Molson Bike Tour (North)

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Floating with Friends

The 5th annual congregation of former Chippewas I guess can be considered a success. Friends gathered, fish were caught, beverages were consumed, stories were told, and most importantly, nobody fell in the river. The sun was out but that was some chilly water.

We thought we were being wise this year and signed up for a shorter float time as we tend to lollygag down the river. With that, we went with the two and a half hour float. How the canoe livery estimates time I don't know because when it was all said and done, their estimate of two and a half hours became six hours of fun for us. Now THAT is some good lollygagging. The weather was ideal, we more or less had the river to ourselves, and the fish were hitting so we kicked it into extreme low gear for the float and fished the many honey holes the river has to offer.

Al would probably get the "Angler of the Day" award as he caught quite a load of fish, including a legal green one. I caught enough to feed my thirst.

There was a surprise appearance Friday night at The Bird Bar. While waiting for Mike to arrive, in walks the pride of Sparta, Michigan, Jim D. Unfortunately, Jim couldn't make the float on Saturday but was able to get free from being a Dad for a night and toast a few beverages with some friends.

The Mount Pleasant experience never disappoints and this weekend was no exception. I have noticed, however, that we don't seem to blend in with the student body like we used to as Father Time has given us some gray accents. We could be the Dads for these kids and that is kind of funny.

Ooh-wah-Chip-ooh-wah
Trail Head

Chippewa River - 9/17

on the board for Tim

Tittabawassee River - 9/16

Tittabawassee River - 9/16 (quite a current, eh?)

Monday, September 5, 2011

Badwater Bass Club - Awards Banquet

The inaugural Badwater Bass Club season came to a conclusion Sunday as friends gathered to tell their "one that got away" stories once more; this time in the presence of family (great to see everyone). Greg V. took home the granddaddy trophy of them all, the coveted Angler of the Year. Spurge took the Boat Captain of the Year prize while Raj and I pulled up the rear with the trophies you get for making the effort but coming up short, REAL short. As Ricky Bobby says, "if you ain't first, you're last." We were literally last. I'm sorry I didn't have a speech ready (my mouth and brain don't work so well together anyway so it was meant to be). I'd have to believe Raj's award will be admired by one his co-workers tomorrow at the office, one of which owns the same last name that resides on said award.

Again, kudos to the founding fathers of the club for putting it all together and listening to the people for future improvements to the club. Here's looking forward to a successful 2012 season. I will get on the board in '12! I hope.
Fish on.
Trail Head

the club (not pictured: Jim M. and Dave M.)

Angler of the Year

The Mitchell Award

Boat Captain of the Year

Pontiac and Thompson Lake awards for AC

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and beer helps

South Manitou Island - lighthouse view

Nancy, her son Jaime, and myself visited the most beautiful place in America this past Sunday and Monday, the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Good Morning America said it was the most beautiful place, so it must be true, eh? The most beautiful place though? I'll put it in the really cool category, is that okay? People love a good list and a good debate so this campaign by GMA served its purpose I guess. I've seen the dunes area by foot, by two wheels, and by four wheels and have nothing but good things to say. More than just a large sand hill, the area is right in the heart of M-22 which is a great motorcycle route and the hiking/floating/camping options are plentiful.

The main mission of our short stay was to see South Manitou Island. Home base was the Platte River Campground. The rangers there ran a tight ship on the rules and with that, the campground was outstanding. Quiet and clean. Monday morning we headed to Leland and took the ferry over to the island. The place gets a thumbs up for the south end hiking trail over to the 500+ year old cedar trees and a cool viewing of a shipwreck (Wreck of the Morazan - 1960 - all passengers survived, looked it up). There are a handful of buildings, including a school, remaining from the last residents that remained until around the 1950's (a little history in your reading today). The lighthouse, while more or less an ornament these days, offered up a sweet view of the entire dune area from the lookout tower.

So, looping back to the original question, is this the most beautiful place in America? I think people who have taken their motorcycles down the Pacific Coast Highway or stood out on a mountain top on any of the various ranges out there or even someone with a simple trailer on 10 acres in Lovells, Michigan might say otherwise. It's all perspective.

Trail Head

South Manitou Island

Pyramid Point

South Manitou Island - lighthouse view

Wreck of the Morazan - 1960

South Manitou Island

Leland - getting fancy with my camera

bird poop covered lighthouse

500+ year old cedar tree - South Manitou Island

old cedar tree - South Manitou Island

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Drinking the Kool-Aid, eating the cornbread...and loving it

Chicago - Soldier Field

Yes, it's that time of the year again. It's time to drink the Kool-Aid and eat the cornbread as our Detroit Lions are once again embarking on a Super Bowl season. They look so good in Allen Park says the local press so each year, we eat it all up and enjoy it. Even the year of the 0-16 season, there was optimism leading up to the season; serious optimism. Ten minutes into the first game that year, the optimism was down 21-0. One day, we all say. Friends and I have toured the Midwest for the past decade in search of the answer to seeing a good football team.
It started at Soldier Field in Chicago as Joey Harrington stunk up the joint. Great fans and no a-holes at the tailgating scene. And it was Chicago for Pete's sake!

We went to Cleveland and put up with some of the most vicious fans I have ever encountered. They take the word "passion" to another level. Al and Doke got a minor Budweiser shower at their seats. Both the Browns and Lions blew that year, we won the game, so the chant out of the stadium was "we suck less!" It was all fun at the tailgating scene until the music stopped from the car. Mr. Battery said bye-bye. All was well though when a good Samaritan next to the car gave us a jump.

Doing a 180 from that scene, the posse moved on to the Lambeau Field scene in Green Bay another year and toasted a few soda pops to probably the best fan base ever. Cheeseheads rule! That was one of the Jon Kitna years as I recall. Needless to say, we lost that one.

On to Cincinnati it was sometime after; yep, we lost that one too. Cincinnati gets high marks for the nightlife on the hills of the river valley. Tailgating at a quarry was quite a crazy scene as well.

Most recently, the tour went to the home of the chicken wing against a team, the Bills, just as bad as we were and...yes, we lost. I was overserved that weekend as it was my birthday and I was getting my game on. My game was off on the drive home as I had to request a "pull over" and get something off my chest, and out my mouth. Good times. Why do we do it though? Why do we keep rooting for this team? Heck, we even went to Canton, Ohio to see Barry Sanders get inducted into the Hall of Fame.

This year, the Lions' tour is staying local as we purchased a four game package at Ford Field. Rooting for the Lions is an addiction I guess and I'm not actively looking for a cure. They gave me the Kool-Aid early on in life as Billy Sims, Gary Danielson, Bubba Baker, and Freddie Scott flirted just enough with being good to think that better times were ahead. Barry kicked it up a notch but couldn't do it all. I feel for those poor kids whose first experiences of watching pro football was the Millen era. Imagine what they must think about pro football. All bad and that is no good.

We'll be in section 227, row 7 if anybody wants to say hello.

Go Lions, cornbread is free.

Trail Head