This is a shameless attempt to save the the most advanced civilization in
history from imminent self destruction by eliminating carbon emission,
dependence on foreign sources of fuel,obesity, hypertension and diabetes.
Cycling accomplishes all those things at once and helps us develop a better
understanding of ourselves, each other and our relationship to the cosmos.

Oh, horse puckey!
I like to ride bikes, have been doing it all my life.
The rest of that crap is just a fringe benefit,
and the blogosphere gives me a chance to share my interior
monologue with virtual rather than imaginary friends.

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Getting away from the plague.


These days it's a little hard to get away from the things we are avoiding.  Staying home is more dangerous than getting out.  I wanted to get outside somewhere else.  On the county map of Michigan's Covid data, Oscada County is one of the few "green" zones.  You can see why.  No people.  Just a comfortable place away from infection.  I chose a more secluded campground than I did on my first trip to the Huron forest.  The Pine River Campground is 6 miles from the nearest paved road
                    
and the river runs right past it.  150 years ago this was the sight of a hatchery where Rainbow Trout was imported into Michigan from the Rocky Mountains.  I expected the fishing to be at least fun for a novice fly fisherman type guy.  It probably is.
The fact that I didn't get any interest from the fish is testimony to my incredible ineptitude with a fly rod.  It's fun, casting away into the burbling waters expecting a violent clash with a wild fish at any moment.  I was more successful at enjoying the change of scenery for my isolation and was successful at chasing Rainbows, never catching one.
I'm better at chasing rainbows on my bike.  I can catch beautiful views from the asphalt.  The paved roads in the area are excellent for biking and provide great views of the forest as well as some overlooks of the Au Sable River valley.




The gravel roads are more pleasant and less challenging than those of the Manistee forest.  Outside the river valley the roads are less hilly and less sandy than the west side of the state and miles of quiet forest provide an idyllic experience with virtually no traffic.  One afternoon riding three hours, I experienced a car.  It was parked on the side of the road, I suppose while somebody was out hunting whatever is in season.  



There's plenty of variety out there for the more adventurous.  A network of marked and maintained snowmobile trails provide even deeper isolation and more challenge to those who want to beat themselves up a little more.  
                         
They begin with a two track and lead to plain grass or sandy single tracks but get you farther into the forest to the simple beautiful places to let loose of your concerns for a bit.

                              
After few hours on the bike and a couple of trips to the river to find a feisty fish, who continued to elude me, I was pretty worn out each day.
                             
The afternoons were perfect in the 60's, temps dropped at night when the sky cleared off leaving a magnificent array of stars to look at over a warm campfire.  The mornings were, shall we say, brisk being in the 30's, but I didn't notice until I tried getting up at a normal hour.  Walking outside changed my mind completely and made a good excuse to take a leak, crawl back into bed and read until I fell back asleep and things warmed up a bit.

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