We eventually went to bed around 1 AM Saturday morning...having to be on the road to Green Timbers at 9 AM. That was a bit unexpected but there was a bit of laundry that needed to be done before we could go.
Saturday morning...7:05 AM the alarm started going off. I was almost sad to here it...though I looked forward to the day ahead. Getting into the woods was far more important than sleep at the time. *click* Alarm off. I started getting a bit more gear and clothing packed for the overnight trip. More gear? More clothing? For an overnight? Yeah. The one thing Boy Scouts taught me was "Be Prepared." Eventually everything was set to go and I woke the wife up. She was a big cranky getting ready to go...but overall her spirits were high as we hit the road to Petoskey to meet up with my friend. We were a bit late because we had to stop at the store to pick up some water and batteries...but we made it to his house and left around 9:45 AM. Roughly an hour later we were pulling to the "last civilization" we would see before Sunday. Bathroom breaks for all! A few miles down the road we were finally at the entrance to Green Timbers. A place I remember well...but had not been to in probably 12-13 years or more.
We got all of our gear unpacked from the cars and prepared for a journey into the woods toward the camping area. I loaded the wife up with her pack and sleeping bag...and threw my monstrous amount of gear onto my back. I would guess her pack weighed in at roughly 40-50 pounds...and my pack at 125-150 pounds. For an overnight? Yeah. So we all passed the gate and headed down the trail. The first bit of walking was not too bad for either of us...but after a bit the packs started to weigh down on our morale...and our feet. "Good times!" I told myself as the sweat started to drip into my mouth. I am guessing...and honestly I have no idea...but the trail to the first camping area is probably 2-3 miles in. It took nearly an hour to walk in...and we were walking at a decent pace. Nothing crazy...but I know how long it takes to walk a mile...and it was well over that. :P We rounded a few corners...saw some giant elk tracks...admired the swampy forest...and FINALLY we arrived at the river...which meant we were at our home for the rest of the day and night.
I dropped my pack to the ground and started to remember everything from my previous visit. The long walk in...the cold temperatures...the little bit of remaining snow on the ground. I remembered eating my pasties cooked in the fire...while everyone else ate canned food or granola bars. Henry falling into the river...the bomb shelter (I later found I mistook a foundation for the bomb shelter...I thought they had ripped it out!) I walked to the river and snapped photos of the river...and small island in the middle. I made the wife come stand on the island and get her picture taken. The first picture is always the hardest...and then it is "Oh get one of me over here! And here!" Cute at its best I suppose. :)
While I was goofing around my friend was checking out the cabin. To his dismay he discovered sleeping bags and other miscellaneous gear hanging...so we assumed that the area was occupied. After a few minutes of contemplation he decided we should take to the trail again and get to the upper cabin. "The river path is much shorter than going up across the hills" he said. Having not been there in a LONG time I assumed he had been told correctly by his sources. So we hit the river trail in search of our new camping spot. "Why did I pack so much gear? For an overnight?" I began to ask myself. The river trail was fairly pretty...though it was somewhat swampy and had many trees that you either had to burrow through the limbs or climb around. By this time the wife was starting to wear out...and so was I. We were probably another half hour in...nearly a mile more...and it was getting hot out. We started taking small breaks while the others went on ahead. A lot of cussing was going on by this time. We eventually caught up to them where they stopped to take a moment before continuing. My friend said "The cabin is at the top of this hill." I looked up...and up...and up...and up. I said to myself "Screw this...I am going to sit here until someone comes to carry me out of here!" My dear wife was on the same page. The look on her face explained to me that I would never be going camping in the wilderness with her again.
My friend and his pal headed up the hill as we took a small break for making our ascent. Finally I helpd my wife up and we started plugging away...slow but sure. Climbing this hill...the only thing I can think of to describe it would be like climbing up the down escalator in a mall for half an hour. It seemed that every step I took...just made the hill bigger. The sand on the trail caused my feet to constantly slide backwards. "150 pounds of gear.....$*#( camping.....I hate #*@)# camping.....see if I ever go camping again @#!) it..." Less than half way up the hill...I have never been so close to wanting to get my knife out to end it all. My legs were on fire...my feet were on fire...my entire body was on fire (because it was hot out)...and I still had just over half the hill to climb. I looked back...and my poor wife was far below me...trying to get her footing to take another step. I had a mind to stop and wait...but if I had...I would NOT have made it up the hill. I continued up this demonic hill...FINALLY reaching the top. It probably took me 10-15 minutes to climb this stinking hill. Not because I am incredibly out of shape...or incredibly bad a climbing hills...but because this hill is an asshole. :)
I threw off my gear a second time...praying to everything good and holy that A) I would not have a heart attack in the middle of the forest. and B) There was no one staying at this cabin. I had plans if there were. I was going to take every last bit of strength I had...and throw them down that hill. That would be punishment enough for taking my camping space! I looked down from where I had just come...and my wife was still climbing. After a minute I regained my breath...came closer to consciousness...and like a maniac started walking back DOWN the hill to help her. I guess that is just the nice guy in me. I made it to her...and said "Hey give me your pack...I will carry it up the rest of the way for you." She said "No...if my brother can do this...I want to prove that I can do it to." (Her brother is in the military.) Secretly I said to myself "Thank god for sibling rivalry!!!!!" She made it to the top of the hill and dropped her pack off next to mine. No one was in the cabin...we had found our new home for the rest of the afternoon and evening.
