CastRoller

You don't have to go into the wilderness to get a taste of nature. If you want to just get out there but live in an urban or sub-urban area look into the parks in your region. You'll probably be surprised at what you find. Besides the numerous city parks here in Ann Arbor we are blessed with an extensive metropark system that covers 5 counties (we are lucky to also have State Game Areas and much more, you probably have them too). This time we visited Hudson Mills Metropark and strolled broad nature...

I have a confession to make: I like space. I shudder when I look at some backpacking shelters and see that they claim to be suitable for two people and yet have only space enough, or so it seems, for one. To the best of my knowledge I am not claustrophobic but I know that squeezing into a shelter with just 20 or so square feet and only a small bit of headroom near one end or another really gets on my nerves if I must spend hours, let alone days, under the sheltering canopy of fabric. I worry that...

The Ann Arbor Art Fairs have been around for fifty years (the original street Art Fair) and I don't think they're going to stop any time soon judging by the number of booths and people I saw milling around thi summer. I enjoyed my wandering around over the 4 days of the Art Fair. I think the secret for my successful enjoyment is to spend just a couple hours any given day. If you can spend some of that time enjoying the Art Fair extras like live music that makes things so much better.

Rhode Island is the smallest of the fifty states in the U.S.A.. Covering a mere 1,545 square miles, just big enough to contain New York City three times over, the state boasts considerable wonderful scenery. Last fall I spent a few days with family learning that Rhode Island has more than two well known cities and extensive coastline. From the shores of Narragansett Bay to the state forests in places like the Arcadia Wildlife Management Area Rhode Island can surprise you with its variety of flora...

The first geocaching rally was off to a rollicking start on an overcast, snow bound, January afternoon in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The energy and enthusiasm of the teams was undeniable. People wanted to win. Even our little team of myself, Laurence and Marla, and Paul wanted to at least not finish last. Lar, Marla, and I have been geocaching for several years but we are hardly power cachers,having logged fewer than 50 finds in that time. Compare that against some folks who likely find that many caches...

For the past few years I have been fortunate to spend a few days in late December with friends at the rustic Burns Bunkhouse cabins in Waterloo Recreation Area. The rustic cabins, we have stayed in both of them over the years, provide bunk beds, a wood stove for heat, plenty of table and counter space for cooking and eating, and benches. You provide everything else. If you want light after sundwon bring a couple of Coleman lanterns. If you want hot food a couple Coleman camping stoves will work great...

The Gathering is held at the old Schoolhouse near White Cloud, Michigan. The Schoolhouse, run by the Western Michigan North Country Trail Chapter, has served us well over the years. Although we were expecting iffy weather we knew this would be another fine Gathering. The Gathering draws people for a quick visit or the whole weekend. It also sometimes happens to fall on a couple group members birthdays though this year would not be one of those times. This year marks the tenth gathering and although...

It was a glorious day to maintain our section of trail. This is the Highbanks section of trail that runs between 13 Mile and 16 Mile roads in Newago County about 6.3 miles of North Country Trail. The section rolls through a passing of Manistee National Forest passing by several lakes over its length, along ridge lines, and a few slightly wetter areas. It is one of the prettier section of trail and over the past few years we have whipped into shape. We all maintain the new Highbanks Campground connector...

On the second weekend of September for the past 35 years their has been a music festival held near the town of Remus, Michigan. The Wheatland Music Festival is an exciting varied event that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. I've been a couple of times, still a newbie compared to some people I know who have been dozens of times. I've plenty to still see and learn but that will have to wait for the 36th festival next September. One thing that makes Wheatland Music Festival special is that they...

Our group is out this blustery late October day celebrating a birthday of a friend. He's passing a prime number, the last one before he turns 40 a few years from now. He came up with the idea to visit the corn maze at Talladay Farms and a handful of his friends including myself were able to come out and join the fun. One of the joys of the fall season, even on a windy and hence somewhat nippy, about 50 degrees before the wind chill, day is being able to sit down with friends over freshly made doughnuts...