Back Road drive

Yesterday my local golf course opened. My friends had their own golf cart, so they were allowed to use it. I do not have a regular golf cart, and since we are not yet allowed to rent carts due the Covid-19 restrictions -- I walked the course using a pull cart. It was the first time in decades I walked a golf course. I played the front nine with my friends, and then golfed the front nine again by myself hitting two balls to practice. Having not played for six weeks, my swing was a bit rusty. Newberry Country Club is quite hilly, so I will admit I was exhausted!. My golf watch kept track of miles. I walked seven miles during the round. I drove the back roads home and captured a few photographs.

There was still snow in spots on the north facing slopes.

The water table was high everywhere.

The spring peepers were out and very loud.

Sucker River..

A week ago the snow pile in front of the museum was four feet high.  Temperatures yesterday were in the 60s, so there is not much snow left!

Online Zoom Class and Virtual Shopping

There may be a few hiccups along the way, but since the first Zoom test worked our -- I am going for it.  To facilitate class and shopping scheduling, I am going through Acuity Scheduling.  I will be starting out with one class:  How to Find Lake Superior agates.  This video conference class will combine some of what I have offered during my onsite classes with a Power Point presentation.  During the first part I will show actual specimens and explain agate characteristics.  The Power Point will be shown on the screen and will include more detail.  Only five participants will be permitted in each class (five Zoom connections).  The class is $15/Zoom connection.  If multiple people want to take the class together, one person can sign up and pay for multiple slots and collect from your friends/family to pay their portion.  Each class should last around an hour and a half.  Two separate classes will be offered per day starting this Saturday.  Classes will take place everyday except for Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

There are also two time slots per day for one-on-one Zoom meetings to allow people to virtually shop at the Gitche Gumee Museum's gift shop.  I will use an IPad and walk around the gift shop to show you what is available.  I have the usual items as well as some new things I purchased at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in February.  The price to book a shopping slot is $20.  This is the minimum due.  If you spend over $30 (not including sales tax and shipping), the $20 deposit will be deducted from the total.  After you select the items you would like, I will calculate the total and you will pay via Square.

If you go to the Gitche Gumee Museum's Facebook page, there is an option to book a class or shopping slot (click on Book Now).  I also included a post today that has a booking link in the post (under the museum's photo).  Otherwise, you can put the following link into your browser:

https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=19490256

Hopefully, these online services will raise money for the museum since I am not sure when I will be able to open.

Use this time to get a new perspective

There is hidden wonder in what you do not clearly see. During these challenging times, let yourself imagine, create, wonder, appreciate, and live in new ways. Be more kind. Think deeply. Be contemplative. Decide what you want society to look like when we get to the other side of this pandemic.

Hike from Sable Falls Parking into the Grand Sable Dunes.

Yesterday I drove to Sable Falls in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (a mile from my house) and hiked across the river and into the Grand Sable Dunes. It was cloudy and windy, but temperatures were in the upper 40s. As I was leaving the dunes, I ran into a young couple from Charlevoix. They were bored and came up from the Lower Peninsula to go hiking. PLEASE: stay home for another couple of weeks to make sure you do not unintentionally spread Covid-19. 

Snow melt creates temporary "creeks."
 

I had to maneuver around flooded areas.

Bridge over Sable River.

The snow pack has reduced a lot in the last five days.  Although I had to post-hole it in a few places, for the most part the snow was not too deep.

I have never seen so many large trees down on the trail.  The national park has a lot of clean up.

Almost to the dunes....

Heading to the bluff over Lake Superior.

Heading back....

School Forest Cross Country Ski

Yesterday I decided to try cross country ski in the Burt Township School Forest.  The trail has not been groomed since the snow storm.  It was impossible to see where the trail is and the snow was deep so I headed over to the road.  I did not know the road has been plowed all winter.  I was able to ski on the side of the road until just before the bridge where the sun melted all the snow.  So I took my skies off and walked to the wide bend of the Sucker River and back.  It was a beautiful day.

From the bridge looking east....

From the bridge looking west....

Wide bend of the Sucker River.

Part of the road was snow covered.

Over the last few years I have seen hundreds of the tree seedlings, but never paid attention to the sign until yesterday.

Winter detail and experimental agate window

Winter definitely returned to the south shore of Lake Superior.  Here are a few winter detail photos.

Years ago I made a couple of abstract agate windows with more glass than agate.  I made another the last couple of days.  The green at the bottom represents the forests along the bluff (notice the path).  The gold is the beach.  The stones represent the cobbles along the lake.  The gray swirly glass is the waves.  The royal blue represents Lake Superior.  The red agate is the sun.  The blue and white represents the sky.  Very abstract.  Thanks to my son, Jonathan, for encouraging me to experiment again.

Before and after the April Snow Storm

The other day I went on a snowshoe trek.  I parked at Sable Visitors' Center and headed toward Sable Falls.  It was a beautiful sunny day with temperatures in the 30s.

 

After ten minutes I reached Sable River.

Next, I made a right and snowshoed along the river.

Then I arrived at the place where there used to be a bridge.  I forgot the bridge was out and decided to turn around.

After arriving home, I captured the deer feeding under my apple trees.  Of course, the photo below was taken before the snow storm.

The photo below was taken during the snow storm.  We received around a foot of snow.

This morning, after the storm, the deer were digging in the snow looking for something to eat.