Its Not About Fun! (Well, maybe just a little!)

"May your trails be crooked, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds, May your rivers flow without end, meandering through pastoral valleys tinkling with bells, past temples and castles and poets towers into a dark primeval forest where tigers belch and monkeys howl, through miasmal and mysterious swamps and down into a desert of red rock, blue mesas, domes and pinnacles and grottoes of endless stone, and down again into a deep vast ancient unknown chasm where bars of sunlight blaze on profiled cliffs, where deer walk across the white sand beaches, where storms come and go as lightning clangs upon the high crags, where something more beautiful and more full of wonder than your deepest dreams waits for you - beyond that next turning of the canyon walls."
-Edward Abbey

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you... while cares will drop off like autumn leaves."
- John Muir

Sometimes I have a difficult time explaining why I put myself through some of the experiences I have found. It is the "whoaness" that results from the hard won summit, the "A" group ride I managed to hang on to, the freezing night in the tent, the steep and long mountain road, the flying downhill ride, and the 10 knot reach across the empty Lake. Its not found in a video game, it has to be earned.

Where most people glide down the hill, I rode up it. Where some drive their jeeps, I rode my mountain bike. It is the near collision with a white tail while riding the trails, the quick photo of a moose hiking Isle Royale, the stars in the middle of Lake Michigan, and the end of the 50 km VASA. Its a test, its all a test.

I enjoy the challenge, the solitude, the quiet, the view. Earning the speed, the endurance, the peak, the run!


You have to be out in it to experience it, there is no reading about how someone else did it, it has to be done first hand.

My best advice, go do it!

Michigan Spring!

Spring in Michigan is always a surprise. One minute the sun is shining and its nice and warm, the next minute the huge wet snow flakes are hitting you in the eye, if you go outside.

One thing for sure, regardless of the weather, the sports must go on. The track and lacrosse seasons are well under way. There have been track meets and lacrosse matches in the sun and in the rain. This year the lacrosse players have full status as a varsity sport, elevated from a club sport.

The track meet with Rockford High School a couple of days ago was delightful. Nice and warm, with lots of spectators. I went to the Forest Hills vs. Grand Haven Lacrosse match on Monday evening, it was raining and about 35 degrees.

I enjoy watching the teams competing at their sports. They all seem to enjoy their time together and at practices.

Some of the action at the track meet includes a start for the hurdles and the start for the 1600m run.
The new facility at Grand Haven is great for both sports. The track is superb and the lacrosse action is on a shared soccer field behind the bleachers for the main stadium. Both the main stadium and the soccer/lacrosse fields are of great artificial turf.

The Party's Over!

Well, the day has finally come, the trip has ended. I made it home safe and sound. It would seem that I brought back some warmer weather then had been in residence before I arrived.

The trip was mostly uneventful, no issues with traffic or mechanical problems. Just the typical mindless American drivers, camping thirty yards behind you in the left lane at night, using you as their cruise control and the lunatics in Chicago, doing thirty miles per hour faster then traffic and weaving back and forth.

The unpacking of the car and getting rid of the dust that has settled over all parts of the vehicle is still under way. I have managed to get the Yakima box off the roof and the majority of the bugs and dirt sprayed off. Its raining and forecast for tomorrow also so it will remain dirty for a day or so more.

I did manage to get some riding in after I made it home. On Wednesday, I went for an "Old Guys" ride with some of the gang from our usual Thursday and Sunday rides at Rock & Road. We tried to do an easy pace out on some of the lesser used roads of the area south of Grand Haven. On Saturday, a couple of friends and I did another ride casually cruising around Grand Haven and parts south to near Pigeon Lake.

This ride resulted in some unwanted attention from one of the more unreasonable drivers in the area.

Unfortunately, this incident has some history attached to it.

Last year, we, a R&R Thursday night group, the exact number eludes me but I think it was about 10, wer riding south on Lake Shore Drive just south of Wildwood. As we rode down into the gully where a pond is behind the fence of the east side of the road, a large, very large, blue dump truck came down the hill around the corner from the south heading north. As it approached us, it pulled over the double yellow line to cover at least two thirds of the south bound lane. It was an obvious move to threaten us as bikers on the road. This section of the road has no paved shoulder.

