Shenanigans

Finally.  A Monday without having to go to town.

Finally.  A cool, rainy, gray day.  I suppose this particularly pleases me because the garden, all plants and I need it.  I got sunburned this weekend, and a break from the sun is essential.

How did I get sunburned?  Was I at the beach?  Was I sipping margaritas on a friend's porch?  Was I reroofing a house?

No, no and no.

I was on Brockway Mountain Drive for 4 hours in the blazing, breezeless heat of the afternoon.  But I had a job: to give water and Gatorade to over 300 grateful, wildly costumed single speed bike riders. They were indeed grateful.  I have volunteered at many types of races in this town, and I have never heard so much "thank you for being here," and "thanks for the water," and "thank you" in general.  It was as refreshing as the sugary red liquid must have tasted to the riders.

And they were indeed wildly costumed.  Again, I have never been to an event where the participants are so free-spirited.  It's almost a competition of flamboyance or a statement of alter-ego.  Here are examples of what I mean.

An afro over the helmet = extra safety

Even the bikes are flashy

I've got some other shots of superheroes and neon boas and men in dresses, but I'm saving those for other publications.  I'll let you know!

But the shenanigans were only beginning during the race.  This is a family blog, so I won't get too detailed, but Single Speed USA is the most interesting culture that's come to Copper Harbor in a while.  "Interesting" and "shenanigans" were two of the words I heard most from people and in my own mind.

I knew the sunburn would be worth it.

Like I told you before, Art in the Park is this weekend in Copper Harbor.  One extra to-do for me (besides running the bake sale.  How did the pregnant lady get in charge of a bake sale???) is that I am signing books at Grandpa's Barn on Sunday the 17th from 2-4 pm.  Check out what other local writers will be there on the poster below!

Pretty cool, eh?  Maybe I'll see you there!  If you come, make sure to tell me that you read this blog.  It keeps me believing.

Also, the Copper Harbor Improvement Association holds BINGO every Wednesday night during the summer from 7-9 pm, but players must purchase their cards before 6:50 pm.  Why am I telling you this?  For one, it's fun.  For two, you can win some moola.  For three, I am the number caller for most of the nights!  That's right.  I will B12 and N41 you until someone shouts "BINGO!"

See all the fun I get to make for myself these days?

Boy, oh boy.  What else can I say?  If you have any requests, please let me know.  I guess this whole nesting thing is more instinctual than I realized.  But it's not forever!

See you next week.  Get out and pick some berries, if you can!

Sunshine and Big Bay

Today continues another streak of sunny days.  Just like the week before last.  And if you don't count the wind chill, the temperature is in the double digits.  Last I checked it was 12 degrees F.  We should see a couple days in the 20's this week.  It will surely feel like a heat wave.  Can't wait.

Yesterday I trekked out to ye old site of Fort Juniper.  Up on that ridge, I realized that if I still wanted to built a fort up there, I would just dig one out instead of building one up.  I didn't get to check the actual depth, but I didn't see any juniper bushes there.  Just the tip of a little spruce tree.

Though it was nostalgic to be back there in the winter, the wind was blowing through me, and the single digit temps would not let me linger.  Duce decided to head down the ridges toward the frozen harbor.  We walked back home from there.  

This last weekend I got to go somewhere new: Big Bay, Michigan.  Have you ever been there?

Big Bay is at the red "A"

While first glancing at this map, I thought, Great!  It's even before Marquette!  But I was wrong.  Turns out, a person has to drive to Marquette, then head back northwest on 550 to get to Big Bay.  Well, at least there was no city driving involved.

It's a very small town on Lake Superior.  While there, I resided at Bay Cliff Health Camp.  A really neat place for being so far out.  Big porches, hardwood floors, fireplaces and other cool amenities.  And guess why I got to go.  I was sent on an assignment from Traverse Magazine to report on the DNR's Becoming an Outdoors-Woman event!