To be continued...
I may get some time to write more tonight...but for now I think I am done. I have to bring you all back for more! :)
Have a good night if I do not post later!
-Derek
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Did you miss me?
For those of you who might actually read my blog...you will have noticed an absence over the weekend. I believe I am going to turn this story into a multi-part story that will continue throughout the week. It is a good one...at times it may get a little gross...and possibly a bit vulgar...but we are all mature adults here right? ;) Only the elite in society read my blog. That is why I have not gotten any comments yet...they just do not want me to know they are peering into my life with anxious eyes for each additional post that I add to my collection. There will not really be anything vulgar in my posts...I just thought it sounded entertaining. :P
Before I get into this post...and all the bits of hilarity that will follow...I want everyone to go to http://www.publishamerica.com/ and search for the author Richard A. Foster. He has written a collection of story of his life on this planet...called Raindrops Of My Mind. I know it would mean a lot to him if you purchased a copy of it for the small price of $12.95. He is a good friend that I have let communications dwindle with over the past few years...so hopefully this post will do some good and get his book rolling for him.
Now comes the meat of the post. My absence was created by what was to be a simple camping trip to Green Timbers near Vanderbilt, MI. I was invited by a friend at the beginning of last week and I agreed to go. I asked the wife if she was interested and she reluctantly said "Yes." I was stoked. My first camping trip of the season and she wanted to go with me! So all week long I was getting ready for this camping trip...gathering supplies and getting all of my gear ready. It was going to be a tent trip near the Pigeon river. It turned into a bigger adventure than what I had really anticipated...
I called my friend Friday night to find out the details on when we were leaving Saturday morning. He said 9 AM would be perfect...but we could leave a bit later if need be. The wife was disgusted to hear the departure time...but dealt with it well. I was proud! So we quickly went to Walmart to finish buying everything we needed to go...tie on straps for sleeping bags...waterproof bags...ponchos...and some snacks. It was supposed to rain Saturday so I geared up quite heavily for it. We went straight home and finished packing as much as we could before we went to bed. We seemed to be on the right track for a great weekend adventure.
To be continued in my next post...
Sorry I cut the guts of the story so short tonight...I got to watching George Lopez on Nickelodeon...and lost track of time. I will post pictures and the rest of the story over the next couple days.
Goodnight from Northern Michigan!
-Derek
Before I get into this post...and all the bits of hilarity that will follow...I want everyone to go to http://www.publishamerica.com/ and search for the author Richard A. Foster. He has written a collection of story of his life on this planet...called Raindrops Of My Mind. I know it would mean a lot to him if you purchased a copy of it for the small price of $12.95. He is a good friend that I have let communications dwindle with over the past few years...so hopefully this post will do some good and get his book rolling for him.
Now comes the meat of the post. My absence was created by what was to be a simple camping trip to Green Timbers near Vanderbilt, MI. I was invited by a friend at the beginning of last week and I agreed to go. I asked the wife if she was interested and she reluctantly said "Yes." I was stoked. My first camping trip of the season and she wanted to go with me! So all week long I was getting ready for this camping trip...gathering supplies and getting all of my gear ready. It was going to be a tent trip near the Pigeon river. It turned into a bigger adventure than what I had really anticipated...
I called my friend Friday night to find out the details on when we were leaving Saturday morning. He said 9 AM would be perfect...but we could leave a bit later if need be. The wife was disgusted to hear the departure time...but dealt with it well. I was proud! So we quickly went to Walmart to finish buying everything we needed to go...tie on straps for sleeping bags...waterproof bags...ponchos...and some snacks. It was supposed to rain Saturday so I geared up quite heavily for it. We went straight home and finished packing as much as we could before we went to bed. We seemed to be on the right track for a great weekend adventure.
To be continued in my next post...
Sorry I cut the guts of the story so short tonight...I got to watching George Lopez on Nickelodeon...and lost track of time. I will post pictures and the rest of the story over the next couple days.
Goodnight from Northern Michigan!
-Derek
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Mother Nature makes me a liar...again...
So last night and into this morning...we received about five inches of new snow. Typically I would have been bouncing all over the walls in excitement...but I had turned my winter switch to 'off''. My spring fever has been incredibly bad since our visit to Kentucky...with their sunny skies and 70 degree days...