I noticed the very obvious large lettering on the sides and rear of the truck as it went by and I turned to look at it afterward. Bark & Chips 786-9786. I think the letters and numbers are at least 12 inches high if not more. So, unmistakable.

Saturday afternoon, two other friends and I were having a delightful ride south of town. Easy miles in hopes of not being too burned for a longer Sunday ride. We went south on Hiawatha and proceeded west on Croswell to Lake Shore. At the top of the overpass hill we stopped then turned left going south toward Sandy Point. We had pulled out to go around the storm grates on the side of the road as usual after checking traffic. Immediately pulling back in to a single pace line formation with me in the lead. We were riding on the west (right) side of the white line on the right side of the road heading south near the entrance to the RR repair yard for the coal cars at the Campbell Consumers Power plant. This section of Lake Shore Drive has an approximately 3 foot paved shoulder.

Then, an extremely loud truck horn started blasting behind us. It was obvious it was closing on us at a high rate of speed. I knew not to look back as I did not want to risk weaving around on the road. While the horn was still blasting, the truck roared by within a foot of my handlebars. I was not on the road surface, I was on the right side of the white line. The horn had started blasting well before he got to us and continued well past us. No one was hurt or thrown from their bikes.

The reason I am documenting this is because it was the same truck, Bark & Chips, 786-9786.

His business is noted in the GH Yellow pages as Hardwood Bark & Chips. 13433 Bingham Road, West Olive just east of US31 across from the West Ottawa Golf Course.
Business phone numbers:
616.786.9786
616.836.4088
Fax 616.786.9090
Truck Phone 616.240.2824
Nextel 130*40*1153

Otherwise, I would ask that if there are others out there that have had similar experiences with this truck, who advertises who he is while he is in fact committing assault, which in my mind demonstrates he feels he is above civilized behavior, that we gather these reports for presentation to the authorities.

This type of behavior, threatening, intimidating and the obvious use of force, against other citizens, that are otherwise acting well within their legal rights, is uncalled for and reprehensible. I am not fully aware of how the other two felt I was riding with but I thought I was a dead man. There was no question of "reasonable apprehension of imminent harmful or offensive contact", I truly thought I was a goner.

Michigan Legal Definition of Assault: "The threat or use of force on another that causes that person to have a reasonable apprehension of imminent harmful or offensive contact; the act of putting another person in reasonable fear or apprehension of an immediate battery by means of an act amounting to an attempt or threat to commit a battery.

I am truly sick of this type of treatment while I am traveling the roads of this country. It is not limited to while I am riding my bike. There is a cowboy mentality that exists in many activities in this country. It is in boating, motorcycling, general driving, and other cultural type activities in public places.

Boating and motorcycling tend to fall into similar categories, noise and speed. Why is there such a need to be so unnecessarily loud?

Driving needs little explanation, speeding, running red lights, disregard for courtesy, such as turn signals and proper lane use, are among some of the issues. Need we mention disrespectful behavior toward others such as bikers?

The last thing I will complain about in American cowboy society is the public arena behavior. Screaming, unneeded trips out of the seat, lack of control of ones intake of alcohol are only a few of the behaviors inflicted on others. There are times and places for behaviors, such as when the big points are scored but not during an entire musical concert. The screaming at the concerts I do not understand.

I guess I have been affected more negatively then I thought by this latest run in with the big blue truck. I think I have been sensitized to the nuisance because I got to spend so much quality time enjoying the outdoors on my own terms in the wilds of Arizona and Utah. I enjoyed the solitude of the mountains and desert and did not have to listen to the "rolling thunder" I will soon have inflicted on my from the land and sea.

I hope to return soon.

Back to Moab!

Well, the time had come! The flight schedule said Julie and Cat had to go back to Michigan. So, Sunday morning we were up early to take them to the Phoenix Skyharbor for their return to reality. It was sad to have to go back, but the pets await.
One of the local residents came out to wish everyone goodbye! He was lurking under the pool toy box on the patio. My brother was especially excited to see this guy! A few months back one of its brothers managed to poke Cam in the toe while he was sleeping. His description is it is like a really bad bee sting but then there are lingering effects caused by the neuro-toxin the scorpion injects. Several days of tingling. This one met an untimely demise under Cam's shoe! He was not sad to see it go.

