Monday, August 24, 2015

Travelogue Tale

During our June trip to and from Michigan, I took to texting photos of each day's run to my Colorado running buddies. They rather enjoyed the running travelogue and asked if I'd do it again during our July/August trip to Michigan. I was happy for the diversion so another travelogue came to be. Here's a replay (with a few extra photos to show what all we were up to during this trip...a lot...).


July 25, 2015, 5 a.m.: Kansas City, Missouri
 
Mill Creek Park - multiple laps before starting the Kansas City-to-Petoskey drive.
In the wee hours of the morning - and I was not the only one out there!
So hot & humid, I couldn't even wear my ever-present running cap.




July 26, 2015: downtown Petoskey, Michigan
Ignacious Petoskey
Ignacious Petoskey's view

Extra added bonus on this day - a rendezvous with niece Tara and her kids who were staying in my mom's house during the Petoskey/northern Michigan portion of their summer road trip:
Cousins et al! Corinne, Devon, Tara, Cullen & Audrey in Petoskey's Central Park



July 27, 2015: dawn along the bay, Petoskey, Michigan

Dawn glow over the breakwater on Little Traverse Bay


July 28, 2015: Petoskey shoreline
Beach wildflowers along the Petoskey Wheelway of Little Traverse Bay


July 29, 2015: a pre-dawn run


twinkle light flower garden ...a fairy garden perchance

Also on this day, we had the memorial service for my mom, the lovely Elena Vaughan. A day spent in the warm companionship of friends and relatives.

The floral arrangement for the service
under the floral wreath Deb and I made for mom 2 summers ago
Cousins Yi Lu and John, and son Paul
Paula and practically-mom's-daughter, Pat


Cousin Marcie, Pat,
Paula and mom's bro Kent

Uncle Kent (mom's bro) and Cousin Dan (dad's sister's son)

Mom's graduation picture

High school classmates of mine who came to the service
Dave, Wendy (facing camera), Connie (away from camera) & Glae (Dave's wife)

  
July 30, 2015: a two-run day

Lake Michigan awakens
North Country Trail along south edge of Petoskey











July 31, 2015: a river run
Bear River, teeming with wildflowers along its banks

August 1, 2015: last resort interval session venue
All my favorite straightaways were packed with tourists (height of the summer and all)
so it was off to the high school soccer fields for intervals. Can't have gorgeous every day...

Also on this day, the 45th class reunion of Petoskey High School class of '70! We had a pre-reunion dinner with some friends just to ease into things....

Of this gang, classmates include
Pam (far left), Kirk (to my right), me (in blue), and Connie (to my left)
August 2, 2015: a run along one of my all-time favorite trails



Looking west from East Bay Harbor trail
(Little Traverse Bay toward open Lake Michigan)
Looking east from East Bay Harbor trail
(Little Traverse Bay toward Petoskey & Petoskey State Park)











August 3 & 4, 2015: water and cottages

This day, I just had to get up close to the water

And this day, I just had to run through Bay View
listening to the music and gazing at the cottages



August 5, 2015: hill repeats a la Petoskey
Looking down Harvey Hill -   at the top of which
I've spotted a snake, turkeys and deer (not all on the same day)

August 6, 2015: back to college
Explored the trails at North Central Michigan College - a delightful interlude!

August 7, 2015: a regular ol' run
The every-day sight one sees when running along the Petoskey waterfront

August 8, 2015: a change of scenery
Yesterday we drove down to my cousins' cottage at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore for today's wedding of Kelly Murphey (my cousin John's son) and Rachel Fussell. Spectacular location and thoroughly delightful day of celebration and family.
Morning run along Sleeping Bear Dune National Lakeshore. Exquisite!


Kelly and Rachel listening to the wedding song (Rachel's dad on banjo)
August 9 & 10, 2015: the last two runs along Little Traverse Bay
 The bay view from Bay View

A misty morning for the last P'town run of the trip
...where does the lake end and the sky begin?!?!?



August 11, 2015: west-bound road trip run

It turns out Waterloo, Iowa has multi-mile pathways along the Cedar River
a lovely venue for a dawn run!