I have not done anything but work on cleaning the garage since my last post. My goal is to get the garage useable for this summer...and for my knife making. I mounted cabinets on the walls and cleared off the work bench. It has been a bit chilly...even with the propane heater going. It does work fairly well...but only in the area you are working in. It gets warm enough to scorch eyebrows! I lifted the propane tank up to move it...and the heat going up was so intense it melted some of my eyebrow. The wife will not let that one go. Doh!
Tomorrow I will try to get the sleds put in the garage and fog them. I have been trying to do that since I got back from vacation...with absolutely no luck. There was just too much stuff in my way. If nothing else I will cart them in on the trailer with the four wheeler. From here on I will refer to the four wheeler as "The ATV." Typing four wheeler just takes up too much finger thought.
I will have some pictures posted on Picasa of the snow today...and of the Kentucky trip...but I have not had the camera hooked up the computer since I got home. Hopefully tomorrow...if not it will probably be around Wednesday.
The weather looks to improve over the next few days. Partly cloudy for the better part of a week...with rising temperatures. We could see some 60s heading into the middle of next week! I cannot wait for that! ;) I am really anxious to get some hiking done...and even some camping. I like camping even if it is only a mile from the house. Just the outdoor experience is good enough for me.
Enough for now...I do not want to make anyone bored. :P
Goodnight from Northern Michigan!
-Derek
I have not done anything but work on cleaning the garage since my last post. My goal is to get the garage useable for this summer...and for my knife making. I mounted cabinets on the walls and cleared off the work bench. It has been a bit chilly...even with the propane heater going. It does work fairly well...but only in the area you are working in. It gets warm enough to scorch eyebrows! I lifted the propane tank up to move it...and the heat going up was so intense it melted some of my eyebrow. The wife will not let that one go. Doh!
Tomorrow I will try to get the sleds put in the garage and fog them. I have been trying to do that since I got back from vacation...with absolutely no luck. There was just too much stuff in my way. If nothing else I will cart them in on the trailer with the four wheeler. From here on I will refer to the four wheeler as "The ATV." Typing four wheeler just takes up too much finger thought.
I will have some pictures posted on Picasa of the snow today...and of the Kentucky trip...but I have not had the camera hooked up the computer since I got home. Hopefully tomorrow...if not it will probably be around Wednesday.
The weather looks to improve over the next few days. Partly cloudy for the better part of a week...with rising temperatures. We could see some 60s heading into the middle of next week! I cannot wait for that! ;) I am really anxious to get some hiking done...and even some camping. I like camping even if it is only a mile from the house. Just the outdoor experience is good enough for me.
Enough for now...I do not want to make anyone bored. :P
Goodnight from Northern Michigan!
-Derek
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
The end of the snow...
It looks like winter is officially over. There are MANY bare spots through the woods and in the yard. The driveway is bare...and the decks have been shoveled off. Let spring begin!
Today was kind of a nasty day. There was not much, if any, precipitation. The clouds hung around and it stayed relatively cool. When I got in the truck to come home we were sitting in the low 40s. Not terrible I suppose...but it could have been warmer! Due to the cold I did not spend much time outdoors. I have been meaning to fog the sleds since the weekend...but just have not gotten around to it yet. Hopefully tomorrow will let me get out and finally put them in the garage for the summer.
I am the proud recipient of one of the new five dollar bills! Straight from the fed. I read about them last year when they were first showing them off...but had completely forgotten about them until today! My wife mentioned that our neice had one in KY. (That is strange calling her neice...I have never had one of those before. hehe) So I took it upon myself to remind them at work that it was about that time. ;) I picked a couple up and will be adding them to my collection. Other than those, I have not seen any coins or paper money that screams "Add me to your collection!!!" I am really hoping money never screams at me...but you will be the first to know if it does.
I do not believe that I spoke of my second knife yet. I started it the night before we left for KY. I got it cut out, sanded, and sharpened all in one evening. Not too bad for a second try! I still need to try to temper it...this time I will take pictures of that process. It is the same basic design as the first knife. The blade has a little less curve to it...possibly making it a bit sturdier in the hand. I have been searching for options to keep them knives from rusting. My dad gave me the idea to get some gun blue and work with that. Seems like a good idea...and it would add a unique color to the knives. I imagine the first few are going to be for looks...since they are not made of hardened steel. They will be really cool either way...in my opinion anyway. I have enough steel to make one large knife or two small knives. When I cut them out I will certainly take pictures of that this time as well. I am kind of doing the pictures and posts in reverse order...not intentionally. :P
I am really anxious to get the four wheeler out! I rode it up and down the driveway a bit...and a little out on the road. Unfortunately you cannot ride legally on the roads here...so I kept it to a very short trip to the corner and back. Once the snow is gone we will be able to take it through the trails on the property...and maybe even head over to the state land near the house. I need to do a bit of searching through DNR information before I get too excited about that.