Julie and Cat were gone so I had to begin my journey back also. I decided to seek an alternate route back north to Moab, as we had done the I17 journey in our quests for the vortex energy a number of times.
The route I chose took me up through Payson, past the Petrified Forest National Park, and Canyon de Chelly National Monument. I wish some more these National features were spread across Michigan, but I guess when a mile thick ice sheet scrapes your state flat you get lakes instead of high rocks.


One the way north, I ran into several types of weather: snow, dust storms, and fine partly cloudy skies. The one constant that seems to never be in short supply out here in the Spring is the wind. Always the wind!

There were several appropriately named features seen on the tour north, one was an area of several large buttes called Los Giganticus Buttes, and the other is a gift shop (tourist trap) named the Hole in the Wall, because it is in a hole in the rock wall.

Upon safe arrival back in Moab, I set up camp in the delightful "Up a Creek" campground. It is located on a small stream that runs right through Moab. Only a short walk from a great grocery store and the library. I managed to get some red beans & rice cooked up and then headed up into the park for some sunset shops. This place is never without its options.


On Monday, after a great night of sleep, I got up to some oatmeal, coffee and an apple. This was to be the day of the road bike tour on the Park road.
I got suited up and headed into the Park. I parked the car at the Visitor Center which is immediately inside the Park entrance. The ride begins with a great set of switchbacks right out of the parking lot. The road is about 18 miles long ending at the Devil's Garden trail-head and camping area. This is the area I camped in when I was here the week before last.
The ride is an up and down affair, but mostly up to Devil's Garden. The crowds were already gathering at the trail-head. I had part of a PowerBar and started the ride back. Whoa, Nellie! I think the ride out took about half the time of the ride in. It was great. There are sections where it almost becomes a strain to stay in the tuck flying downhill for so long. The most fun was in the final miles in the switch backs down to the Visitor Center. There was a Mustang that had passed me a ways before going into the turns, if I had another 100 yards I would have caught him in the turns.
See the ride file on: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/7995787


After the ride, I had some more to eat and went for a hike starting in the Park Avenue section of the Park. This is a great trail that is about one mile long behind the huge fin of red rock called Park Avenue. Most people either go down and back or have a pick up at the other end.
I continued on down the wash to see if I could hike up one of the canyons and get to the top of the plateau. No luck. I was thwarted in my attempt by too much rock. I was able to get quite high up in a saddle behind the Three Gossips to obtain some nice wide shots of the valley and the Park road.
Much fun!



The final shot is from the starting and ending point of the hike in the lower Park Avenue trail head parking lot. The sun had come around to provide a better angle by the time I got back.
I am now heading back to the campsite for some dinner and a shower. Much needed at this point.
In the morning I break camp and start back East. It appears there may be some rain in the forecast. Bummer!

20 Miles of Bad Road!

This was one of the best days of the trip so far. It began early, with our drive north again toward the Red Rocks of Sedona, and ended late when we had to drag ourselves out of the Verde River Hot Springs and get back to Phoenix.

Our initial destination was the Slide Rock State Park just north of Sedona. This is a great little park in the valley of Oak Creek. We came in from the north to avoid the Gatlinburg like congestion of Sedona. The drive down the canyon to the the Sate Park was great. The valley is awesome with the road hugging the cliffs and cruising around the switchbacks is always fun.
We wanted to do a hike up Sterling Pass before we toured the Park. The trail head is about a half mile down the road from the State Park entrance. This hike was a real stairmaster. It is very steep going up a red rock canyon to a "low" spot in the white rock that sits on top of the red. There is much evidence that a wild fire has occurred in this canyon in the recent past. All the Ponderosa Pines are black up the trunk with many of them dead. We saw many of the lizard natives on the way up and down.

The views back down the trail to the Oak Creek canyon were spectacular. We were a little disappointed that the pass at the top did not yield a better view down into the valley on the back side. There were quite a few trees up there that did not afford a good view.

