The itch to return to Petoskey got so strong that scratching was mandatory so plans were made to spend most of June in my hometown. Leading up to the trip, though, one important piece of running business had to be taken care of: the 40th running of the Bolder Boulder (well, BB's 40th, my 39th). This year, we were treated to a pre-race flyover of five vintage planes that made three passes over the start line while running buddy, Anita, and I were still in the vicinity.
I did not have high expectations for this year's Bolder Boulder given a less than ideal training cycle leading up to it and, in fact, just missed my bare minimum race goal of breaking an hour, running 60:36. I did manage to maintain my usual place of 7th (having placed 6th-8th the last eight years). Anita, however, won her age! What a competitor!
Bolder Boulder done for the year, the next day Kendall, Taz, and I set out for Michigan - this time by way of Kansas and a trail I had read about. Let me tell you, the way to go through Kansas from Colorado is via Highway 36. Rural landscapes, good speeds, and extraordinarily light traffic. Our Kansas destination was Marysville and the Blue River Trail which would take me from the town of Marysville (located along the Oregon Trail and Mormon trail and site of a still-standing 1860 Pony Express Home Station) up toward the Nebraska state line. It just so happened we arrived in Marysville with enough daylight to run the trail this 29th of May! Marysville has done a mighty fine job of maintaining this rail trail. Despite it being the muggiest buggiest trail run yet of the now-36, it was a dandy run through woods and farmland with birds, bunnies, wild turkeys, fireflies and dragonflies to keep me company!
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| Railroading remnants all along the way |
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| And a covered bridge! |
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| Mile markers every 1/2 mile -some with beautiful decorations! | | | | |
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| Birdhouses dotted the trailside all along the way... This one made of birch. |
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| And, yes, there are glimpses of the Blue River between the trees |
It also turns out that Marysville is very proud of its rare black fox squirrels. So early the next day, we strolled around town looking at many of the 21 black squirrel sculptures brightening up the walkways and parks.
From Marysville, Kansas it was on through Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin and - two days later - Michigan - just in time for Taz to get his yaya's out along the lake.
The next day, we discovered once again how a sleepy little northern Michigan town can be brimming with surprises: a trail run that stumbles across little train cars idling along the tracks followed a few moments later by a lovely forest vignette then an evening stroll through town to find the Petoskey High School Steel Drum Band playing in downtown's main intersection.
Up North - it's the best!
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| Lilacs a-bloomin' in Petoskey |
Bolder Boulder done for the year, the next day Kendall, Taz, and I set out for Michigan - this time by way of Kansas and a trail I had read about. Let me tell you, the way to go through Kansas from Colorado is via Highway 36. Rural landscapes, good speeds, and extraordinarily light traffic. Our Kansas destination was Marysville and the Blue River Trail which would take me from the town of Marysville (located along the Oregon Trail and Mormon trail and site of a still-standing 1860 Pony Express Home Station) up toward the Nebraska state line. It just so happened we arrived in Marysville with enough daylight to run the trail this 29th of May! Marysville has done a mighty fine job of maintaining this rail trail. Despite it being the muggiest buggiest trail run yet of the now-36, it was a dandy run through woods and farmland with birds, bunnies, wild turkeys, fireflies and dragonflies to keep me company!
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