73 woman from as far as Alabama came out for this chilly weekend.  They each got to take three classes of their choice ranging from indoor activities (power tools, fly tying, self confidence, wilderness first aid) to outdoor activities (snowmobiling, ice fishing, dog sledding, winter camping, backcountry skiing).  It was a great event all around.  Here are a few shots I got while I was there.  Remember, I take terrible pictures.

Inside the four-woman dorm room

Women hang out in the auditorium before introductions

The dining room set for our first dinner

A woman posing in a class-made quinzhee (winter shelter)

I could go into all the details, but I am currently writing the article about this, and I feel like that would create more work than I need to do.  When that article comes out next winter, I'll let you know.  Maybe you'll even want to take the class (if you are a woman, of course).  I would highly recommend it.  What a great opportunity.  I'm grateful I got to be a part of it because I didn't even know about it before!

The Copper Dog 150 was held this weekend, but I was gone, so I can't really tell you how it went.  I heard it was cold, but enjoyable.  That weekend always seems to fill up like the 4th of July -- just like that.  All the sudden there's cars everywhere, and motels and people's houses are bursting at the seams.

People are getting a bit ornery about winter, however.  These cold temps are quite out of the norm.  People are going through their wood piles and propane faster then ever.  We are darn lucky the sun is shining.  That keeps spirits up just enough....

Holidays and Tree Bombs

Now that Christmas has passed, Copper Harbor business is in full swing.  All the winter restaurants are open full-time.  The snow is amazing (despite the little drizzle yesterday), and the air is fresh and crisp.  Come on up!

And here is a little holiday cheer for you, if you haven't seen it already.

A pan of the lights in the park

I like how the deer are swimming in the snow.  Nice job, Donny and crew!

Possibly by you as well, the temperature has dropped about 20 degrees, and the wind has picked up.  I would't want to be riding a chairlift today, but a snowshoe in the woods is nice!

So is the sunshine.  Though we don't see it often (because it's always snowing) I did capture some shots from Christmas Eve day. 

The sun behind some icicle trees

Icicle trees beside the blue sky harbor

Beautiful, isn't it?  It's so nice that this post can have a little color!  So treasure that while I take you to the dark side.

We don't have a tornado season.  We don't have hurricane season.  Or monsoons or earthquakes.  Knock on wood for all of that.  Right now, the conditions are perfect for tree bomb season.

Yes, tree bombs.

You can find them all over the woods, but they are mostly harmless there.  Know where they are deadly?  The Covered Stretch of Highway 41.

Those scenic branches creating the tunnel of trees have been collecting snow for weeks.  Oh yes, they are so nice to look at.  Picture perfect even.  Then the temperature warmed up just after Christmas, so the snow in the trees got denser.  Then we got a little drizzle, making those branches even heavier.  

This is what it's like driving that stretch with tree bombs.

The road is well-plowed, so you have traction for the most part.  Then boom, boom!  You just ran over bowling ball size gobs of snow that you couldn't avoid because it laid across the whole road like the branch it fell from minutes earlier.  Whew, at least it didn't fall on your car.  But, boomf, boomf!  There's another!  Lucky there was no tree branch in that one.  Oh!  Slow down!  Huge branch across the road!  Good thing a car wasn't coming in the other lane!  Oh, no.  See that snow falling on the right side up there???  That branch is about to let loose.  Go around!  Got around!  Smash!  Oh, boy.  That was the windshield.  Pull over.

So far I have escaped this war zone unscathed, but I have friends who haven't been so lucky.  I hope they all have good auto insurance.  Bless their hearts.

Lesson?  If you come up in the next few days, take M-26 to avoid this gauntlet.  Unless, of course you like to drive in a real life video game.  It reminds me of Super Mario Brothers.  Creatures pop out of nowhere to get you.  I hope you make it to the next level.

Other than that, life is simply marvelous.  I will see you next year.  You make it your best year yet, and I'll make it mine!

Wisconsin in May

You cheated, didn't you?  You already scrolled down to see what pictures or videos I posted.  If you didn't, thanks for your patience.  If you did, I know.  I do that too.  Ha!

I made a fun video from our kiting adventures, but I cannot access the internet on the computer it is on.  Guess you'll have to wait one more post!

