If this is Boulder there must be running buddies!

I revel in my time in Petoskey, soaking it in and never seeming to get enough of it. However, upon returning to Boulder I once again realize what a lucky human I am to be surrounded by family and friends and, extra specially, running buddies.

When we drove up to our Boulder home, we were oh-so-pleased to discover a Paul at our house! Taz was especially thrilled, running circles around his boy, jumping up and down and grinning as only a cattle dog can do. Unfortunately, he was moving so fast I couldn't get a photo so you'll just have to make do with a pic of a mom thoroughly delighted to have one of her offspring within hug range.

A few days into our return, with packing and chores done, it was time to resume my running routine. This routine, for a quarter century or so, has included running with a group of guys (the "Satboys") on Saturdays (thus the name) followed by breakfast. The group has shrunk a bit since its earlier days but four of us hardy souls are still hanging out in the area and available to regularly meet up for our Saturday morning frivolity. This Saturday, the first Saturday in a couple of months when all four of us have been in town, found us meandering through the autumn golds of CU South before our breakfast reward. Boy oh boy did we have a lot of catching up (and heckling, and world problem solving, and laughing) to do!

Left to right: Oliver (the dog), Phil (the dog's human), Joe, and AndyE

 

Post-retirement, I hooked back up with running buddy, Connie, who I had done a lot of Boulder Road Runner workouts with pre-kids and consuming career. What evolved next is a wonderful demonstration of the organic growth of friendships that running provides:

• Connie's neighbor, Anita, who Connie had been running with, made us a threesome.
• A friend and avid runner who lives a short mile down the road from me, Amie, heard about the exercise class Connie and Anita had introduced me to to supplement my running and joined in on that as well as some runs with us.
• While running on a trail to meet up with the gals, I crossed paths with an office mate's wife, Randall, who, it turns out, is quite the runner. She continued west and I continued east to meet the gang and, as soon as I saw them, I asked if it'd be ok with them if Randall started joining in on some of our runs. And thus we became five! 

Now we do many workouts together but, better yet, we celebrate each other throughout the year. Yesterday, four of us had a lovely trail run together. Today, all five of us gathered for a lunch out to celebrate the autumn birthdays of the group. 

Anita on the Coal Creek trail -
she found the balloon!

Anita, Randall & Connie beckoning me into the photo. Ha!

A selfie it is... pj, Anita, Randall & Connie

 

All dressed up in birthday party finery & looking good with the jack-o-lanterns
Randall, Amie, Connie & Anita

The bonds of running buddy friendship go far beyond footfalls and mileage. 'Tis a wonderful thing.

The beauty of a good friendship

High school buddy and ferry captain Lon Calloway did my father, Paul George Vaughan, former WWII RCAF pilot, proud. With the RCAF flag flying (thanks to Lon), and with Lon at the helm, we sailed out to the middle of the St Mary's River channel where we scattered pop's ashes followed by Lon sounding the Master's Salute (three long then two short horn blasts) while dad's ashes drifted down river along the Canadian border and into the Straits of Mackinac. A heartfelt tribute for the dad I loved dearly. Thank you Lon.

Wrapping Up in Petoskey

Our autumn visit to Petoskey is quickly drawing to a close. Before we hit the road, however, there were a couple of things I wanted to do.

Mom had mentioned a few places where she wanted her ashes scattered. We did scatter most of them overlooking Little Traverse Bay, but she did ask that they be scattered in Little Traverse Bay. And dad had asked that his ashes be scattered from a plane over the Straits of Mackinac where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet. Unfortunately, the pilot who was to do this passed away before dad so I'm improvising... In any case, to try to come close to granting their wishes, yesterday I clambered over some rocks to get to Lake Michigan's Little Traverse Bay at a spot directly in line of the home and shop where my folks lived, worked, and raised their family.

Navigating the rocks

Mom

Dad

The Bay

And today, Taz and I set out on another wet and blustery run to catch a few more glimpses of this most beautiful locale that I just can't seem to get enough of. Taz was not too thrilled with the wind and rain, but the crab claw snacks he found along the way seemed to keep him pretty happy.

Taz, a bit damp & wind-blown
wondering what his human is doing out here

Looking from the docks over toward our house - blue sky peeking out

Looking from the docks back toward town

Looking from the docks toward Petoskey State Park (& sand dunes)

Waves over the breakwater on another magnificent Autumn day on the Great Lakes

Lon's Maritime Museum

 Lon Calloway, a high school buddy of mine, had been hoping we would have a chance to visit his home which he refers to as his "Maritime Museum." It also turns out that he is a long-time fan of Deion Sanders plus Lon has TV access to all football games. So! One college football Saturday here in Michigan, we were treated to a visit to Lon's Maritime Museum and a front row TV-watching seat for the CU football game. It was a delightful way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

The sight that greeted us upon arriving at Lon's house - we felt right at home!

