Kirtland

The Kirtland's Warbler is an endangered species found only in Michigan. With enlightened management, the bird has built up to numbers near 2,000 breeding males in both the lower and now upper peninsulas. Wintering in the Bahamas.

At some point, a few must've taken a left at Chicago. In 2007, they were also discovered in suitable habitat in the central sand plains of Wisconsin. So it was that we rose at 0'dark hundred on Saturday for a 0500 rendezvous near Big Flats. We brushwhacked through the Jack Pine for a good half-hour before spotting a calling male. Sweet! Everyone in our first group got good looks and was well serenaded.

Shortly after that, the bird stopped displaying and instead bounced low through the brush. It had attracted and was courting a female. 18 known birds in the whole state; and he finds a match! Life will find a way.

Tomorrow

Joined up with the leisure class on Thursday. Some central WI river dogs got together for a local paddle. The friendly confines of the upper Tomorrow. Gorgeous, tight little creek and unbelievably cold water. Class I trout stream. Good way to spend the a.m.

Twin Lakes

Cold spring weekend in the north woods. Second weekend in May and we were the only ones in the campground. I expect we had the last snow of the year, yikes! Nice paddling. Decent birding. Lots of riding on ski trails and old access and logging roads.

Which, of course, led to two crashes on the ‘cross bike. Both low speed but overall enough to yield some mystery bruises and a few good aches come Monday.

Once stupidly low-siding on a tamarack-needle-covered boardwalk. Bammo! I smacked it pretty good. Next day was riding some neglected access road with all manner of deadfall. Hopped a log, ‘round another when I flipped a stick into the front wheel. The front wheel jammed up before I knew anything and the bike started a nice slow rotation around that front wheel instead. Front somersault over the bars, onto both hands, tuck and roll. Not too bad. As I was going ass-over-teakettle I looked at that stuck front wheel and knew just what happened. Always gotta watch for those foot-long sticks.

Yahtzee!

On the way back from a few sessions at Foci.

Don't miss them at Art-a-Whirl May 15-17 AND come show off for Bad Hair Day on the 15th. Ran across a recent television piece featuring Todd and Michael, well done! Enough with the links!

Ahem. Yahtzee. Get it?

Slimey Crud

New story in the MKE Paper.Headed to the Slimey Crud Run with bro-in-law Bill. Nice rally! A stupefying assortment of motorcycles. And the beautiful day brought out maybe 1,000 enthusiasts.

A great rally where people care more about go than show. Very low on cruisers, chrome and super fat rear tires. High on sport bikes, dual sports and nearly everything else. Never seen so many V-Stroms (my model), or BMWs, Ducatis, Nortons, Triumphs for that matter. If you can cobble together your rusty, leaking 1982 Yamaha and get it to Leland, you get way more cred than someone who tacks one more piece of chrome on their chopper. Sweet!

Cute. A matched set of early '80s Hondas.

Cherry 1968 Norton Commando fastback.
Blinged-out cafe racer.

Back roads there and back.

Poor Farm

First road bike ride today. Headed right for hill country straight downwind, and fought it all the way back. Yea, maybe that is backwards. Got stood up a few times and out in the bare fields even was sand blasted by a couple of gusts kicking up dirt. Made it. Also first smashed turtles on the road, first dandelions and first lawnmower.

Rode past an old, curious cemetery about a mile north of Lake Emily. One marker and one monument. Alone in the midst of a 1/2 acre of mowed ground. It's a 1930's cemetery for a poor farm located in that area. I thought of those souls growing their own food, scratching out a living, no prospects. Hopefully also enjoying themselves from time-to-time. I felt more connected with those folks than I have before.

Brother-in-law Bill works with Sumitomo, making industrial drills. He had to lay off five people yesterday. We're hoping for a turn soon. And trying to enjoy ourselves from time-to-time.