Sunday, November 22, 2015

Welcoming Winter in the Yurt

What a wonderful weekend to bring people together and welcome the Winter's first birth.

I had invited a small group of friends to join me this weekend at the Muskegon State Park "Yurt" to partake in a ritual that is near to my heart. I had put this date in the calendar months ago, but only on high hopes; little did I know that it would actually turn out to be a pretty terrific time.

First glimpses of wonder

JP-Lounging hard

Strike a pose/ while everyone was looking for my lost go-pro/ the journey continued.
A little guidance led to some unplanned symmetry

Monday, November 16, 2015

A Sunny November--To the Lakeshore

Woke up on this Sunday, Nov 15th, morning with no clear plans, rested and curious about what the free hours of the day could bring in terms of unfinished projects. I had finally repaired a front blinker light on the car that had been damaged since last winter and was eager to continue the momentum on other projects. A quick step outside the backdoor around 9:30 am revealed there would be no time for such ambitious ideas, it was way to amazing out to do anything utile at home. The air had a slight whiff of South breeze and my jonesin' bones knew that this is the most difficult time to make a decision.

I quickly threw all my kites in the car, a couple wetsuits, boiled some eggs, found a crumb of molded cheese, a piece of beef jerky, made some quick coffee, and had the brilliant idea to circumvent my actual plans with my hidden plans to take the bike for "one last ride" of the season. Packed the bike with a foil-kite and harness (✔️) and threw goodies (brewskies optional, though in reserve) and a jacket in for the long haul (~50miles) to the Lake, depending on the lack of a path chosen. And what a great choice that was.

Let me tell you, everything they tell you in movies about bikes and the open road is partially true and partially you, but they complement each other well. After brief initial conflicts whether to dedicate the whole day to such a trip, I put the pack on and began heading West. That was about the plan. Muskegon at some point. Fields in the middle; some open roads and scenic winds and bends slightly required (✔️). 

Dang. Like and endless meditation. Every breath, a new smell of a changing countryside, every bit as pungent as expected, though quickly changing to a new olfactory experience. The sunshine tasted beautiful. After a quick rendezvous with the service roads off the highway, spanning views of open fields, distinct Allendale smells, and this relentless Nov sun, my mood began to match my surroundings and the bike. I began to incorporate with the machine, matching our speed to our moods and the inspirations of the landscape. That was cool. I'm a newbie to all of this, but there's something thrilling and inherent in the experience that becomes clear to the rider who allows all sensation to become.

And that it did and the ride was glorious and intense and boring and diverse. A few rights north to tack some ground, a few lefts West to cut some angles and I found myself on unfamiliar and familiar roads of the M46 corridor. I like the unknowing part of the ride. After a brief spurt where I learned to fly (ET phone home?) I gave in to my sensations, as bewildering and deceiving as they were with wind playing by my ears and speed denying me trust in my perceptions; I became them. At that rate, what use is rationality; all must become instinct. I found an old familiar road, that by accident had become a summer occurrence on the way North to the Musk River. We had a camp spot off of there from the Spring and I had lots of deep memories ironically from this relatively 'new' area. I climbed the steep bends, trusting each curve as if I'd made it, then reminding myself that I didn't. Saw wide expanses of marsh, stopped for a stroll and continued West. 

Packed the Yamaha FZ09 - at the Muskegon Winter Sports Complex 
I arrived at the Lakeshore of Muskegon State Park roughly an hour & 1/2 later, with several scenic breaks. The waves were waving, though I walked the harbor and talked to ma for a while about the difficulties that life often finds us in. I reminded myself to remember that and enjoy this. 

Took a stroll to the the goods. Parked at the winter sports complex (after all, the scope of the trip was partially to check out the Yurt I had booked for the next weekend) and hiked around for a while, by the luge and upper hills, as I had done in this are many times before. Always a favorite. 

Small vernal pond at a low spot between the foredunes.
Snapped some pics of the Yurt and headed to the beach. Gorgeous. Set up the hammock, walked, dabbled, watched the sun set, shed some layers, dipped. Nov in Lake Michigan, who would have thought?