There is a strip of little stones along the walkway beside the cottage in the woods on the hill by the lake. Michigan stones with reds, grays, and blues; pinks, greens, and whites. The stuff of grinding glaciers and rushing streams. Stones smoothed by the years, gathered with care, intentionally set along the walk to […]
Yearly Archives: 2025
A Navigator Error
Mon, 7 Jul 2025, 05:32 PM (-06:00)
from Argyle Lake State Park, Illinois to Devil’s Lake State Park, Wisconsin … 1. Park Entry The day was sunny. The sky was a brilliant blue. There were white clouds floating by. We were arriving at the park early, but as we climbed the hills on the western boundary of the park, severe thunderstorm warnings […]
Collecting Kindling
Sat, 5 Jul 2025, 03:23 PM (-06:00)
When collecting kindling, it is important to properly calibrate the sticks.
A Down Day
Sat, 5 Jul 2025, 02:30 PM (-06:00)
Argyle Lake State Park, Illinois … There was the requisite morning coffee (full disclosure: coffee for us while camping is instant, which honestly does the job admirably). There were eggs and bacon. And unlike many mornings on these north-south treks, we had no need to immediately pack up for another day on the road, since […]
Life on the Mississippi
Fri, 4 Jul 2025, 11:30 AM (-06:00)
Traveling from Pomme de Terre State Park in Missouri to Argyle Lake State Park in Illinois … 1. En route to Illinois, we chose a “scenic route” along the western shore of the Mississippi River. There were green dots along the road in our (yes) paper atlas. The narrow road twisted and turned. It passed […]
Fruiting Body
Fri, 4 Jul 2025, 10:53 AM (-06:00)
In Michigan. On the hill. By the lake. In front of the cottage. The size of two softballs. Emerging from the ground where another fruiting body stood last year. What a “great” way to celebrate the fourth of July!
Tyler State Park
Fri, 4 Jul 2025, 09:46 AM (-06:00)
At Tyler State Park in North Texas on the first overnight on our northward trek. … Ants and Bee I was sitting in a folding camp chair. On the ground in the dappled sun nearby, there was a flash of some sort. A fly or maybe a solitary bee was flopping in the dirt. Wait… […]