Had a pretty good day off today. I slept until nearly 10am today which is very unusual for me. Usually I’m up and out of bed by 8 at the latest. I was pretty tired though. I packed up Gavin today anticipating spending the day at the cottage out on the boat. While it was a beautiful day, it was just not boat weather. Instead I spent a couple hours installing the last part of the sprinkler system in the new garden beds my folks have in the back. It proved a little more difficult than I had anticipated only becuase some of the root systems on the grasses are shallow and the big tree has big roots near the surface. It took a little work but I got it working and it should be good to go now.
After I had finished that, I decided I would take Gavin and go for another hike in the woods. There are all kinds of hiking trails in Leelanau, most of which are deserted after Labor Day which is just what I like. Today we hiked the “Farm’s Trail” part of the Bay View trail system in Sleeping Bear National Park. I had done this trail once before, I’d say about 15 years ago. It was far more interesting than the last one I spoke about here. The color is just starting to come out and many of the sugar maple trees are now turning bright red. This makes a great contrast among the trees that are still green. The light was not real good for pictures today but I did get a few good ones. I’ll be adding them to the “Early Fall 2008″ album on my website later tonight or tomorrow sometime. The “Farm’s Trail” features several old homes and barns that have been acquired by the national park and preserved. There is something mystical about old barns that I really like. The look of the old wood and the detail of each grain makes me long to live in the country. I was thinking about that today on my hike; about how much more I like living in the middle of nowhere. I don’t mind my new place and I really like being close to work. I miss the smell of the country, the clean air, the smell of campfires at night. Who knows, maybe when I start looking for a house this next year I can find something close to work where I can still have some of those things.
Tonight I am just taking it easy. I was going to clean the garage a little bit since there is still a TON of work to do in there before my folks can possibly think about putting their trailer in there. I’ve still got shit everywhere. I’ve just lacked the motivation to do anything about it lately. I’ve acquired some new Elton John CD’s and have been enjoying them most of the day. Gavin is exhausted and sleeping in the little chair behind my desk, snoring loudly.
Here is a picture from today. Look for more at www.leelanauphotography.com either later tonight or tomorrow.