I think in the next few posts I will start to highlight a bit about my kit that I carry when I hike or camp. Nothing too impressive...but I have enough stuff to last a little while. If anyone has ideas for items to carry in a survival kit...let me know. :)
Good night from Northern Michigan!
-Derek
Today was kind of a nasty day. There was not much, if any, precipitation. The clouds hung around and it stayed relatively cool. When I got in the truck to come home we were sitting in the low 40s. Not terrible I suppose...but it could have been warmer! Due to the cold I did not spend much time outdoors. I have been meaning to fog the sleds since the weekend...but just have not gotten around to it yet. Hopefully tomorrow will let me get out and finally put them in the garage for the summer.
I am the proud recipient of one of the new five dollar bills! Straight from the fed. I read about them last year when they were first showing them off...but had completely forgotten about them until today! My wife mentioned that our neice had one in KY. (That is strange calling her neice...I have never had one of those before. hehe) So I took it upon myself to remind them at work that it was about that time. ;) I picked a couple up and will be adding them to my collection. Other than those, I have not seen any coins or paper money that screams "Add me to your collection!!!" I am really hoping money never screams at me...but you will be the first to know if it does.
I do not believe that I spoke of my second knife yet. I started it the night before we left for KY. I got it cut out, sanded, and sharpened all in one evening. Not too bad for a second try! I still need to try to temper it...this time I will take pictures of that process. It is the same basic design as the first knife. The blade has a little less curve to it...possibly making it a bit sturdier in the hand. I have been searching for options to keep them knives from rusting. My dad gave me the idea to get some gun blue and work with that. Seems like a good idea...and it would add a unique color to the knives. I imagine the first few are going to be for looks...since they are not made of hardened steel. They will be really cool either way...in my opinion anyway. I have enough steel to make one large knife or two small knives. When I cut them out I will certainly take pictures of that this time as well. I am kind of doing the pictures and posts in reverse order...not intentionally. :P
I am really anxious to get the four wheeler out! I rode it up and down the driveway a bit...and a little out on the road. Unfortunately you cannot ride legally on the roads here...so I kept it to a very short trip to the corner and back. Once the snow is gone we will be able to take it through the trails on the property...and maybe even head over to the state land near the house. I need to do a bit of searching through DNR information before I get too excited about that.
I think in the next few posts I will start to highlight a bit about my kit that I carry when I hike or camp. Nothing too impressive...but I have enough stuff to last a little while. If anyone has ideas for items to carry in a survival kit...let me know. :)
Good night from Northern Michigan!
-Derek
Monday, April 7, 2008
Sorry...I lied.
Well, I did not make it in last night to post anything. It has been a while since I have posted anything worthwhile. For that I am sorry. I will certainly find some time tonight.
A good portion of our snow is now gone. Places in town have no snow...up at the house we've probably got 8 or so inches on the ground. We were able to ride the sleds on Saturday...but not far. I realized I was running on one plug once we got onto the trails...so we rode for a short while and turned around to head back. Not a bad last ride of the season though! I brought the boat out of the garage yesterday and made room for the sleds. That will be my project for this evening. Hopefully they will get fogged and ready for summer tonight.
It is supposed to get into the 50s today...with a chance of rain and possibly a couple rolls of thunder. The rest of the week looks to be a typical spring pattern. Warm then cold. Warm then cold. Rain then sun. Rain then sun. :P Good old Northern Michigan! If it stays warm enough to melt a bit more snow...I will start cutting wood early. The tractor and trailer area ready...along with the four wheeler we received while on vacation...so I am good to go.
Enough for now. :) I will post more tonight.
-Derek
A good portion of our snow is now gone. Places in town have no snow...up at the house we've probably got 8 or so inches on the ground. We were able to ride the sleds on Saturday...but not far. I realized I was running on one plug once we got onto the trails...so we rode for a short while and turned around to head back. Not a bad last ride of the season though! I brought the boat out of the garage yesterday and made room for the sleds. That will be my project for this evening. Hopefully they will get fogged and ready for summer tonight.
It is supposed to get into the 50s today...with a chance of rain and possibly a couple rolls of thunder. The rest of the week looks to be a typical spring pattern. Warm then cold. Warm then cold. Rain then sun. Rain then sun. :P Good old Northern Michigan! If it stays warm enough to melt a bit more snow...I will start cutting wood early. The tractor and trailer area ready...along with the four wheeler we received while on vacation...so I am good to go.
Enough for now. :) I will post more tonight.
-Derek
Friday, April 4, 2008
Spring Break
Sorry it has been so long! I will post about the week before the end of the weekend. :)
-Derek
-Derek
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