On to the UP

May 19
A cold morning - in the 40s! Was nice that we had a few 80+ days to soak up some heat. We packed up and departed Hamburg to head north. One fun stop in Clare for 'Cops and Doughnuts' treats - cake and raised doughnuts, and a big molasses cookie - all very good!

A busy place, and for good reason!

Outdoors destination for the day was Grayling, at the Hanson Hills Recreation Area. A walk for me, and bike for Rudy, through nice open woods. A small park, but good trails and even an archery 'course'.

Gaywings!

We found camping nearby in the Huron National Forest - there was a little sketchy sand in the road, but we made it through! Ate pasta and played Hand and Foot and Rummy 5000 - Rudy won both.

May 20
Even colder! But sunny. Not much dawdling, with a long drive ahead. Just to be safe with the sandy road, Rudy let a little air out of the tires and no problem getting out. Rudy had fun re-airing the tires with a bike pump - good way to warm up! We finally got into the Upper Peninsula!

Crossing the Macinac Bridge

We continued on to Hiawatha National Forest, south of Munising for Bruno's Run - a nice ten mile loop - I ran and Rudy biked.

Nicely signed trail

Northwoods!

Lots of pretty little lakes along the loop

We found a spot to camp less than half a mile away to hang out in the van during the breezy and drizzly evening. Ate lentils and rice and played Hand and Foot - two wins for Leslie!

May 21
A cool, breezy morning is good for running in the woods! I hit Bruno's loop again, with light rain during the second half, but not bad. With rain forecast into the afternoon, we didn't hurry to continue on to Marquette, where we acquired some bike parts and killed a little time at the coffee shop, and having a late lunch in Negaunee of Irontown Pasties.

Rudy had a traditional, I tried the veggie - delicious

Once the weather settled, we checked out the South Marquette Trails. The main trailhead has a nice little pavilion for Rudy to replace a bike tire under.

Fun bike art

My kind of practice skinnies

Easy to follow trails

The 'South' trailhead

Rudy ventured out on random fun trails, while I took an easier loop by bike (Morgan Creek). The trails not too bad after all the recent rain - they are definitely well built and used.

'Carp Eh Diem' Trail

After the riding, we found a spot to camp along the nearby Marquette Mountain Road. Dinner was barley and red sauce, followed by Hand and Foot - Rudy won, and 3-13 - Leslie won.

May 22
Just a little morning rain, and cool again. We headed back to the South Trails for more biking. The slightly more challenging Pioneer Loop was fun for me, and Rudy got in a few sections he hadn't been on before. A little lunch break, then we went to the North Trails. There are more intersections and not quite as well marked, but still nice trails with less wet spots.


We drove a few miles north to Harlow Lake for camping. Ate bean burritos, and got in an evening stroll down to Harlow Lake.

Bluebead Iris, I think

Harlow Lake

Closed out the day with Hand and Foot - two Rudy dominations.

May 23
A putsy morning - not going anywhere! After breakfast I get some black beans soaking! Rudy biked most of the trails in this little system - lots of rugged stuff that he enjoys. I got out for a nice little hike, getting in some of the singletrack, the 'Jedi' trail was especially interesting.

Some cairns to follow

I think recommended direction is coming down this

The weather was cool and mostly cloudy, we pretty much hung around the van. Rudy got in his super-hero movie fix with the green hornet. Eventually we cooked and consumed our black beans, then played Trivial Pursuit (Leslie win!), and some Hand and Foot - one win each.

May 24
40s and rainy - not lovely weather. I dawdled enough in the morning that it was down to a drizzle at the start of my run and even that was done by the end - not so bad! I even got to include some of the North Country Trail, which was well marked, but didn't seem to be very heavily traveled, maybe a little early for most hiking in northern Michigan.

Following blue blazes

We headed back toward Marquette, stopping at little Presque Isle State Park to check out the beach.



We returned to the South Trails for Rudy to get in another ride, I just did some reading, enjoying the little bits of sunshine that appeared once in a while. Back to Marquette Mountain Road for camping. Dinner was split peas and sweet potatoes, then we spent a little time assembling a food budget spreadsheet - interested in looking at what we spend on food, what the best 'calorie per dollar' items are, how we can save money with the eating, etc. We'll see how that goes! Still found some time to play a game of Hand and Foot - Rudy crushed it again.