Here in northwest Wisconsin, things have been interesting.  I spent the first three days wearing a tank top in the warm sunshine boiling sap and drinking homemade wine. 

But by Wednesday, we got 15 inches of snow in one day.  "I'll believe it when I see it," is always my reaction to an abundant snowfall prediction.  I went to sleep with a dusting on the ground, and I woke up to 14 inches balanced on all the railings, birdfeeders, chairs... everything.  Aaron's dad snowblowed a path around the yard, so Duce could hobble around to do his duties.  That was nice of him because I sure didn't want to shovel all that snow!

Duce is doing well, by the way.  By now he thinks he's SuperDog and he can bound after robins in the snow.  Nope.  Not even close.  He needs to spend most of the day lying on his bed.  He hates it, but he will enjoy the rest of his life if he takes it easy these next few weeks.

As for the Keweenaw, the snow started melting so fast that some of the roads were flooding and the waterfalls were rushing.  I knew I would miss it.  I don't know how much snow they got this last storm, or how much snow is left on the ground now, but I'm sure it will all be different by the time I get there in three days.  I'll let you know.

I'm starting to get that uneasiness in the pit of my stomach every time I think about going home now.  Life is going to get hectic in a hurry.

March 12th is the Keweenaw Path fundraiser for the Gundlach Shelter.  I'll be biking from Chassell to Phoenix: 34 miles.  Would you like to sponsor me?  If you'd like to donate to this worthy cause, you can send a check made out to Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter Home and mail it to:

Keweenaw Path

P.O. Box 65

Copper Harbor, MI 49918

I thank you in advance for your support!

Then I need to get into the woods to gather some final information for my book, so I can finish and publish it before the summer gets too deep.

I've got 9 gallons of wine to bottle when I get home too.

May 17th - May 21st I will be in Ontario for my first Michigan Outdoor Writers Conference.  I'm looking forward to that.

Somewhere inbetween, I need to clean, set up and stock the Harbor Haus bar because I return to work May 25th.  Then, life as I know it is dedicated to the whir of the summer.

Deep breaths.  I can do it.  You will be with me through it all, and somehow you help keep me sane.  I thank you for that.

So for now, I will simply enjoy the freshly peeking sun and the company of one of my bestest buddies: my mother-in-law.

The Sunny Day After

Do I really need to tell you that we had another blizzard yesterday?  Do you really want to hear about 40 mph winds shooting snow sideways like daggers into my cheeks?  Do you really care that five minutes after I tromped through the drifts my boot prints were already covered up?  No!  You don't!  And I don't want to talk about it.

Here is what I want to talk about.  Today the sun is shining, and the ice encapsulations from yesterdays, ehem, storm are delightful.  These are some pictures I scored from in front of the Harbor Haus.

A view of The Gap and shore

The Crow's Nest behind the ice-laden shore

Porter's Island from the icy shore

I slid down this to get to the shore

The rocks with their ice shells

Well, that shore is a lot of ice!  

For some more good news, Copper Harbor won the $35,000 grant to build a sweet new trail!  Thanks to you if you voted for us!  And thanks to Bell Bike Helmets for awarding us this opportunity.  This trail project will commence once we can, you know, see the ground.

I apologize that that's about all I have for you right now.  Due to my back failing me again, I have been unable to go out for adventures and capture the moment.  Don't feed me sympathy; I just have to figure it out.  

On the bright side, I've had plenty of time to work on my next book!

Well, you have a wonderful day now, and I'll do the same!

Flying Man in a Blizzard

My plan worked for a little while.  I've always found that when I accept things for what they are, they get better.  Whether it's a change beyond my control or just that switch in my brain, something gets better.

Like after my last post where I decided to embrace winter instead of wishing it away.  Do you know what happened within an hour after I posted that???  The sun came out for days!  Roofs were dripping. Ice turned to slush and mud.  Puddles poured down the roads.  Night skies were clear and bright with stars.  So beautiful!