 It turns out there is as much to see outside as inside:

A fascinating yard for both canines and humans

Lon kept this depth measurer after he pointed out
to the manufacturer that the numbers (draft marks)
were in reverse order from what they should be
(numbers should increase as you go up)

 

Inside the house, there is something to catch your eye everywhere you turn:

Lon's vast collection of U.S. Coast Guard hats

 

The humorous

The informative (map of the ocean floor)

The sobering.
The flag and windsock are what were flying on Lon's ship the same night
the Edmund Fitzgerald sank. Lon's ship was just a handful of miles ahead.
When the captain said this flag and windsock needed to be replaced after being left
in tatters by the storm, Lon asked if he could take these home...

Further evidence of Lon's vast travels:

"Order of the Ditch" certificate awarded when you
sail through the Panama Canal

"Order of the Spanish Main" awarded upon cruising in the Caribbean.

 

The collection extends to artistic expression as well, created from wonders of nature that Lon has found during his travels

 

Of course, in addition to touring the "museum", we had a football game to watch! Taz found himself a very comfy spot.

By the way, if you would like to read about some of Lon's adventures on the high seas (and Great Lakes, and mighty rivers...), find yourself a copy of his book "Salty". Very entertaining!

Ashes

Today would have been my mom's 103rd birthday. I figured this would be a fine day to free my folks' ashes from the boxes they've been in since 2006 (pop) and 2015 (mom). The weather today seemed to be up to the task as well with the wind howling, waves dancing, and rain spitting. Those ashes were going to fly. For further inspiration, as we let the ashes go we played Alison Krauss' rendition of "I'll Fly Away" (which we had played at mom's memorial service as well).

We scattered most of their ashes at Petoskey's Greenwood Cemetery's scatter garden with its stunning view of Little Traverse Bay.

While at the cemetery, we also scattered a few of their ashes at my Uncle Porter and Aunt Evie's (dad's brother and his wife's) grave. I often do running workouts in the cemetery and stop by their graves to leave a flower or Petoskey stone. Today's was an extra special visit.

After the cemetery visit, we still had ashes left for scattering in some special places. A couple of those spots will need to wait until the weather calms down and a final scattering of dad's ashes will take place in the UP on the way back to Boulder, but we did do a scattering at our house in my Petoskey stone garden...

Now you may be wondering why we're being so wimpy about the weather and the rest of the scattering. Let me tell you, it is blustery out there. How blustery? BIG waves! How big? There were folks out surfing!!!

 

 

 

Those little black spots in the waves are surfers!

 

Meanwhile, some happy memories of Elena Lenore and Paul George Vaughan, aka mom and pop, grandma and grampa.

 

 

 

 

 

I'll fly away.....

 

Autumn in Michigan

If autumn is just around the corner, that must mean that the PJV and KSM show is headed to Petoskey! And that's exactly what Kendall and I did - leaving about a month ago, so it's high time I updated this here blog. Because there is so much catching up to do, I will offer up an abbreviated (somewhat) version of various aspects of the trip.

First: on the road!

We're off!

1st night: Grand Island campground

2nd night: Dubuque along the Mississippi

A pastie!
We must be in Michigan!

 

Somebody (or bodies) seem to be very glad to have finally reached Petoskey!

Found his favorite toy

Rolling on the lakefront
in ecstasy

Even the gulls are celebrating

All smiles - humans and pups

 

Lots of Petoskey activities:

A visit to my most favorite reading spot
on the planet!

Early morning frolic along the beach

A short break with Papa Hemingway
during a chili fest and crafts fair

Anniversary excursion to the Offield Nature Preserve

Beach bonfire and pizza party with buddy Connie

Autumn colors go well with the sculptures!

A visit to the NCMC sculpture garden

A jaunt through Bay View with cottages boarded up with a sense of humor

Truly love love LOVE being out and about on a blustery day. The lake is soooooo lively!

Rainbow after the storm

Harvest festival farm with Kendall the Cow Whisperer

Gateway to the apple orchard & pumpkin patch

 

Of course, there is the running!

First off - a heartfelt thanks to the folks who have made so many miles of fabulous trails available to all of us who love walking, running, and cycling through the woods, along the lakes and over the hills of northern Michigan! 

...and now on to some of this autumn's runs...

One of my favorites: from Petoskey to Harbor Springs going along the Wheelway, past nature preserves and along the lake.

Another favorite: Bay View Woods - this year I found a new way in to the back of the woods. Woohoo!

And yet another favorite - along the Bear River, a trail I can pick up near our house!

 

I found a new (to me) trail from the Petoskey Winter Sports Park - one big hill surrounded by forest.

Speaking of hills - the Offield Family Viewlands nature preserve is all hills - steep hills - and absolutely gorgeous in the autumn.

And bringing us up to date on runs - Taz and I went out in yesterday's blustery, and I mean BLUSTERY, weather for a quick run (well, the running wasn't actually all that quick). Taz was so patient putting up with the wind in his face that I decided he had earned some off-leash time as we headed back home.

 

We will close, as each day does, with sunsets: a few favorite sunset photos from this trip so far...

G'Night All!