May 25
A little damp and cool, but not raining! I got in a short run on the Grom (aka 'Kids') Loop and Gorge-ous Trail, loving the sun and being serenaded by winter wrens, before we headed to the Ishpeming Trails. We actually started from a little park in Negaunee. Rudy got in the 'Epic' loop and thoroughly enjoyed that. I did the beginner trail and started on the Epic, but was not at the level of even the first few miles of singletrack. So I bailed after only one minor crash and arm scraping. After Rudy wrapped up his bike ride, he got in a little dip in Teal Lake - sunny and relatively warm, but breezy too, and a chilly lake - looked refreshing!



We then continued west, stopping to camp just off a snowmobile trail in Ottawa National Forest.


We got in a little stroll on the snowmobile trail (it quickly became fairly wet), then made some mac 'n cheese and played Hand and Foot - one win each.

MD, PA, IN, MI - lots of visiting friends

Early May included a lot of driving and visiting friends, less 'exploring', pictures, and out in the woods time, so I'm reverting to even more generic summarizing than the typical posts, for some of the stops at least...

May 5-7
After a little hiking around Massanutten, we head to my MTU running teamies, Christy and Paul's, just outside Baltimore for a few days of meeting their kids and pup, fantastic grilled pizza and spatchcock chicken on a Big Green Egg, lots of chatting, and even a couple long runs on nearby trails in Harford Glen Park and Gunpowder Falls State Park. While Christy and I were putting in some miles, Rudy helped Paul chop the remains of a very large oak they recently had to take down, and make another cheesecake! So much goodness.

May 7-9
Made our way to see another MTU teamie, Megan, just outside Philadelphia. Megan is in academics and was super busy with end of semester work, but we still got in some good visiting and eating (she made us a simple, but delicious pasta dish) and I was ambitious enough to make some bread and pizza and blackberry crisp. Got in a little strolling and jogging around her nice neighborhood, a pretty chill couple days for Rudy and I.

Finally some rhododendrons in bloom

May 9
We depart Megan's and drive about four hours west to camp near Raystown Lake. Pretty damp day, so lots of hanging out, I did get in a stroll on the Horsefly Trail though, starting a little binge of geeking out on birds. I managed to identify a black and white warbler and common yellowthroat - heard and saw many more of course! Dinner was easy bean burritos, gaming was Hand and Foot - Rudy win.

May 10
Later to wake than hoped, but enjoyed the nice sunny morning watching (mostly listening to) birds - notable sighting was a scarlet tanager. We drove to the other side of the lake for trails. Raystown Lake Trails have a good reputation, and I did enjoy them - nothing too technical or steep - but I really couldn't discern much difference between easy, intermediate, and advanced trails - Rudy agreed, a nice area, but maybe not worth making any big trips for.

 

Though I should also say that a lot of trails were closed due to pipeline construction, so could normally get two days of fun from the system. A 15 mile run for me, and Rudy biked a similar route, but tacked on another little loop I left out. After our few hours of activity, we drove to the South end to check out skills park, but that was also closed. And we just missed the open hours for the Visitors Center, but there were some decent nature trails to check out, including a nice little bird habitat area with lots of bluebirds, swallows, sparrows, wrens, and cat birds.

Chock full of birds

We eventually went back to prior night's spot as the sunny afternoon clouded up (supposed to be rainy the next day.) Ate lentils and rice and played Hand and Foot and Rummy 5000 - Leslie wins both.

May 11
Rain started up a little sooner than previously forecast, (once again we were freed of the internet to get weather updates) but I got in an hour run in mostly light rain. Could've avoided some of the precipitation if there was less dawdling while I woke up, but I did get to see an oven bird! We continued to head west for a long day of travel, extended after I managed to break the speaker, resulting in a little shopping near Pittsburgh. The drive through Pennsylvania was mostly in the rain and fog, not bad scenery though, and just a little traffic headaches around Pittsburgh. We continued along the West Virginia and Ohio border to Wayne National Forest in Ohio, stopping at the Ring Mill Campground along the Little Muskingum River.



