What an exciting week.
Picked up Brenda from Grand Rapids airport last Wednesday. On our way to Emerald Lake with her we visited Gerald Ford Presidential Museum in GR. Great display. Many important historical events in his partial term that I had forgotten--fall of Saigon, WIN for Whip Inflation Now, and the SS Mayaguez capture. In addition to the museum his burial spot is outside the museum as is a garden dedicated to Betty Ford.
James, Amy, Spencer and Garrett arrive in the middle of the night after driving out of a severe thunderstorm in northern Indiana. Unbeknownst to us the pump was not working to bring water into the house until they arrived, but the following morning Kelvin fixed the problem, a broken pressure switch.
Off to the circus in Evart. Cotton candy, elephants, jugglers, trapeze, trained dogs and horses, etc. The sounds and smells are distinctive. And as soon as it ended, workers were tearing down the bleachers and tent for their trip to the next stop.
Angie hosted a cookout and bonfire for the family--three generations laughing, telling stories, playing on Kamber's wood play structure, eating, laughing, roasting marshmallows and making s'mores.
Geocached around Evart, Reed City, and Big Rapids. Found some and had a couple stumpers. Still cannot find the multicache in Hemlock Park!
When the rainy weather sent us indoors, we tried bowling one day. Spencer and Garrett gave us a run for our money. Did not know alleys now have bumpers along the lanes to keep kids' balls (and mine, too) out of the gutters. I should get out more often.
Ranger rides took us out over our property and Kelvin's. We saw turkeys and deer, picked apples and berries. And rode through the woods.
The highlight for the boys might have been the fire station tour that Shane gave them. Sitting inside a fire truck and climbing up the outside, putting on the fire suit, and dragging a hose put smiles on two boys' faces.
The week at Emerald Lake put big smiles on our faces too.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Friday, August 10, 2007
The Lions win one that does not count
Shane and Justin came down from Evart to go with us at Ford Field for the Detroit Lions exhibition game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Since both had to be at work early Friday morning, we left with about ten minutes left in the fourth quarter, just after Cinci intercepted a deflected pass and returned it for a touchdown--seemed like the Lions were doomed. Didn't even listen to it on the radio on our ride back to Romeo. But we found out when we turned on the news at home that they had come back in the final minutes, dodged a bullet when the Bengel placekicker missed a short field goal that would have won the game.
The Lions starters started slow. Not unusual. They've had slow starts, both game-wise and season-wise, since the Millen-ium began. And the inability of the defense to quickly get the ball back in the hands of the offense is a concern again this season. There were a couple bright spots. Tatum Bell at running back with speed and cutting ability will probably keep Kevin Jones on the bench when Jones returns from injury. First round 2007 draft pick Calvin Johnson could be a good piece to make the offense consistent and dangerous--clean, crisp routes, good hands, and can jump! J.T. O'Sullivan was a surprise at quarterback, playing after starter Jon Kitna was taken out. He showed a quick release, accurate passes, and looked off defenders. Down side is he's 28 and has been with Saints, Packers, Vikings, and Panthers his five years in the league. Could be a sleeper. Let's hope regular season is not.
At this point, after a meaningless win, it looks as though the Lions will have to run up lotsa points to win.
The Lions starters started slow. Not unusual. They've had slow starts, both game-wise and season-wise, since the Millen-ium began. And the inability of the defense to quickly get the ball back in the hands of the offense is a concern again this season. There were a couple bright spots. Tatum Bell at running back with speed and cutting ability will probably keep Kevin Jones on the bench when Jones returns from injury. First round 2007 draft pick Calvin Johnson could be a good piece to make the offense consistent and dangerous--clean, crisp routes, good hands, and can jump! J.T. O'Sullivan was a surprise at quarterback, playing after starter Jon Kitna was taken out. He showed a quick release, accurate passes, and looked off defenders. Down side is he's 28 and has been with Saints, Packers, Vikings, and Panthers his five years in the league. Could be a sleeper. Let's hope regular season is not.
At this point, after a meaningless win, it looks as though the Lions will have to run up lotsa points to win.
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Klotz Lake Fishing Camp
is north of Lake Superior on the northernmost east-west highway in Ontario. (Copy these coordinates and plug them into Google maps satellite or hybrid view to see the lake: n 49.79833333 w 085.8737333.)
Ken Dupuis, Jim Bade, and I drove two days there (only one day to drive home). The first day we took I-75 over the 50-year-old Mackinac Bridge to Sault Saint Marie where we crossed into Canada at the International Bridge. We continued to Wawa, Ontario where we spent the night in a chalet (a few stars below a resort!). Beautiful scenery, especially along the east end of Lake Superior--the lake, numerous bays, hills carved by glaciers.
