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!

Chainsaws & Chuckwagons 2023

We interrupt our Michigan adventures blog series to bring you this most recent weekend's event of note from Frederick Colorado: Chainsaws & Chuckwagons - with the added feature of the Axe Women Loggers of Main Show!

The whimsy and quality of the chainsaw carvings was just as delightful as years past.
(I've included two photos of the first carving because of the 360 degree artwork.)

Now *this* is what you call a Tiki Bar!

Note the ladybug on the leaf near his shoulder!

 

 

Now on to the Axe Women - a group of professional competitive Logging Sports Athletes which started in Maine but now has athletes from all over the country. In fact, one of the two women competing today is a CSU alum. The Axe Women include world champion choppers, sawyers, logrollers and axe throwers - and each of these skills was demonstrated today. One of this weekend's athletes is the only person (male or female) to logroll across the Mississippi River without falling in. (She went from Port Byron, Illinois to LeClair, Iowa in less than 30 minutes!)  She is going to attempt to do the same across the Missouri in September. This show was one impressive display of athleticism!

 In the sawyer competition, each competitor has to cut 3 timber cookies off the end of the log, first with a downward stroke of the chainsaw, then an upward stroke, then another downward stroke.

In the chopper competition, each competitor stands on a log with their feet placed in carved out areas they've already chopped into the log - then they have to chop the log in half with an axe swinging down between their legs. This is the event I found to be most frightening. They actually wear chain mail socks to protect their feet and lower legs from being sliced by the axe.

The axe throwing event is just what it sounds like: throwing an axe toward a target - in this case, from 20 feet back. 4 points for a bullseye, 1 point less for each ring away from the bulls eye. The Master of Ceremonies highly encouraged the audience members to give it a try if they happen to have an axe throwing venue in their town.

Throwing the double-bladed, heavy, very sharp axe

And pulling the throw out from the big hunk of wood target.

The final event (final undoubtedly because the competitors get doused in the pool) was log rolling. Each competitor stands on their end of the log (a synthetic log filled with water) and attempts moves and tricks to get their competitor to fall off (no touching of your competitor allowed). It is legal to kick water into the face of your competitor, jump on your end of the log, jiggle, whatever. I don't know if it was because it was a hot day, but they did look like they were having fun!

Concentrating on balance and each other's feet

We have a winner!