Many pictures and rides, one post.

Life has been busy lately, lots of things to get done in addition to training for PALM, so this post will be snippets of postings and pics from recent rides.

Palm is now less than 2 weeks away and we are still not where we should be on our training.  Our highest mileage weeks have been between 85 and 90 miles, and w'eve only had 2 of those, instead of 4 or 5.  We will definitely be relying on the Lord to get us through this this year.  Hoping that the week of the tour isn't when summer decides to get mean and break out the heat and humidity.  The weather we have been having the last few weeks has been on the cool side, not  the most conducive for camping, but great for riding.

We rode into Cadillac several times, sometimes taking the trail, other times doing road riding. The  taped mirror episode previously posted had lasting results.  We were headed into LeRoy to run some errands, I hit a small bump, one we barely felt, and the mirror that I had taped up, flew off.  We pulled over and I ran back to get it.  The arm that holds it on had broken,  and the mirror as well.

I'm guessing it was cracked from the jarring it took on the rumble strip and the bump just finished it off.  Once again, duct taoe was my friend, and we were soon on our way.  A new mirror is on order.  Hope it comes before PALM.  I also ordered Tony a pair of leg warmers, for Father's day.

The Russian olive trees are flowering, and  the air  is delicious with the sweet aroma of the blossoms.  Sometimes we slow down, just to take in the scent.  The tree, which looks more like a bush,   grows from 15 to 45 feet tall and is native to western and central Asia, as well as southern Russia, Kazakhstan, turkey and Oran.  It has thorns and silvery leaves.

 The flowers,  produce small red berries,  a friend of mine makes a tasty jelly from some.  In some countries, The dried powder of the berries is mixed with milk and used for rheumatoid arthritis, and joint pain.  Many years ago, in the US,  the department of agriculture introduced the plat because it can grow up to 6 feet a year, making it an ideal windbreak for farm fields.  The birds eat the berries and spread the growth of the plant, which in many places, is now considered a pest plant. If it is, it's the best smelling pest we've encountered in quite some time.

Farmers are  glad to finally be laboring in the fields,

and the manure truck is busy.  On one ride, it passed us 8 times.  No time to take a picture as it lumbers by, I'm too busy, plugging my nose.

Clouds that looked loaded with rain followed us on  more than one ride,  but  thankfully, did not send any drops our way.

In LeRoy, there was some work going on with telephone poles.  No workers, just evidence that they had been there, and the job was not yet complete.

The Tustin stop  along the trail has added a picnic table.   It was donated by the Kanouse Family, in memory of one of their relatives, that passed away.  It is very welcoming, and already, walkers and riders,  including ourselves, have  put it to use. located in front of the Pine River Museum, it's a nice
place to take a rest.      

This turtle didn't wasn't very big, but he wasn't afraid either.

This little one was crossing the path, and  didn't want his picture taken very badly.

Blue skies are a welcome sight.

The beaver  have been busy, the pond seems a bit higher than it was last year.

This overpass is where we often take a break.  If the day is too hot, it provides welcome shade.

Such a blessing to have some warmer days  for company as we ride.  Wildflowers are beginning to  stand at attention along the roads and trails, saluting us as we pedal past.

I think this winding creek  becomes part of the Pine River.

This past weekend we FINALLY headed to Northport with Rollin.  We have been eager to ride there,  the 2 lots we bought in the village need to be cleared,   so we combined the 2, rode some and worked some.  The weather was in the 60's, with one day reaching the 70's, good weather for riding, and not too hot to get some work done.  Nights were cool, but we were warm in our little trailer, even though we don't have any electricity.

So many blackberries on our lots, not sure how we will permanently  get rid of it, but for now we are cutting it out and digging up some of the roots.  There are some downed trees and branches to deal with  too.  One big one is blocking the space we want to use as a drive way. We hope to get it removed soon. Meanwhile, Tony does what he can to get rid of the small ones.

We fought for every inch of this clearing around our camping trailer. Still have much to do.

More blackberry bramble gone...but they'll be back..and so will we.

We were so excited to go for a ride on the peninsula.  Our first ride was to the lighthouse, 16 miles round trip.  So many tantalizing  views,  starting with one that is about 4 blocks from our lots.  This is the new gazebo at Northport marina.

