surviving snow-ma-geddon

No, the attached vehicle with a couple feet of white on top of it is not mine but had some similar snow drifts in my front yard over the holiday during the "snow-ma-geddon/snow cyclone" of 2022. I thankfully have a service to handle the driveway/alley, however, my front facing windows had snow just about up to them with the drifts so the foundation needed a good dig. A snow fence may be in order for me next winter if another such storm makes an appearance.

A gold star to whomever handles the electricity for the area as I didn't even get a service blip during the wacky wind time.

Bring on 2023 Mother Nature.

Trail Head

new Jan Brady for shower #1

The homestead received an update last week for bathroom number one. Out with the yellow liner and shower curtains that brought about mini puddles on the bathroom floor if not clamped down securely and in with marble walls/floors and glass doors. Very happy with the updates they made (I didn't make them; are you serious?)

On to bathtub number two next!

Trail Head

before view

lost in semantics

I was at a local establishment the other day as the snow came down. Whenever the roads ice up, I think of the bumper shagging days of my youth. The k-mart canvas tennis shoes worked quite well in giving the slickness desired as you grabbed your dad's car bumper down the neighborhood street (and probably inhaled some good exhaust in the process). Hiking boots were not so good for bumper shagging I found in later years as I blew a hole in my jeans one time from butt shagging due to the boots digging in too hard. 

So back to the local establishment, the snow is falling and I call out "good shagging weather, eh?" A table of ladies in hearing distance giggled upon my statement. After a moment of pause and the light bulb going off on the giggle reason, I came back with, "good BUMPER shagging weather." One word makes a difference thanks to Austin Powers.

Trail Head

Tim the Tailor

I am hoping this doesn't affect my man-card status but due to my previous seamstress (my mom) hanging up her needle along with being four hours away and locals not being up to the task, I reincarnated my 7th grade home economics class sewing knowledge (believe we made backpacks back in '78) and purchased a sewing machine. Thank you on-line videos for the stringing process instructions.  

My first job was fixing a hem on some old shorts. If I fu**** up the job, the shorts are easily disposable and no big loss but I'm happy to report they came out okay.

With the sewing machine and my power washer, I think I found my retirement gig. Tim the Tailor's Power Washing. It has a nice ring to it.

Trail Head

The Scooper

I'm still learning my way in town and lesson 41 learned recently in that bagging your leaves is not necessary. With the many old, leaf-bearing trees lining the streets, it would be quite a chore bagging the downfall. 

Enter the scooper.

From about mid-October to when they feel like stopping, this big piece of machinery below goes around town and picks up what people in town have raked/blown into the street. 

My old, crooked back thanks you scooper person.

Trail Head

Thursday Whiskey Club

An old school, seasonal establishment in Elberta, Michigan is home of the 99 Irish whiskeys. Patrons can sign up to try each one and after the 99 have been consumed (not in one night...), the patron gets an Irish Whiskey Club badge with their name on it above the bar; along with a coupon for $50 off a liver transplant...

And no, I have not put this on my bucket list.

There is a group of six, however, that have a standing reservation at the place every Thursday at 5PM to put on their Irish short-brimmed hats (requirement to be in the posse), order one of the whiskeys off the list (noted below) and....talk whiskey. No sports talk; whiskey. I've witnessed the group from afar a handful of times and quite a passion for whiskey they have. They have gathered for roughly seven years now and even made it through the pandemic replacing the bar with lawn chairs in their driveways.

Cheers.

Trail Head

whole lotta whiskey

one page of whiskey list

new Pure Michigan ad and a realistic view of fall

The attached could easily be a Pure Michigan ad, however, it blows that the colors are only out for a short time before the shedding happens.

I give you two videos below, one of the utopia ride yesterday and comic Lewis Black's take on the process. Both enjoyable.

Trail Head

all that lotion wasted for $21

I received a surprise in the mail the other day in the form of a $21.03 check for a class action suit involving youngsters who grew up with carpal tunnel issues in their older years due to overexertion with said company's magazine that I personally subscribed to. Must be a lot of affected people overexerting with such a small amount...

(FAKE NEWS:  there was a settlement but due to improper sharing of subscriber information to third parties)

Trail Head

M-22 - deviation from bad football

The northern autumn colors are barely out but can't let a day like today go by without embracing it. I met up with Mark C. in Manistee and did the M-22 utopia ride on the motorcycles northbound on 22. Hard to grimace about the crappy Lions defense with these views.

Trail Head

Friends Converge

A group of former Redskins converged upon Benzie County this weekend to toast one (read: many) to a friend who passed about a year ago. The spirit of Tom was with us as Friday could not have been a more beautiful day and while Saturday was a moist one, we somehow got the fire pit going with some yooper assistance. I haven't gotten the reviews back from my neighbors yet but thought we nailed the camp fire sing-a-long portion for the evening. 