After we went up and down on the Sterling Pass Trail, we headed back to the Slide Rock State Park. My brother had introduced me to this park several years back. It is a nice family oriented park for picnicking and swimming, when the water is warm. We hiked up the river to check out the rocks and the stream. I think the water was about 50 degrees.

The cliffs and the river are nice to hike in. There are huge boulders that have washed down the stream bed in the past. The best part is the smoothly eroded "slide" that is the real attraction here. If you can brave the water the ride looks like great fun.


On our drive back south, we took the detour to Verde River Hot Springs. I "discovered" this hot spring on the web when Julie mentioned she wanted to go to a hot spring while she was in Arizona. I always give her what she wants.
This one has a great history. It was established back in the 1920's as a resort. The resort was built around the springs and now provides the pools that you soak in. These were made of poured concrete and had the inlets and outlets to provide a stable level and two different temperatures.
The journey just to get to the hot springs is a tale. From I17 you head east on AZ260. After about ten miles a Forest Service road heads south. The trail description told us we had about 20 miles of bad road. They were right! The first half is used extensively by cattle ranchers to reach their grazing lands. This has resulted in heavy washboard of the road surface. Then the road gets worse. It really just meant that we had to go slow and revel in the scenery. At one point we came upon a large bull that seemed to want to get friendly, and I mean really friendly, with our car. He must have liked the color. We also observed another car down the embankment that seemed to now be there permanently.

After running the road gauntlet succesfully, the last hurdle to the Hot Springs is a short hike from a small campground. The hike is about a mile long upstream to a river crossing. The trail begins at an old hydro-power plant that is in the process of being dismantled and the area restored to its natural state. This was easy at the time we did it due to the low water level. There was evidence in the brush and trees along the river that the water can get very high.
Our trail description told us to look across the river to find two lone palm trees. These are some of the remains of the resort that can be seen easily from the far side of the river. Due to the vegetation it is difficult to see the other remains.

After getting across the river, the excitement level goes really high. It was kind of amazing we found the place and it actually existed. As you hike the last hundred yards the old ruins and the actual hot pools come into view. It would have been a great place to escape to back in its day.

As we came around the corner of what appeared to be a large concrete main plaza, the hot pools appear. It happened to be strewn with rafts and camping gear. Two guys were in the middle of a one hundred mile rafting journey down the Verde River and this was their second night out. They were great company and a real source of history as they have lived in the area for quite some time.
The pools themselves are unique. Two different pools give two separate experiences. An outdoor pool built out from the rocks with poured concrete is the "cooler" of the two pools. This is out on a large concrete deck about thirty feel above the river. The other pool, which, Julie thought was about 103 degrees, is inside a rock room. It appears to have had a roof and a door at one time but is now open to the sky.
The art work that adorns the inside of the "room" is incredible! The art is quite elaborate and extensive. The campers mentioned there were many "hippies" that frequented the hot springs that took care of the pools, cleaning and decorating. At times it is obvious there may be a distinct lack of bathing attire also.



Alas, as the sun was going down we decided we better tear ourselves out of the hot pools and start our journey back over the 20 miles of bad road. The sunset was really nice but we had to get going. It would have been great to camp there and be able to stay at the springs into the dark of night and see the stars.

The drive out of the canyon in the Subaru was slow but easy. We came upon several people heading in to the springs as we were heading out. One couple was in a Saturn and were planning on staying overnight to go in the hot springs in the morning.
We did see two large black cows in the brush next to the road as we drove out. It is mostly all open range on the road so you have to pay attention.
As we came around one of the ridge turns the lights of Camp Verde came into view and we knew we were almost to the end of the bad road.
It was worth every second! This was a long, and varied day, but the journey was great. From high to low, cold water to hot, bad mountain road to Interstate Highway, many contrasts. We will be back!

Phoenix Mtn Preserve

Today was to be a day of dust storms and high winds! This has not materialized.
About mid-morning Herself and I decided to go for a hike up Lookout Mountain near my brother's house. The hike ended up about 5 miles total loop with over 720 feet of vertical. I love my little Garmin GPS majig!
About half of the hike is walking through the Phoenix neighborhoods. The landscaping is amazing with the utterly different flora then our Michigan. Rarely does anyone attempt to keep a lawn. Most space in the yards is some type of aggregate of all different colors, shapes, textures and sizes.