Then yesterday, I was taken by surprise.  I'm not one to watch the weather unless I'm going camping.  I know the Big Lake does what it wants when it wants; no one can predict that.  But imagine my surprise when, after those sunny days, yesterday tossed us a blizzard with gusts up to 40 mph!

Aaron got out his kite (a bit more controllable than a parachute) and we headed to Lake Fanny Hooe.  Check this out.

On that dive that he took, he told me he missed the handle by two inches.  The wind never gives a second chance.  So we drove down the lake to look for that neon nylon contraption.  Luckily, when we finally found the kite in the trees, it was still in one fine piece.  But the winds were too turbulent for us to try it again.  That was it for the day!

But good news: If you don't already know, I am pleased to announce that my next book is drafted.  I am now marking it up with blue ink to make sure it's perfect.  

Superior Silents: Maximize Your Adventures in Copper Harbor will be on the shelves this summer!  If you've ever wondered where to take your bike, skis, canoe, hiking boots or running shoes, get your hands on this book.  I'll keep you updated!

The sun just popped out now... we'll see what happens next!

Powder and Sunshine

Mount Bohemia has been awesome.  Judging by all the cars in the parking lot this week and all the "woo hoos" I heard while riding up the chair lift, I would say I'm not the only person who thought that.

The snow was crazy this week.  Most schools and Keweenaw businesses were not open on Tuesday or Wednesday.  I guess that was nice for the hundreds of people who were at the hill on Wednesday.  It was just as busy as Saturday!  

I think the official snow total to the moment is 195 inches.  We are catching up quickly!

But now things are warming up.  My roof has been dripping two days in a row.  Also, the sun lit up the sky for the first part of the day.  Yessss!

So I went for a stroll to the Harbor Haus dock.  This is really the only picture that turned out.  I think it's fitting.

The "purest air" sign

And honestly, my legs are still pretty tired from skiing.  I'm a snowboarder, and skiing, to me, take more muscles.  At least different ones than I'm used to.  My point is that I wussed out and didn't really go out for an adventure today.  Instead I stayed home and worked on my next book -- something I should be doing more of!

But before I went inside, I found a lovely spot to lay in my driveway and soak up some rays... through, um, my jacket and snow pants.  Here is what I saw.

Watching the clouds go by...

I think this video shows how to enjoy the simple things in life, but the yin and the yang of it.  The clouds slowly passing are the yin and the goofball dog thrashing a trash can is the yang.  So different, yet each soothing to my soul.  There's some chicken soup for your day!

This weekend is the CopperDog 15o.  That's always one howl of a good time!

My GoPro helmet mount is on its way to my house.  Then I can take hands free video for you (Thank you Daddio!)!  ARE YOU AS PUMPED AS I AM???  Soon I will be purposely looking for trouble to get into.  I think a butt slide down Brockway's nose is in the mix.  Let me know if you have any other requests!

Punishment Blizzard

Gosh, I didn't even get a chance to tell you about last week.  Six of the seven days were gorgeous.  I mean, sunshine all day, 40 - 50 degrees and majestic.  The locals were all in good moods because the days were so pleasant.  

I was a little skeptical, though.  You know what this means, I would tell my friends.  It means we're going to be punished with a blizzard!  You don't get anything for free, especially not a week of sunshine in the Keweenaw in November.

Yesterday ended it all.  The snow started the night before.  The winds blew the power out around 9 am.  I heard someone say that we had a gust up to 70 miles an hour.  However, considering the source, I can't promise that's true.  The power came on around 4 pm yesterday.

Want to know what is unusual about all that?  I wasn't even here!  Aaron, Mr. Butters and I were driving six hours in that crap to get back from Wisconsin.  But hey, at least we had a wonderful time with his family for Thanksgiving.  I hope you had a nice one too!

Today I got to shovel for the first time this season.  Like many residents (if you ask them in August), I like to shovel.  It's a great core and arm workout.  Shoveling for a week straight?  Maybe not so enjoyable.  But for the first snow, definitely a treasure.

Here's a little comparison for you:

Down 41 in the fall

Down 41 after the last snow

Nothing we can't handle yet!