Trail Head

Betsie River float

I got an up close look at the 2022 salmon run Saturday morning with my maiden float down the Betsie River. The truck/kayak drop is ideal for floating the river as there is a bike path that goes along the river for a good portion. Load the bicycle on top of the kayak in the back of the truck, drop the kayak at the access site roughly two miles upstream, drive back towards the destination, drop the truck, pedal back to the kayak and get on your way (not as complicated as it sounds). 

The river itself was not too crazy with only a few tight areas to maneuver around down trees. You do have to do a very low limbo under the final bridge into Betsie Bay/Lake so higher boats are going to be banging their heads if they aren't paying attention.

As far as a salmon report, I saw/heard a handful flopping around over the 2+ hour float. Fishermen were out and about with their waders; most reporting some production but nothing too wild. Pictured is an eagle sighting as there were actually two watching over me most of the float. 

As far as salmon to eat, bogue.

Trail Head

Class D Football - exciting and too many coaches for the home team

I took in my first Class D football game Friday evening as the local school is only three blocks from my place. The game was entertaining; although the local team lost in a blowout 28-0. 

First of all, roughly 15 players on each side makes for everyone having to learn every position, regardless of size. That is why there are no listed positions in the noted rosters; only grade. It was wild to see four available players on the sideline when play was on. Too many injuries and things become interesting. Easy for coaching I guess as you don't have to look through a bunch of players on the sideline when substitutions need to happen. Tough for coaching, however, when the few available are crap players.

The quality of play was good as every school is going to have some shining stars, regardless how many kids go there. My two cents to the home team is to lose some coaches. They have almost as many coaches as players and that is too many voices.  

Go Panthers.

Trail Head

packed player sideline for the visitors across the way (insert sarcasm)

beautiful field and backdrop

Otter Lake - northern home of the 'Dunham Laker' catches

I fished the Dunham Lake of the north this past week, Otter Lake. A few miles north of the Platte River, the lake, like Dunham, does not allow motor boats and has only a few homes on it. Also like Dunham, it has a whole bunch of 13 inch bass (or 'Dunham Lakers' as we say) in it as that is all I caught the two times out. The locals say there are big ones in there and the lake has some great structure so I can wait while enjoying the view.

Trail Head

Female Boats

The salmon are running according to the locals and with that, the boats are out in abundance this weekend. Many big boats with very creative nicknames. I don't think I've ever seen a repeat boat name although have seen Defender I and II and would have to believe there is a "Foolish Pleasure" boat in every town. Somehow, all boats are apparently females as I see many "Miss" references in the name conventions. One dentist below with Cap-n-Cavity. 

My boat would be named "Aquaphobic" as big water still gives me the jitters sometimes.

Trail Head

baby steps

Still a long to-do list of items but the place is slowly evolving into a home with baby blue before and 'shale' (name on the box) after view below. New interior/exterior doors installed and painted (found a painter - yay!!!). Gutters, entryways and sprinklers for the weed infested front yard next on the list.

Trail Head

vacation from vacation

The tour headed on vacation this past week to....Benzie County, I didn't go anywhere as the area has everything I need versus having to go the plane/train/automobile route somewhere else. And my house still has 600 things left on the list to fix/update/add.

Tuesday was fishing day at Lower Herring Lake, not to be confused with Upper Herring Lake across the road. I doubled my normal output as a 16 and 14 incher made it into the boat so a good morning.

Wednesday the tour headed about 30 miles north to the east side of Glen Arbor to pedal Palmer Woods Forest Reserve. A new one for me (new trail altogether) and it did not disappoint. The developers did a great job balancing the climbs/descents. Some fun descents. At the bottom of this post is a short clip from there.

Back to my work vacation tomorrow.

Trail Head

Quota

I hit my quota (1) Saturday morning on Big Platte Lake; a decent size lake about 10 miles north of me off of M-22. It barely made legal length but a nice belly on this green fish. One of these days I'm going to catch two and not know what to do but until then, keep on paddling. 

Trail Head

 

Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door...

"Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door," a famous saying by someone and gave me pause while I battled a mouse earlier this week. More on the mouse capture in a bit but for all the fancy technology out there, the mouse trap has not changed much and still works as efficiently as ever. 

So my mouse battle (hopefully singular) started about a week ago when my desk clock fell in the middle of the night. I haven't lost my mind yet so ruled out ghosts. The next night I heard a rattle near the garbage can in the bedroom. On go the lights and on the rim of the can stood the critter. Behind the dresser he went. My last need for a mouse trap was two houses ago and still had a couple traps in my junk drawer. No cheese available so went with bits of pizza. Back to sleep I went, woke the next morning and the pizza was gone in both traps, both didn't snap. I didn't push the food against the 'plate' enough so went with gummy bears the following night. Bingo!!! Sorry, no paparazzi photos to share on here. I haven't heard or seen any repeat performances in my bedroom since so believe Mr. Mouse was riding solo.

With the mouse gone, off to the ant hill battles on my front lawn...

Trail Head