Macrea and Grady
We'd just walked a mile and a half to the lake

May 26, 2019 - Sunday morning

45 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

It's the early morning hours on Sunday. Hambone's still in the tent sound asleep, Macrea had to heed nature's call early this morning, so remained inside to call the living room couch his bed, Grandma Sargie's sound asleep upstairs, and Pawpaw... well, here I sit with nobody to talk to, so guess I'll start writing the blog.

I'm not much of a bird watcher, but I was thrilled to see a scarlet tanager early yesterday morning while on my walk. Sightings are extremely rare in the UP.

Saturday was a guy's guy-day. With Sargie off to work, Hambone, Macrea, and I, made the most of our man time by preparing for Macrea's and my forty-two mile hike on the Picture Rocks Trail beginning June 10th. This will be my fourth trek of the scenic trail. It's not difficult and very scenic.

The last time I went, four years ago, I did a solo hike with very poor eyesight. I was in denial and determined that I could complete the trail by myself.

It rained and stormed the entire time and and naturally, I managed to get somewhat lost. Keeping a cool (and wet) head, I was able to hear the breakers on Lake Superior which allowed me to walk in the right direction. After a couple of hours, I finally found the trail and successfully completed the hike.

With a hiking partner and much better eyesight, I'm eagerly looking forward to the upcoming trek.

Before anything could be accomplished Saturday morning, we had to be sure Hambone's belly had settled down. I once again came up with a deep thought and gave him a traveling pail, one to take with him on his escapades throughout the house.

The pail went unused, but Grady did proudly carry it wherever he went and as a reward, I told him he could take it home with him!

I'm not called Pawpaw for nuthin'!

Macrea and I carried out the large, heavy, tote that contains most of my hiking/camping equipment. Since Macrea was most interested in the hammock, I gave him lessons on how to hang it and more importantly, how to tie knots on each end so it wouldn't slip off the trees.



This particular model is entered from underneath.

When one enters backwards, he simply sits down and lies back. The velcro seals and the hammock will automatically close.

Are you in there, Daddy?

We erected all three of my tents, mostly because we could. Actually, the yellow tent in the foreground below is Josh's. It's a four season structure and the one I used extensively during my arctic years in Alaska. Built to withstand extreme winds and heavy snow, it's seen blizzards, temperatures as low as 52 below zero, and even a grizzly bear's nose pushed against the top... while I was inside.

I texted Josh yesterday and told him it was time his arctic tent is returned back to its rightful owner. I don't see myself doing a lot of winter camping in the future, especially while traveling on snowmobile through the wilds of far northern Alaska and the Brooks Mountain Range.

It wasn't long before the backyard looked like a holiday weekend campground.

Though Grady and I were staying in the large four-person tent, I put up my ultra light backpacking tent, the one I'll be using in June.



 It was made by LL Bean in Maine back before the company became a trendy fashion statement.  Twenty five years ago (and long before), their equipment and clothing were known for top quality and being  extremely rugged. Bean also had a famous lifetime warrantee on almost all their merchandise. Not so any more.  

I've tried out several more modern ultralight tents and though it weighs a pound more, I've not found any I like better than my old Bean structure.

We pawed through my assortment of backpacks, some I'd forgotten I even had.  

We found one that fit Macrea like an old glove, so the boy's all set for the upcoming hike.

Grandma Sargie arrived home mid evening and we started frying bluegill and crappie filets. Those, along with French fries, made a great supper.

The only thing better than a good old fashioned fish fry are s'mores for dessert. First, Pawpaw had to go outside and build a fire.

Then Hambone had to "melt" (as he says) marshmallows.

Finally, with Grandma Sargie's help, the melted marshmallows were combined with graham crackers and a piece of Hershey's chocolate bar to make the very best of desserts.

With full tummies, there were two boys who were having a hard time keeping their eyes open. I think old Pawpaw had worn them out. The evening was getting cold and the fire hypnotizing. In fact, it almost put the Bone and Daddy to sleep.

Grandma Sargie was putting new batteries in a lantern. I was unsure if she'd finish before the boys fell asleep while waiting in the kitchen. It had been a big day for the future hikers of America.

So we all made it through the night in good shape. The coyotes howled continually, accompanied by peeper frogs and owls. In fact, we discovered that it's much louder outside after dark than during the daylight hours.

The boys will be leaving later today for a birthday party. I hope to work on the pond at some point, but beyond that, who knows? We need to go to town and purchase buns for tomorrow's big Mighty Milligan Memorial Day Celebration and I have to put the finish on a project in the shop. Other than that, I'll play it by ear.

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

The morning after