The area shown below gets pretty deep from drifting... and it's right in front of my wine cellar, so I'll keep it shoveled out.  This is part of today's work.

The path to my wine cellar, all shoveled out

I hope this spreads a little winter cheer for you.  Now LET IT SNOW!

Sunny February

Another beautiful day in da Keweenaw.  Sunny and blue skies for the forth day in a row.  I think we had half a cloudy one somewhere in there.  Luckily the last couple days have been cold, so all the snow doesn't melt.  Right now the snow is cruuuuuuusty.  It's like snow cement.  Can't build a snow fort.  Can't groom the cross country ski trails.  Definitely don't want to go to Mt. Bohemia.  So I'll probably go for a hike through the woods.

I've had a couple fun outdoor adventures lately though.  Hannah and I went on a wonderful snowshoe across Lake Fanny Hooe and up the ridge.  Here is a video of how beautiful it was on the lake.  We should have  brought our lawn chairs!  Suntan!

Toward the top of the ridge, the sun was beating through, so I couldn't resist this either

Hannah and Tiki admiring the sunshine.

The next day Rachel and I went for a cross country ski on all the trails.  Probably about five miles.  Five miles on crust, but we didn't care.  At least we were getting some of that good fresh air!  I hope you get out to enjoy some too!

Sunny Daze

I can tell that Summer is coming. Every weekend, progressively more and more unrecognizable vehicles drive through da Harbor. Mountain bikers, day trippers, fishermen and a variety pack of others are coming to town. I can't help but get that knot in my stomach. When Summer is here, my life, as I now enjoy it, comes to an end.

No need to go into detail why. I think I have tastefully ranted enough in the past. But when people ask me what my favorite time of year is here, I can never decide. The thing I know for sure, is that I certainly don't love Summer, and yesterday's mountain bike ride reminded me why.

Rachel and I took a ride up the hills we call the trail system. At first we couldn't figure out why we were feeling miserable. Then we noticed we were sweating in minimal amounts of biking attire. That's when it hit me that Summer is hot. It is too freakin hot! Since when did 65 degrees become too hot for me? Since I started sweating in it.

During those busy Summer days, I am so grateful to get time to go out and enjoy the wilderness. Biking is usually my first choice. But biking up the mountain in 70 - 80 degree weather? No thanks. So while making that miserable climb yesterday, I realized how lucky I am to work in an air conditioned restaurant and stare out the giant windows at the sun on the Lake. I don't have to be out sweating in that sun with everyone else.

Maybe I've just gotten accustomed to the cool weather from my wonderful friend Lake Superior. And when Mr. Sun puts the kibosh on her refreshingness, I get agitated. Don't get me wrong, I do love the sunshine for the same reasons you do. But after 15 minutes in its stickiness, I like a little relief from the bombarding rays.

So I have found another reason why I am the luckiest girl I know: when the weather is not conducive to me wanting to be out enjoying the weather (which all the visitors seem to like), I get to stay inside, where it is cool and comfortable, and make hay. This really is my favorite place to live in the whole wide world.

In like a Lamb... Out to the West!

It's another sunny day in da Harbor! The ice broke and floated from the bay last week... I just couldn't tell you that yet because we were supposed to have an ice fishing tournament this weekend. It got cancelled, so I thought I'd fill you in. What a treat to watch the waves in winter. Usually it looks like a white desert out there.

March is in like a lamb. I went snowshoeing with my coat tied around my waist yesterday. I even had to hang on to my shirt for a while because it felt so good. Suntan!

But this will be the last time I will be able to write you from da Harbor. I'm going west with my parents to see my brother and sister who live in Washington and Oregon, respectively. I'm sure the Wais family will have a blast.

Yes, that backcountry snow race is this weekend. You know what I find fateful about this situation? My mom asked me to go west with them long before I knew I had to coordinate and direct a two day snow race. I said, "Nothing is going on then! I'd love to come with!" And I feel relief that she got my ticket before I knew I had to plan this race. Otherwise, I would have said, "Sorry, but that's a really busy weekend for me. I can't go with you and see my whole family at once (a rare occasion)." Instead I get to say, "I hope the rest of the race goes well, guys! I got to catch a flight!"

