Warmth From The Cold

 

‘Tis normally the water fresh,

     That cleanses the soul within,

But air that’s crisp can do the thresh,

     Freeing mind from stalks of din.

The cold sinks deep and makes it hard,

     For nimbleness of fingers,

Mittens fall short without regard,

     The painful numbing lingers.

On-ward I hike throughout the woods,

     Hiding tracks on bottomlands,

Stealth my trek under snow that would,

     Cover deeds with icy bands.

A tarp that’s strung, blocks wind and blame,

     Maple limb is cut to length,

Grass, twigs, and sticks ignite the flame,

     Easing pain with veneered strength.

‘Twas by my choice for such exploit,

     Where I find myself to hide,

Frozen fingers that do not point,

     River’s edge my only guide.

My sidekick dog is wrapped up twice,

     Once by snow and once by quilt,

Griddled food cooks and smells entice,

     Heaped coals without trace of guilt.

Unheralded taste, sense delight,

     Cockles of the heart are warmed,

Fingers don’t store such heat to spite,

     They don’t at all, so be warned!

I pack with breaks, hands plunged in fire,

     Attempts ward off frozen flesh,

Pup’s patience often belies her,

     Plunged headlong, our prints are fresh.

We traverse North against the wind,

     Powdered snow, thick sheets of ice,

Adventure we’ll never rescind,

     Until next, mem-ries suffice.

Destination and hastened glee,

     Our journey comes to an end,

Prayers battled cold on bended knee,

     Such outings my heart depends!

See you along The Way…

-------------------------

The Painful Numbing Lingers

A Tarp That's Strung Blocks Wind And Blame

My Sidekick Dog Wrapped Up Twice

River's Edge My Only Guide

Griddled Food Cooks And Smells Entice

Unheralded Taste, Senses Delight

Cockles Of The Heart Are Warmed

Pup's Patience Often Belies Her

I Pack With Breaks, Hands Plunged In Fire

Destination And Hastened Glee,
Our Journey Comes To An End,
Prayers Battled Cold On Bended Knee,
Such Outings My Heart Depends.

Free Fallin'

From The Top Of The Retaining Wall,
I'm Looking Down Into The Creek
That I Fell In Earlier That Morning.

What the heck had just happened?  One moment I was walking towards the retaining wall and the next moment I found myself face down in the icy creek.  How was I even standing there without something bleeding, busted, or worse?  I had fallen 5 to 6 feet; almost twice that if you count the distance that my head had traveled.

That story began when my wife Cindy and I went to visit family in Clark Lake, Michigan a few weeks ago.  We stayed with my Aunt Cherie and Uncle Bob, and throughout an extended weekend we had the opportunity to visit a couple of my cousins and their families as well.

Upon the morning of our first full day, I ran around the lake with my cousin Brad for what amounted to a little over 7 miles.  Afterwards, while light snow flurries filled the air, and following a hearty breakfast, we all went into the little town of Brooklyn to watch some basketball games that my cousin Sean’s kids played in.  The rest of the afternoon involved us helping to take some split firewood to a neighbor’s house and watching a little football on TV while hanging out, eating, and talking.

On the following day I met up with my cousin Brian to run a few miles.  We took off down the path next to my Aunt & Uncle’s house, which after a short distance comes out next to Doyle’s Market; which used to be the small store named Robert’s Grocery.

From that end of Clark Lake we ran south on Hyde Road through gently falling snow flakes.  Crossing Jefferson Road, Brian and I passed the farm house where their family used to live; nestled within the old apple orchard.  After a couple hundred yards we stopped at a tributary creek to the Grand River.  Looking at water of any kind, especially moving water, is in our family’s blood.  Apparently someone had recently cut back the trees and brush that had grown next to the retaining wall where the creek runs under Hyde Road, and we wanted to quickly check it out.

I walked over and placed my right foot on the treated four inch plank that was on top of the wall so I could get a better perspective of the view below.  I got a better perspective alright!  As my shoe made contact, I immediately slipped off from some unseen black ice and I plunged headfirst into nothing but air.

I had a split second to look down into the center trough of the creek before my left knee caught the edge of that same rough hewn timber.  It was that impact that sent me into a semi-somersault that caused me to dive head and (right) shoulder first into eight to ten inches of water, silt and jagged rocks.

I was instantly and completely submerged, and soaked while miraculously avoiding most of the rocks.  I sort of bounced up, sloshed through the freezing cold water, and onto the bank while holding onto my left knee.  It hurt!  I hurt!

Brian quickly came over and asked me if I was okay.  He later confessed that he had thought, “I broke Mike,” but in reality, it had all happened so darn fast that there was nothing anyone could have possibly done to prevent it from happening.  I think I replied with a comment that hinted that I would need a few minutes before I could let him know.