The views take in from Squaw Peak on the left in the background to downtown Phoenix to Shaw Butte with all the radio antennas on top on the right.

Lookout Mountain is aptly named as it gives a good 360 degree view of the Phoenix valley from the top. The other peaks we have hiked up have areas that are kind of hidden from view. The populated valley seems to go on forever. Where do all these people come from.

The breeze at the top was great. The trail up is kind of tricky in spots as the rock has broken up and is kind of like walking on ball bearings on a slope. I was happy neither of us ended up on our rear ends.

I did notice the pervasive, nasty, sneaky, "Devil Spawn" Cholla Cacti were stalking me. They were on the slope below us as we hiked along the trail. I could swear they were sending up advanced troops to try and jump onto me again. We managed to elude their best efforts and get down the mountain unpoked.

Sedona Vortex Energy

We have felt the Vortex Energy Centers calling to us as soon as we got within the range of their influence. So this journey was ordained to seek out the center and go to it. We did not have our crystals but we could still feel the energy coursing through our bodies.
Actually, we went to the Red Rocks of Sedona, Arizona today. Our journey lead us down the Schnebly Road from I17. It is a dirt road that is used extensively by the Pink Jeep Tours. Awesome views and fun to drive the Subaru down. I think we went down over 1500 feet and ended up right in the middle of Gatlinburg, Arizona, oops, I mean Sedona. I am somewhat dismayed by all the crystalography, New Age, and Vortex Center hype that goes on here. I just want to walk in the rocks.

We began our tour by going down to one of the Bell Rock trail heads. There has been extensive work done on the roads in this area lately. The last time Julie and I were here I was afraid to drive the car off the road to get to a parking space. Now the road is a four lane divided boulevard with lovely parking areas for the trail heads. Bathrooms, vendors, paved spots that by 11am on a Monday are full to the brim. All for the low cost of $5 for the Red Rocks Pass (federal).


We began our hike up the trail toward Bell Rock and took an immediate right turn to get away from the hordes. Our trail was a loop around the backside of the Courthouse Butte, past the Spaceship Rock and then on to the final fun clambering around on Bell Rock. This area is one that is especially noted for its Vortex Energy. This energy is gained only by full body contact with the Red Rock. As can be seen we made every attempt to collect as much of the energy as possible. More energy can be gained by closer contact, to include full body.

The wild flowers were out in force today. Along with the flowers were the butterflys. Quite a delightful sight.

As we came around the east side of the Courthouse Butte, the Spaceship Rock was spotted. It had landed out of sight of the general public back in a low canyon. We had to walk around the rock to determine how the aliens got in the vehicle. We tried our best to meet with them, but they would not open the hatch. Julie and the Cat tried to extend their antennas to gather the most energy they could to communicate with the beings and I tried to meditate at the top of the ship. None of our efforts seemed to matter to the aliens in the Spaceship.


Cat did find a new friend near the Spaceship that she wanted to bring home with her. We did not think the airline would allow it to be brought on the plane.

Our next stop on the tour was the hugely popular Bell Rock. We managed to hike up and about all over this large chunk of Red Rock. It is quite enjoyable to go smearing around on the slanted rock. It is amazing to see from a distance all the variety of people that are drawn ever upward on the rock. The views are great. The day was one of our best for clear air and long views.

Toward the end of our stay at Bell Rock we had to pose in front of what must surely be the model for the new Ottawa County monument to justice, the Courthouse Butte. It appears to have been designed by the same architect with similar materials.



On the way back to Phoenix, our group needed to be fed. The source of the food was found up in the small mining town of Jerome. It is a great little town that is on many levels. It is perched on the side of a mountain with the shops and houses all on stilts and dug into the rock. To go one block in the town involves either driving up a switchback or using stairs if you are walking.
We had lunch at the Haunted Burger. The story goes that the building is haunted and the resident ghosts like hammers. Many have gone missing in the building.
There were excellent views of the valley over to Sedona and beyond to Humphrey Peak, the highest point in Arizona.