Thank you fate. I've missed too many opportunities because of obligations I've created in my life. I will only live this life once, and I better not be too serious. Someone can always cover for me, right? I hope so because I'll be gone. Ha!

If I get a chance to write from the Wild West, I'll do that, but otherwise, I'll miss you til I return. Have fun without me!

Learning to Ski

Today ends the Keweenaw's six-day stretch of sunshine. Six days of sunshine? I feel like I've been in another state or another season for the past week because gray is the color of winter here. Not blue and white and yellow and gold with shiny sparkles. But it was uplifting for a while.

And what a better way to end it than with dumping snow. Snow. The perfect thing to see blocking the view from my window. Now let's get piling up... it's almost March and we've got at least 150 inches to go before reaching the average. If it doesn't come now, it will come when we least desire it.

On sunshiny yesterday I was convinced, by my friends who are skiers, to try skiing at the Porcupine Mountains in the Western U.P. I am a snowboarder. I didn't realize so much mental rivalry existed between the two sports until I tried skiing with skiers.

Remember I am an awful classic cross country skier. Me and long sticks on my feet with poles attached to my hands usually end up in a tangled mess. How can a person really control all that equipment?

I stood at the top of the easiest run at the Porkies. Not nervous. Not afraid. Not knowing how to control my speed. Rachel was coaching me, and giving me the rundown. But I wasn't really paying attention. I just wanted to go down the hill. So I went. Often times laying on my skis, my belly, upside down on my back or a sequential combination of those and other positions. "I'm going to have bruises."

After a couple runs like that, I decided to listen to some pointers from my skier friends. Blah blah this and blah blah that. I gradually progressed throughout the day with no major crashes except for my ski falling off my boot while I was on the chair lift. Luckily it turned and got stuck in the trees so I didn't have to walk the whole way down the mountain to find a runaway ski. Thank you to the man who pulled it out of the snow for me.

I did pretty well, though. I felt like a skier by the end of the day, when at the beginning I just felt like a snowboarder who really didn't know what they were doing and looking like a total idiot on the hill. I could see people laugh at me, and I wanted to shout, "I'm a snowboarder! Really! I'm just learning this sport!"

But I did feel like a skier for a little bit there, and at the end of the day, my skier friends asked me if I was ready to burn my snowboard and buy some ski boots. No, I'm not. Skiing is all right. It got fun after I was done feeling like I wanted to give up. So just let me be a snowboarder, and I will try not to make fun of you for being a skier.

So to all my skier friends, I can see why you like to go down the hill on two sticks, but I prefer to shoot down on a plank without holding on to two poles that I don't use anyway. Let it snow.

Variety Pack of Adventure

I guess I can give you a sample of each! The last few days, I got out for a snowshoe, snowboard, bike ride and cross country ski. One each day.

The snowboard day was amazing. We got a foot of snow over two days, and I was out ripping it up at Mt. Bohemia. I found fresh snow on all of my favorite runs. Every time I ride down the hill in untouched powder, not even having to turn my board, I feel like I'm flying. Even though I am not air born, the friction under my feet is so minimal, that I get a sensation of gliding through the air. Kind of like biting into a York Peppermint Patty.

The snowshoe day made me remember how quickly the shoreline changes in the winter. Remember the ice volcanoes I saw a couple weeks ago? When I went to the shore on Saturday, they were all gone. Not a trace of them. The water came right up to the ice-caged rocks on the shoreline. I thanked my lucky stars that I got to play in one on February 6th. Otherwise, I would have felt cheated out of curiousity.

The bike ride was sweaty, yet enjoyable. Really, the best part is to see people's reactions to a girl riding her bike the day after it snows a foot. Yes. I am that girl.

