Two Weeks West

It's been two weeks since I moved West, that is West Michigan. Busy is an understatement for the unofficial start of summer. On May 31st I came into town with a car full of the belongings I would need to start life in a new city and in a new program.

the house for the summer

Without the lease starting until June 1st (the following morning), I took a trip to the coast to spend my last night before starting the program on the edge of the Lake that called me here in the first place.

It was 10:04 and the last rays of the sun refused to leave the air at Hoffmaster State Park. I refused to leave the beach; a slight breeze out of the SW shared a warmth that I had once felt there before over a year ago. It kept me there, contemplating the start of a new life. The next morning I would have to wake up and again begin this step. There were no guarantees, and although the break of upcoming summer was welcoming, there was a slight unease in me. I swallowed it and went back to the campsite to settle down for the night.

Tawas this weekend...

After nearly two months, I'll be returning to Tawas this weekend; for different reasons and in contrast, in much different seasons. Although still technically Spring, much has changed since then, and I can't wait to see what it looks like now.

When I left on April 1st, the bay was still frozen and there were floes of ice moving by in the Lake. From what I gather, this weekend is supposed to be sunny and warm (at times) and the water will likely be tollerable even in a bathingsuit. Some of the 'crew' (GLK) will be up this weekend, as Brian's opening up the shop a week early this year..and if the forcast picks up (currently S-SE 10-15 for Sat.) we should have a good group coming up...

Jontan, Olga, and Liz at the Iargo overlook

Alex-My first student of the year. He did great and
was riding on his first attempts! Good luck my friend!

Liz and Olga at one of the overlooks at Iargo Springs

HOME:

"On a journey, ill:
my dream goes wandering
over withered fields."
-Basho

Life changes quickly, and usually not in accordance with your plans. A week ago I was starting a journey I thought would take me somewhere; now I am at home starting one I could not have imagined.
In that time, the careful plans I made were thrown aside for others and I realized that my own dreams must be traded for less selfish ones. All is not well, and my family needs my support. This trip will have to wait it's time again; I thank you all who wished me well, but now those wishes are needed elsewhere.
Please pray that all things will find their place again.

Day 7: AuSable's Bank-McKinley Trail Camp

I found the solitude I needed between yesterday morning and the night before. Most of the night was spent next to the fire, in and out of sleep, feeding logs from the pile that I created earlier in the evening. I returned to the hammock inthe early morning, only once the fire had died down.
It was another cold morning, but I stayed awake from the time that I first opened my eyes, looking at the river and all the birds that were already beginning life for the day. A red squirrel caught my sight as I first moved and went into a curious chirp while trying to understand what I was, darting up branches and looking back.

I restated the fire in the morning and woke up slowly with a long breakfast, sitting in the hammock and appreciating the view.An otter ran out of the forest and into the river and began to express it's frustration with me; probably that I was near its home. From there, I packed and continued into the woods, the trail twisting between treat and river, giving up good views of both:

The snow was deep through some parts of the forest, and without the snowshoes I had to run (Jesus lizard style) to get through. I was to meet my dad around 3pm in the town of McKinley (an intersection is all there's too it), but the streets are not marked (at all) while crossing the trail...Thinking I was behind, I picked up the pace and started to jog. Only when it seemed like I was not getting anywhere I took out the phone and checked the GPS position to realize that I blew the road where I was supposed to turn off about an hour back and I was nearly at the next Trail Camp...

Day 6: Alcona- A Bank on the AuSable:

Today was leisurely day. I left the sled and snowshoes behind..they were loud and I could have used the the quiet and steady pace of traveling with just the pack. The walk was more natural than the previous days in that I was no longer actively concerned with the trail, and just walked and listened. No deep thoughts came though, perhaps the deepest : "If a tree farts in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it still make a sound?"

I crossed through a few familiar places as the trail merged with the edge of the river several times. Stopped to cook lunch at the Gabions Campgrond and stretched out in the hammock; cold day overall.
With no particular endpoint tonight, I walked until I found one I liked: a tall bank on a bend of the AuSable. Prepped a few trees and made a nice fire that's still burning hot as I lay beside it.

Two owls came to visit during dinner and the circled, calling to each other, likely in regards to what the heck I was doing there. Tomorrow, I head to McKinley where I'll meet my dad for the first time since the start of trip...

1. The sled, packed.
2. Doing loops at Corsair
3. Printing
4. Shelter/Camp 3
5. The AuSable at Rollaways 

Camp from every night so far. Rest well my friends...