A partial rest day has been called for re-energization and basking in the sun. It is the warmest day so far predicted to hit 90 degrees. Not a cloud in the sky and no wind today. Woo-Hoo!

Squaw Peak

A great day to be on vacation.
I was going to go for an early ride with a bike group here in Phoenix, but since the theme of the visit is vacation, I decided to sleep in and do another trail ride on the mountain bike. I did an easy 25k with less then 1000 feet of climbing. Great trails also in the Phoenix Mountain Park.
After I got back and cleaned up we decided to go down to Squaw Peak for a hike up to the top of that mountain. It is about 1.2 miles from the parking lot trailhead to the peak 1400 feet up.
It is a true example of the Nature's Stair Master as very little of the hike is along a trail but stepping up to a new rock each time.

Once we got to the top a short rest was in order. This trial is very popular. There were probably 20 people resting at the top. Numerous people of all descriptions were seen going up and down the peak.


We did have a bit of excitement on the way down. Cat spotted two different lizards, which I think were COMMON CHUCKWALLAs (Sauromalus ater). They appeared to be eating the vegetation on the sides of the trail in the rock crevices. One of them was quite impatient with our blocking his path across the trail to get to some other vegetation. It appeared to attack us, so we thought, as it tried to run across the trail. The Chuckwalla is quite comical when it is running. It appears as if a switch is thrown that starts the legs moving, very fast. When it is on the ground it moves fast, bouncing around, going up into the air and in erratic directions. It did add to the excitement of the hike. One guy was telling us they were Gila Monsters. You meet all kinds out on the trail.

In the morning, we are going to head up north to Sedona and Jerome. The Red Rock is calling and we must go.

Herself has Arrived!

The latest update involves the arrival of Herself and Cat, the Speedster, in Phoenix.
My brother and I had the opportunity to go see the Phoenix Suns take on Sacremento for a hopeful berth in the NBA playoffs. The odds are long that the Suns will make it this year. They need to win every one of their last seven games. They beat Sacramento 139-102. We had a good time at the game. Beer was $6.75.
The next item on the agenda was to get Julie and Cat at the Phoenix Sky-harbor Airport. They had a great flight from Grand Rapids and the pickup went very well. By the time we got back to my Brother's house it was after midnight, so all went directly to bed.
The next morning we all got up very early as the recently arrived part of the crew was still three hours ahead of everyone else. We had some coffee and bagels to get going.
The first activity of the stay in Phoenix was a hike up the trails I rode the mountain bike on yesterday. The day was great, 70's and not a cloud in the sky. There were lots of folks out in the park hiking and enjoying the day.
The most exciting part was the lesson in cactus safety Craig learned. We were talking about the GHHS cross country coach and his experience with the "jumping cactus". I mentioned that it really does not jump. So, to experience the truth, we had to go seek out the Jumping Cholla Cactus, Opuntia bigelovii.

We were looking at a particularly nice specimen when I spotted one of the fallen arms on the ground nearby. I thought, I will pick it up very carefully so everyone can look at it.
I was immediately impaled by numerous needles that have microscopic hooks on the ends of the spines. I then desperately tried to get it off my left thumb with my right hand. This caused the needles to be now stuck in both thumbs. Extreme pain is also included. I got the spines out of my right thumb with my teeth and some help from everybody else. They were very reluctant to even think about touching the mass stuck to my left thumb. I had my bike repair tool in the camelback and asked to have that taken out of the pack pocket. I used the chain tool to kind of pry most of the arm off my thumb thinking that chunks of my thumb were going to go with each spine that I pulled out. I finished the task with my teeth.
A bit of whining was heard from my general direction for the rest of the hike. Julie asked if I thought I would need to have anything amputated, I said, "Yes, the stupid part attached sitting on top of my neck!"
The rest of the hike my thumb was throbbing from the pain and swelling.
Let me tell you those things do jump (not really but it sure seems like it) and they hurt like the dickens. The best advice I have is to stay away entirely. Unfortunately, no photos were taken to document the incident.
More fun to report soon. Much relaxation going on now. Beer! Sun! Warm!