. Pleasant where we would visit Vickie's college alma mater. Along the way my buddies would stop to accommodate my addiction (or is it an obsession) of taking photos of interesting things in the farm yards. Photos I want to share in my blog.

"Funny Farm" with all the comic characters

As I seem to ride through college and university campuses on many of my trips, I have gathered several banner photographs. CMU has no banners hanging, but there is this nice sign.

My "banner" photo of CMU

We ate our packed lunch at the picnic table on campus, rode around to see Vickie's old dorm and a few of her campus haunts, then found our way to "Biggby Coffee" for our tea and crumpet stop. This was our halfway point and we would relax for a bit before tackling the headwinds to home. The tailwinds on the way here made us feel so strong and fast! Now would be payback time. We managed to find a couple more photo ops along the way.

I'd say the well is dry here - in someone's yard

Looks like a small stagecoach, may be a simple wagon to haul stuff around

 

I'd say the well is dry here - in someone's yard

Initially this farm seemed abandoned, but we found signs that someone must come here to use it periodically

Great old back door

This provided good heat in some cold winters.

 

This was a long mileage day and we were each and all happy to see Len's driveway finally come into view. Happily it was pizza night so -- no cooking for anyone.

 

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Chippewa River Float and Bike

Saturday, 6/8/2013

Len's farm sits between Chippewa River and Chippewa River Road. Today we would spend lots of time on the River, and a little time on the Road.

Don't let the abundant rust fool you for although the 1975 Jeep truck looks like it is on its last legs, it starts up with the first turn of the key every time, and runs fine. Ok, maybe it is a little bit of a rough ride, but it sure serves the purpose of transporting the canoe.

Old but reliable

"Rusty" got us to the put-in

Well, I can't drag a canoe and take pictures too...

We, fortunately, were successful in avoiding the poison ivy the Vickie pointed out to us while she was in the midst of it

The river has a gentle current that allows a relaxing three hour float from the put-in back to Len's. Within the first five minutes on the river we had a deer swim across in front of us but I had no time to get my camera out of the plastic bag for a photo.

Vickie steered us down the river and guided us around any rocks and debris, pointing out things of interest and telling us about the "great flood of '86" when some houses experienced river water in their living room, and just about everyone had water come up to their doorstep.

Our guide

Neither Gerry nor I paddled a stroke as the current drifted us along

Recent storm knocked down this tree from shoreside

We pulled in to a quiet spot out of the current to eat our packed lunch and enjoy more sounds of the birds singing for us. We were the only ones on the river until just a little before the end when we passed a gaggle of people with their kayaks and canoes beached on a small sandy island. They were playing, relaxing and having lunch, and we were somewhat glad that they had been far ahead of us and we had the river to ourselves (or so it seemed).

All the other turtles scampered away before we could get close; these stayed for a photo then scampered off

Guides need rest

Once home we had to retrieve the truck. The three of us biked along Chippewa River Road to pick it up, then Gerry and I decided to bike the short ride back while Vickie drove the truck home.

 

A river float and a bike ride - mmm mmm good.

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Saginaw 'n All

Friday, 6/7/2013

It was cloudy, cold and damp on the Lake Huron Coast this morning -- not very inviting for a bike ride around the area. We perused our bike books and decided to try the Saginaw River Valley Trail. It would be a bit of a drive, but also would bring us closer to home. After packing up and giving our lakeside cabin a fine farewell, we went for breakfast at a local cafe down the street then headed west.

There is not much to go to Saginaw for, and entering from the southeast side showed us its worst side. Many homes and most business buildings were abandoned and in very bad repair and there were very few people or cars about. But - as Vickie said -- there was at least this one thing that made visiting Saginaw worthwhile.

Diane M -- these photos are ones I think Billy would enjoy. A creative way to recall some of the past and allow us to get all nostalgic. And here is another one for Billy -- I know it is a dumpster - but what a nice dumpster!

We eventually found the trail that would wind us to the small town of St. Charles. A delightful ride and we were almost the only ones using it on the Friday afternoon.

Entering the trail

Farm buildings along the trail

At the end of the trail we had our lunch at the conveniently placed picnic pavilion and watched the lazy river. It is a mystery to us about this living dead sign as the building has no other sign on it.

Don't know what this is about, but an interesting sign

Got a nice shot of the Rail Trail Bridge and the water falls leading from our picnic spot down to the river, then were ready for a little more riding.

The other end of the trail

Falls lead from our picnic spot to the river

As the trail is somewhat short, be meandered off into the outskirts of town. This is often how many interesting things are discovered, and we were not disappointed on this ramble. The Outdoor Learning Center is part of the Saginaw School District and I wish I knew more about it, like who gets to come here to learn about all these interesting things. Hopefully everybody.

The building was closed so we could not "check in" as all visitors are requested to do. We rode around some of the paved pathways following signs to "survival area"; 'pioneer house"; "old mine"; "challenge course", etc..

Earning 60 -70 cents per ton!!!

Miners rest

Pioneer House

 

Then we took the road to the "Red Barn" to find yet more learning opportunities about farms, farm animals and farm life.

Red Barn serves as a classroom when learning is in session

 

Time to head back on the trail with the delightful wild flowers and tunnel of trees.

Don't know what these are but the line the trail beautifully

Vickie found this along the trail

Vickie & Gerry -- the only riders on the trail

Happy!

Arrived at Hagley's Chippewa Pines to dinner that Len had prepared for us. Quite an unexpected treat. Thank you Len.

 

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Thumb time

Thursday, 6/6/2013

We drove a few hours over to the Thumb of Michigan and to the coast of Lake Huron. We thought we might do some riding but once here we decided to spend time on foot and in the car, exploring some of the Thumb.

Entering the town of Port Austin we came upon the place we would stay the night -- Lake Vista Motel and Cottages.

 

The courtyard outside our cottage

Our cottage on the Lake

Checked in and somewhat unpacked, we strolled around our grounds and out onto the jetty.

Looking back at the shore from the end of the long jetty

Vickie and Gerry fight some wind

Could not resist adding this bike rack photo to my collection

The next driving excursion took us to several small towns on the Lake coast, one of them being Grindstone City. Our main reason to visit this town was to find the beach from Vickie's past that she remembers having lots of flat "grindstones" that she would build "houses" with. Every local person we asked about the location of this beach looked at us as if we were speaking a foreign language, and had no idea what we were talking about. Oh well, we had fun visiting the General store and exploring the little town.

A bit of history: Grindstone City had the largest and finest grindstones, scythestones and honestones in the world, until "carborundum" killed the industry after World War I. In the mid 1800s, sailors that landed on the beach began sharpening their tools on the stone slabs, and there began the idea to shape the stones for honing knives and tools. Quarrying began and it was a huge industry for the town.

 

Grindstone on display by the General Store

 

Some residents use grandstone as pillars for their driveway

We moved on to the town of Harbor Beach and then to Bad Ass Axe where we stopped for a few groceries and some adult beverage for the evening's sunset-watching before heading back to Port Austin.

We were in wonder about the Hygienic Dress League

 

Ending the day, we took a walk along our beach where we skipped stones on the lake and found flat stones to build a house for Vickie (made her happy), took some more photos, had some visits with birds, and said good night to the sun.

Our beach walk from our cottage

Vickie getting a good shot

 

We found out shortly that this mamma Killdeer was squawking at us to protect her baby that was just a little ways from her

 

Swans were feeding in front of our porch

 

Sunset at Lake Huron from our cottage

Good night.

 

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