Nice to see scenes like this.

We were riding along and came upon the Woolsey Airport.  It seems to just randomly appear .  No town or other buildings around it.   There are 2 grass runways, and a few bright colored planes parked off to the side of this stone building with it's yellow and black striped roof.  The  open air, viewing turret  invites passerby's to stop and take a picture.

Of course I was curious about this one of a kind, airport, so I did some research.  It is named after Clinton F.  Woolsey, a Northport native, born in 1894.  He was considered our nation's best pilots in the 1920's.  While flying in the first-ever U.S. international, 22, 000 mile,  goodwill flight, which was supposed to improve our countries relationships with Latin-American countries, he was killed in a mid air collision.  The lading gear on his plane was stuck, and his co pilot, was out on the wing attempting to lower it.  The wingtip of the plane hit the wing tip of another plane.  Both pilots in that flying machine,   parachuted to safety.  Woolsey crashed in a fiery ball while attempting to land his plane.  When his body was recovered, he had a parachute on, but hadn't bailed out, because his copilot,who was thrown from the wing of the plane and killed in the landing attempt,  did not have a parachute on.  Wolosey died, trying to make a safe landing, to save his friend.  Over 2000 people braved a snowstorm to attend the funeral, which was the largest ever held in Leelaneau county.  In later years, Woolsey's father dedicated 80  acres of land to a land trust, with the specification that some of it be used for an airport.  Later the county added more land.

I think this rusty piece of equipment is an old baler.   I don't know much about farm equipment, but I'm guessing that this was a stationary baler.  Hay would be pitched into the unit, which was usually horse powered,  where it would be compressed and tied into bales, later.
If machinery could talk, I think this one  would have many stories to tell.  Stories about boys and men laboring in the hay fields, under a hot summer sun, breathing in the choking dust of the hay.  Glad to  finally take a break in the shade of this giant machine.

As our ride continues, I spotted some plants with blue leaves.  I was mystified about seeing such an unusual plant.  A bit later I saw more blue.  We stopped to look closer, and found  blue paint markings, upon the leaves.  There was also a blue number 4 on the utility pole, so there must have been a connection between the 2.

Lilacs in bloom scented the air as we pedaled by.

These pictures, don't capture the intriguing colors of the water along the peninsula.

Leelanau State Park, home of the Grand Traverse Lighthouse, is at lands end,  8 miles form Northport.

The Grand Traverse Lighthouse , located on the tip of the little finger, of the Leelaneau peninsula, was built in 1852 by the US lighthouse Service,  at a cost of $400.00.  It was constructed from rubble stone  and a keepers dwelling was nearby.  In 1858 the tower was in danger of falling into the water.  The keepers cottage was demolished and   the present lighthouse was built in a more visible location for passing ships. A fog signal building was added in 1899.  The purpose of the lighthouse was to guide ships through the treacherous Manitou passage.  Although it has been converted to an automated light house, it continues to guide ships safely through.  21 light keepers  have served in the lighthouse.  The first was David Moon, who earned $350.00 per year.  Living at the light and keeping it burning was a lonely and challenging job.  The lighthouse keeper was expected to keep the light burning, especially in the worst of storms. Keepers with families, had to make their own fun, along with educating the children. There were no doctors nearby,  and no neighbors to visit.  Supplies  and mail were usually brought in by boat or by sled in the winter months.

The last light house keeper to serve was Terry Herring who kept the light until 1972.

 in 1900 the lighthouse was converted to a 2 story family dwelling,  The building closed in 1972, when an automated light tower was added, and like many lighthouses of the great lakes, it fell into disrepair.  It was rescued by the Grand Traverse Lighthouse foundation, and 2 years later it was opened to the public.  The lighthouse offers a light keepers program, which for a fee, will let a couple,  work in one week increments at the lighthouse, give tours and run the gifts  shop  one week at a time.   Tours to the top of the lighthouse are available for $4.00 per adult, children over 5 pay $2.00.  The view from the top is unforgettable.

The light is sometimes referred to as "Cat's head light", or " Northpoint light."

Lake Michigan stretched out before us, full of magic, beauty and wonder.  Beckoning us, to return and stay longer.  We will happily oblige.