Ate butter and parmesan spirals (I think maybe the blandest Annie's noodle and cheese product we've tried so far) and watched Django Unchained.

May 12
Still damp, but a nice morning. Soooo many birds! Seemed like a lot of them were higher up in the taller trees, but I did get to spot a couple indigo buntings, along with sparrows and wrens, an American redstart, and I belived spotted towhees (the Eastern variety should be more common here, but ?) We continued to drive through southern Ohio and into Indiana, occasionally weaving into West Virginia and Kentucky to our destination a little south of Columbus, IN to visit Dan, who Rudy knows from college. There was much learning and excitement with Dan's solar power system and Chevy Volts. Dinner was burgers.

May 13
Another long run for me. Lacking ambition to find an enjoyable route, or drive anywhere, I spent 24 miles on roads to get in six miles of trail at Muscatatuck Park. At least it was a nice little park that looked to be most utilized for camping and picnics as I didn't see any people on the trail.

did come across a cute little turtle though...

I didn't seem to do too much damage with all the pavement, we'll see what the next few days bring, and it was probably good mental training! During my excursion, Rudy helped with adding solar panels to a barn addition being constructed.


Dinner was teenage boy food (there are two of them there!) - fish sticks, chicken bites, hot pockets, corn dogs, and fries. After spending way too much time on the computer, I finally hung out on the deck and enjoyed the pleasant evening. more chatting

May 14
We leave Dan's and head to Brown County - I think we ended up in National Forest for camping, there is a mix of federal and state land in the area. We both got in some running on the Nebo Ridge Trail, pretty back-country, but a nice tread through the woods. I was able to ID a few of the plants around our camp:

Cinquefoil

Blue eyed grass

Dinner was bean burritos and game was Hand and Foot - Leslie win.

May 15
A lovely sunny morning. We headed north to Brown County State Park. Rudy bought a permit (on top of the State Park entr) allowing him to ride all the trails, but I stuck to the free beginner trails, since I wasn't to anxious to do a ton of crazy biking anyhow. The easy trails were actually pretty fun and a sufficient outing for me. We ended up with sun and 80s again - like summer! After the bike rides, we went back south to camp in Yellowwood State Forest. Ate some rice and lentils and played a gam of Hand and Foot - Rudy win.

May 16
I got in a nice short gravel road run before our longish drive north. We made a stop at Nick's Kitchen in Huntington, Indiana, which is supposedly the birthplace of the pork tenderloin sandwich. Rudy got the tendorloin and I checked out the house made sausage sandwich - food was OK, but the pie was really good!

Rudy's large pork tenderloin

Black Raspberry, 'Hoosier' Sweet Cream, and Rhubarb

After lunch we had a few more hours of driving to get to my MTU friend's place in Hamburg, MI - Jess and Clint, and we got to meet their new baby Kora. The rest of the day included a nice stroll, awesome visiting, and yummy salmon salads.

May 17
Clint and Jess had their normal work lives to attend to, so we were on our own for the day. I got in a run on the Lakelands Trail, which is a paved rail trail, but there is enough of a shoulder that I mostly stayed off the pavement. Then a little laying around in the sun before we headed to Brighton Recreation Area for biking - decent trails, we each had fun - me with the easier trails and Rudy on the more advanced stuff. Not much time before our working friends returned home and we had some burgers - beef and portabello - and got in some good visiting.

May 18
A short run for me, then Rudy and I headed to Pickney State Park to bike the Potowatami Trail. I somehow got onto a shortcut, but got to experience most of the 17+ mile loop - another nice trail. And another hot day - we took a dip in Silver Lake before leaving the park. A little chill time, then strolled to Hamburg Pub to meet Patrick - one of my former coworkers, who is also an MTU grad and really into biking. It was a lovely couple hours of catching up, with snacks at the pub, followed by tacos back at Jess and Clint's. Another chill evening, which fantastically included watching some Bob Ross painting mindlessness.