The second day we went to White River, turned north through Hornepayne--the last gas station until Klotz Lake is in Hornepayne. Then west onHighway 11 about 55 miles to the camp--cabins on one side of the highway and the lake on the other.
Unpacked, loaded gear into the boat, and on the lake to fish. The lake is L-shaped, about five miles long parallel to highway 11 and two miles long on its east end perpendicular to the highway. Small islands jut above the eastern surface and a river requiring a couple portages connects it to Flint Lake to the north.
Our cabin had shower and bathroom (some cabins did not), two bedrooms, living/dining room, and kitchen. Not as rustic as I anticipated. Former Romeo JHS teacher and coach Hank Dupuis and his 12-year-old son, Nick, were in our cabin along with Al Curtis (retired colleague at SHS) and his brother Paul.
My main catches were walleyes about 16" and great northern pike between 20" and 25". Ken Dupuis and Jim Bade were my usual fishing partners, experienced fishermen who coached me to catch fish. (I am pretty good at fishing but not so hot catching!) Hank took me in his boat a couple times with Nick and gave me many fishing pointers.
We had a fish fry with our first day's catch, but after that we had non-fish meals. We wanted to take fish home; in addition Ken and Al did our shopping at Sam's Club and bought so much food for the week we were concerned it would be wasted.
A second cabin housed another group, from Almont mainly. Roger lost his motor in 15 feet of water. Scott and Hope dove to find it but the bottom was too silty to see well so a diver was hired and he located it the next day within ten minutes. We played some cards -- Texas Hold 'Em (no money) and Euchre. As everyone packed fishing gear the last night they showed me lures they brought and explaind what the different shape, color, and size were designed to catch.
Weather got very hot during afternoons but cooled off at night. On the last day I was hoping to catch a couple more walleye and have Al coach me through filleting them with his electric fillet knife, but the wind was so strong it blew us away from the good fishing holes. Not good fishing.
Our nature sitings included eagles and their nest, foxes and bears, but no moose. Returning down I-75 in the UP we saw smoke from a forest fire that at times drifted across the road.
A fun trip--fine fishing with good friends.
Ken Dupuis, Jim Bade, and I drove two days there (only one day to drive home). The first day we took I-75 over the 50-year-old Mackinac Bridge to Sault Saint Marie where we crossed into Canada at the International Bridge. We continued to Wawa, Ontario where we spent the night in a chalet (a few stars below a resort!). Beautiful scenery, especially along the east end of Lake Superior--the lake, numerous bays, hills carved by glaciers.
The second day we went to White River, turned north through Hornepayne--the last gas station until Klotz Lake is in Hornepayne. Then west onHighway 11 about 55 miles to the camp--cabins on one side of the highway and the lake on the other.
Unpacked, loaded gear into the boat, and on the lake to fish. The lake is L-shaped, about five miles long parallel to highway 11 and two miles long on its east end perpendicular to the highway. Small islands jut above the eastern surface and a river requiring a couple portages connects it to Flint Lake to the north.
Our cabin had shower and bathroom (some cabins did not), two bedrooms, living/dining room, and kitchen. Not as rustic as I anticipated. Former Romeo JHS teacher and coach Hank Dupuis and his 12-year-old son, Nick, were in our cabin along with Al Curtis (retired colleague at SHS) and his brother Paul.
My main catches were walleyes about 16" and great northern pike between 20" and 25". Ken Dupuis and Jim Bade were my usual fishing partners, experienced fishermen who coached me to catch fish. (I am pretty good at fishing but not so hot catching!) Hank took me in his boat a couple times with Nick and gave me many fishing pointers.
We had a fish fry with our first day's catch, but after that we had non-fish meals. We wanted to take fish home; in addition Ken and Al did our shopping at Sam's Club and bought so much food for the week we were concerned it would be wasted.
A second cabin housed another group, from Almont mainly. Roger lost his motor in 15 feet of water. Scott and Hope dove to find it but the bottom was too silty to see well so a diver was hired and he located it the next day within ten minutes. We played some cards -- Texas Hold 'Em (no money) and Euchre. As everyone packed fishing gear the last night they showed me lures they brought and explaind what the different shape, color, and size were designed to catch.
Weather got very hot during afternoons but cooled off at night. On the last day I was hoping to catch a couple more walleye and have Al coach me through filleting them with his electric fillet knife, but the wind was so strong it blew us away from the good fishing holes. Not good fishing.
Our nature sitings included eagles and their nest, foxes and bears, but no moose. Returning down I-75 in the UP we saw smoke from a forest fire that at times drifted across the road.
A fun trip--fine fishing with good friends.
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