Under shock and starting to freeze, I said that I could probably keep running.  Brian said that he wished that he had brought his phone to call for a ride.  He convinced me to head back to his parent’s house as opposed to continuing down Hyde Road, as water and mud poured off my shirt, dripped off the edge of my shorts, and squished out of my shoes.  It was the right decision by all accounts.  It was cold while we stood there trying to figure out what to do, but not as cold as running back against the North wind over the 7/10’ths of a mile back to where we had started.

I’m used to cold weather and typically thrive in it when prepared, but by the time I got to my Aunt & Uncle’s house, I was colder than I could remember being for a long, long time - yet apparently none the worse for wear!

After peeling off my wet, muddy clothes, taking a warm shower, and icing my knee, I incredibly seemed to be alright.  In fact, it was a blessing that by that afternoon I was able to help split and stack wood with my cousin Brad and Uncle Bob before taking a long walk in the wooded hills of a local nature preserve.

Looking back, there really were only two possible outcomes that could have resulted from such a freak accident; either an absolute and unprecedented miracle or an outright tragedy.

While it took about two weeks for the pain in my left knee, and later in my right shoulder, to subside, I seem to have avoided having anything structurally screwed up.  For that I am more than grateful.  And while I can’t say that I’ve had any other outdoor adventures to write about this month, I felt that this story was definitely worth telling!

See you along The Way…

My Cousin Brad & I revisit Where
The Fall Occured When I Had Been
Running With Brian That Morning.

Transfer Of Energy

The morning started cold, under clear skies, as the nearly full moon set to the rising sun.  The frost on the ground quickly dissipated under the dry breezes, making it difficult to contemplate the nearly winter-like temperatures in what was still considered an early fall season.

Including myself, six of us gathered for the day’s adventure.  Four were former or present teaching colleagues, and the fifth was my Dad.  We loaded the kayak trailer, given to me by a friend, after adding the padding from some foam noodles that my Dad had picked up at a dollar store.  We halved the noodles and used electrical tape to hold them tight to the angle iron crossbars; a perfect resting place to haul our vessels to the river.

I personally had started the early morning in a stocking cap, but by the time we launched into the water, I had transferred to a billed hat.  Warding off the slight chill, we all started in sweatshirts and coats under our life jackets.  However, the sun shone forth throughout our journey, gradually gaining strength, sharing it with us, and therefore encouraging us to peel layers.  By the time we stopped on a stretch of sand to make a fire and cook our breakfast, we were down to long sleeves.  Breaking up and cutting some dead silver maple branches also helped convert the resting and stagnant potential energy into mobile and useful kinetic energy.

A perfectly cut branch in the shape of a “Y” held our giant frying pan while allowing the food to cook.  My dog Kora, who had slipped off the front of my kayak (the result of zigging when I had to zag to avoid some half sunken deadfalls.), laid in the tall grasses nearby to bask in the sun; all the while eyeing our food’s progress.

Our giant skillet of potatoes, brats, eggs, and cheese quickly transferred into our gullets, after several helpings each (Kora included).  From food to bodies, the energy would soon be used to provide us the paddle power needed to propel ourselves over the several miles that we still needed to go.  Following a cupful of orange juice and hot cocoa, we erased our presence from the shoreline, took a group picture, and eased back into the water.

Doug, (Kora), Dad, Justin K, Justin B, Zach, and Me

We stopped once more for a quick stretch break and to look over some potential pools where fish might reside.  I’d been marking key spots in my mind along the route all morning with the hope of still having an opportunity to test my theories before cold air set in for good.  Simultaneously the sun burst forth with its greatest amount of force for the day; a nearly 40° swing from the mid 30’s of the morning to the low 70’s of the early afternoon.  As we crawled back into the kayaks we peeled down to T-shirts.  It was a comfortable way to travel the remaining rest of the river; set in the fall colors and within the gentle winds out of the southwest.

By the end we were all thankful for the chance to get out, cook a meal, paddle a river, and hang out on what amounted to an absolutely beautiful fall day.  Transferring the energy from food, sun, and companionship to mind, body, and spirit has a way of doing that.

See you along The Way…

Dad In His Kayak

The Fleet Of Kayaks

Kora Loves A Good Adventure!

After Loading The Kayaks Onto The Trailer
It's The End Of A Great Day On The River.

Twinsies

Kora and Me - October 2022

We’re both 56, Kora and me.  I remember like yesterday when we got her.  It was the fall of 2014, and after checking various agencies, we settled on an organization out of Mukwonago, Wisconsin; across the Stateline and just a little to the Northeast of us.  They apparently rescued dogs from the state of Mississippi and brought them North to a no-kill shelter.  Once a month the dogs that they had were brought to the Tractor Supply Co. in Mukwonago where you could look at the dogs available.

We already had a dog at the time.  Her name was Kati, which was short for Mukaday; the Ojibwe word for black, as she looked like a black German Shepherd.  She was 10 years old when our family of four hopped into our van to go look for a second dog.  My aunt and uncle had always said it was good to get a new dog when your present dog was older and could help pass along some of the desired traits and expectations.  It made sense and so we decided it was the appropriate time to expand our pack.