Virginia

April 30
Little bouts of light rain in the morning, but supposed to be another nice day. Travis and Lauren out early for another biking event. After another longish run for me we depart Boone and head north to Damascus, Virginia. Once there, it is a glorious sunny, 80F day. I ride the popular rail trail Virginia Creeper - just out and back from Damascus to White Top Station, a gentle uphill for two hours, just under 18 miles, wasn't arduous, but really didn't feel easy either.

A lot of the old rail stations are still there, here is White Top

Picturesque Laurel Creek

Just Picturesque

Despite the beautiful Sunday afternoon bringing out throngs of people, I got to see a deer and a black bear cub! The 'descent' was fun, taking just a little over an hour. Rudy rode the nearby Iron Mountain Trail - a little more challenging and remote. After the riding, we went to nearby Mount Rogers National Recreation Area for camping, ate pasta and played Hand and Foot (Rudy win) and 3-13 (Leslie win).

May Day!
Overcast, but no rain yet. I spent some time just dawdling around out side, expecting rain at any time (no service here to check weather - yes!)

Spring growth!

Rudy is awesome and picks up some garbage around the camp. Eventually we continue our drive a little ways toward Roanoke and park at the Walnut Flats Campground in George Washington National Forest and have an afternoon of off and on rain, not a lot though. Super hero movies for Rudy, puzzling for me, and split peas and sweet potatoes for dinner. The weather seemed to clear up and we got in a little evening stroll, enjoying lots of birds and frogs songs and chatting with a local about fishing the nice little stream.



After returning to the van, played Hand and Foot - Leslie win.

May 2
Cool, but sunny! Breezy too. A brisk little run for me on the gravel road, then we continue towards Roanoke. Our fun stop for the day was at Calvin's Cove trails northwest of town for biking. The trails were pretty good, user friendly, and relatively well maintained.

Calvin's Cove

Love seeing decorated trees out in the woods

We both felt good and had fun on our rides. Then a couple hour drive to another area of George Washington National Forest in the southern portion of Narrowback Mountain trail system. We found dispersed camping adjacent to a nice little day use area. Dinner was mac and cheese, followed by a lovely stroll around Braley Pond.

Rudy actually took this one the next day, I think

Further entertainment with Hand and Foot - Leslie win.

May 3
A coolish morning and a decent longish run for me on mostly forest road, a little pack trail and a little singletrack too. Rudy got in some biking in the warmer afternoon. Not moving today, so soak black beans and rice all day. Other activities for me included chilling out, and some yoga in the sun - I'm kind of a fairweather yogi without the indoors! Rudy enjoyed his longer ride, followed by eating, and Hand and Foot and 3-13, Rudy takes both!

May 4
Cooler, overcast, and supposed to be afternoon rain. A shorter run for me, then we travel a bit north to another area of Narrowback Mountain. Our separate rides both ended up being more than we bargained for! I intended on the Lookout Mountain loop, and pretty much did it, albeit with a few unintentional bonus miles, and rugged down tree crossings. There was actually lots of time on paved and gravel roads, and the few miles of singletrack I did get on the Wild Oak Trail was only somewhat manageable for me - lots of rock gardens and steep decents and I was pretty wore out by the end, where I got to cross a suspension bridge with high, less than bike handlebar width railings - should've gotten more pictures, pretty scenic!

Was a little disappointed with the recommended scenic overlook

Rudy was out longer than I was and he ended up with more of a back country adventure with the trail hard to find in some areas, but he did better with getting good flower pics.

Azalea

Moccasin Flower

The whole day was cool and threatening to rain, but the precipitation held off until after we departed on a drive of just under two hours northeast to Little Fort Campground - more of an OHV area and actually not far from the Massanutten Trail, which is hosted a 100 mile run in the upcoming weekend - heard it was a soggy one. Dinner was lentils and quinoa, fun was Hand and Foot - close game but Leslie takes it! A very rainy night.

May 5
The rain seemed to have let up by early morning - we didn't have service to check weather, but chanced a little bit of a hike on the Massanutten and Tuscarora Trails - lots of water on them, but rocky and not muddy, so not bad.

Sassafras!

Mountain Laurel

Still need to find this one...

 


The rest of the day was getting to a couple of my MTU running teammates Christy and Paul just outside Baltimore, kicking off another good stretch of visiting people.