As for my ski, well, I am not a good skier. I'm just not. Not now. But I do get to take off my skis and wander to the middle of Lake Fanny Hooe (see, she gets me every time) where I can be in the middle of a snow desert. Today I took in the serenity of being right between East Bluff and Brockway Mountain. What a cool place to be... it's like being sandwiched in a ridge line!

So there's my piece of da Harbor for ya. And I think everyone here would agree that today's sunshine makes da whole Harbor quite delightful.

By the way, my Splake was delicious. Fried and mighty.

Gotta Wear Shades

The sun has been shining in the clear blue sky lately. It was out early in the day the last two days, and all day today. This usually doesn't happen in February. In fact, it doesn't happen to such an extent that I wrote a song two years ago about how the sky has been "gray for days" and how "my head is gonna break unless I see the sun."

Not now. Today I had to wear sunglasses on my trip to Houghton. Most everybody else I saw driving was wearing them too.

One thing I am always tempted to do in the sun is do get to the sunniest spot possible. Yesterday it was on the harbor. With no trees or building on the ice, the sun fills every speck of air. I even laid down on the frozen bay to relish in the seasonal view and ultravioletness of the moment.

The wind has also been calm. And though it pairs well with the sunshine, it is also sort of unusual for now. It makes me wonder what that lake is up to out there....

Suntan

Yesterday was the end of my boring streak. It was Friday, so I felt relaxed and energetic. The sun shone bright in the blue sky. My cross country skis just got a fresh wax, and Duce and I were going to try them out.

For starters on this fabulous ski, the sun was just gleaming unto my cheeks. The second wonderful part was that the trail had just been groomed. My skis were the first ones to glide through its flawlessness (not bad for not getting any snow for weeks). And the next great thing in a row was that my skis actually glided in the tracks! Oh, heavenly wax, where have you been all my life?

I rounded half the loop much quicker than ever before because I wasn't walking on sticks -- I was skiing. (Oh, so that's what skiing is like.) When I came to a tiny downhill, I had too much speed to control, and flew off the track. It worked out well because I was going to walk out to the middle of Fanny Hooe anyway. See? She calls me every time. Would you say no on a sun-shiny day?

So I sweatily hoofed it out to as middle as I could. A breeze blew through me, and the sun warmed my soul. But I knew it could warm more than that.

I looked all around to make sure no one was around. Of course no one was. I had a crazy idea and only myself to document it. I knew it was now or never because I can't travel to the middle of the lake without a boat or a swim (of which I'm not too fond).

If you don't already think I'm crazy, you may after today. But when inspiration strikes, I have to go with it. The sun tempted me beyond rationalization. In the middle of the Great Fanny Hooe, I pulled off my hat and gloves. I threw my coat and shirt on the ice. I dropped my pants to my boots. I threw my hands up in the air and yelled, "SUNTAN!" Then I spun around rotisserie style to get a full dose of Vitamin D.

Wow. That is the best cure for the winter blahs I have ever found. I recommend it if the conditions are right. That may have been my only chance, and I had to take it. It was worth every goose bump.

Sun & Snow

Hello! Welcome to the new site. I hope you like it or can at least get used to it. I needed to make a change.

So while you're here, I'd like to share a little story about my walk into town from my house.

The world was covered with snow. The sun was shining through the trees. What a beautiful day! I was thankful to be a part of it, so I decided to walk to Copper Harbor and take care of some errands. I'm a pretty happy person in general, but man oh man, I couldn't help but smile with this day. 'Glorious' is the word I would use to describe it.

I know that there are not many days in winter when I can feel the radiance of the sunshine, so bask in it I did. My body was grateful for the vitamin D.

As I passed the stretch close to the lake, where I could see the water through the trees, I noticed a dark curtain in front of Porter's Island. I couldn't even see Porter's. Oh, boy, I thought. It could be snowing on me any minute. I knew the sun and I had to get all our personal time in as quickly as possible. I sang my sun songs to it and got a few eyes full.

I watched the clouds get closer and darker. Then, within seconds, the sky opened up and dropped all its chilly powder upon me. I waved goodbye to the sun and got to bask in the snow for the last hundred yards into town.