The dogs on display came in all shapes, sizes, breeds, and ages.  I specifically remember a scrappy little dog that looked like it was 100 years old, cuddling up beside an older couple.  The man had a little difficulty bending down to pick the scraggly thing up, and his wife had to steady herself as she was pulling along an oxygen tank that allowed her to breathe freely.  It seemed to be a match made in heaven though, as the couple laughed and giggled to themselves, while the ancient little dog licked their hands and wagged its tail.  Neither side seemed to believe the good fortune that they had found themselves in.

Our family was looking for a puppy, and the first one that we looked at was as cute as a button.  It was a tiny, black lab, but as I got it out and set it in between the kids, it never interacted with us.  We knew that was not a good sign, and so we moved on.

The next puppy was also black and tiny, but with a splotch of white on the side of her nose, on her chest, and on the tip of each foot.  The interaction was great as she weaved in and out between our legs.  She was all wiggles, and very excited with the attention.

On our way home, we came up with the idea of keeping with the theme of our dog’s name being four letters and starting with the letter K.”  When I was growing up, my dog was named King.  Our current dog was Kati, of course, and now we were adding Kora into the fold; a name that our son Todd, then a senior in high school, came up with.  It seemed to fit the pup perfectly.

Kati And Kora - November 2014

Kora & Kati - December 2014

January 2015

Last Adventure With Both Dogs Together
Fall 2016

Our two dogs were together for almost three years before the late spring of 2017.  Kati’s passing came simultaneously with our daughter Jodi going on to college, so our “at home” family was down to 3; my wife Cindy, Kora, and me.

I’d love to say that early on I trained Kora perfectly.  Unfortunately I can’t say that.  My Dad often quotes, “Patience, before you become one!”  It of course is a play on words, but it makes sense.  When Kora was young, I tried to teach her commands alongside Kati, who knew them well (by my voice, hand signals, and a whistle).  I wanted to be able to have both dogs, side by side, and saying their respected name first, have each of them follow their specifically given command.  It was a bit more than what any of us could handle.  I’m sure I wasn’t patient.

Fortunately my dogs and family were forgiving and despite the rough start, anyone who knows Kora, recognizes her qualities, demeanor, and ability to follow my commands on cue.  Soon after she reached adult size, I worried that she would be too small, but she really has become what I would deem as the perfect size, as I can pick her up if it’s necessary to carry her through a raging creek, and yet she can hold her own and swim across just as easily.

And so with an understanding relationship, and the desire to both please and get out into the great outdoors on another adventure, we’ve grown together as only a couple of fraternal twins can.  We take our usual neighborhood walks, but we’ve also hit the woods, prairies, backwaters, and rivers of Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.  We hike, explore, camp, and hang out.  It’s nice to have a friend and companion that has similar interests.

Winter 2018

When our kids come home she becomes very excitable.  “Glued to the hip” is the best way to describe the way that she follows my wife Cindy around; probably bordering on being “underfoot.”  She loves to see my parents and friend Kris. Both have watched her when we go on vacations (although she does throw us a worried glance when she realizes that she’s about to be left behind for a few days).  At Kris’, she becomes a farm dog, and at my parents’ house she typically is situated in a place where she can oversee everything going on.  My Dad walks her with his headlamp attached to her collar just to keep track of her at night with her dark fur.

Kora With Cindy - February 2015

Jodi & Todd With Kora
At Turtle Creek In Shopiere - 2016

One of the most special traits of Kora is her knowledge and awareness of boundaries.  All of my past dogs have had this mannerism, and so it is with Kora.  I don’t ever have to worry about her running away, or getting into a situation that she shouldn’t.  Observers have often thought that we had underground fencing, but this has never been the case.  She simply knows property lines and to stay close to me from the times I spend out in the yard with her.  I love nothing more than being able to work out in the yard with my dog laying in the grass; watching whatever life comes her way.

The only thing that tops the feeling of seeing her breath easy, with tongue lolling, while surveying the neighborhood, is having her join me on an adventure.  Like twins that tend to share a common bond, I think that we do as well.  Whether walking through the farmer’s field and down to the creek, perching on the front of my kayak like a hood ornament, shaking with excitement while sitting in the front of my Jeep, splashing and swimming within local rivers, running in the bottomlands through freshly fallen snow, or wolfing down warm food cooked in my iron skillet over an open, crackling fire, you could say that we share common interests in the great outdoors.   It’s hard not to smile knowing that our close knit relationship binds us together as twinsies.

See you along The Way…

Both Dogs With The Gulo Adventure Clan
Negative Temps - February 2015

A Winter Cookout With Dad - 2015

Winter Hike To Dry Run Creek - 2016

Shadows At Lake Geneva - 2017

At A Frozen Oxbow - 2017

Bath Time In The Bucket - 2018

Adventure - 2019

Soaking Up Sun - 2020

Visiting School - Fall 2020

Winter Camping - December 2020

Snowshoe Adventure With Friends - 2021

Twinsies