Jan/Feb Michigan Hike

“Deerfield is close by. It's pretty cool. I'd like to hike there on Saturday. Plus we can walk around his place all we want. 40 acres I think. Then, dinner, hanging around the campfire, beer...That's all I've planned.

I didn't realize I was responsible for keeping you entertained. GEEZ.

What do YOU want to do?”

“Hey Smiley Girl!

Yeah, I think I mentioned that a while back. Novi is one messed up governmental unit. They built an ice rink that is like one big ball of revolving debt right now.

I think the real issue with the park they want to sell is that part of the original purchase price was met with state funds. The argument was that Novi couldn't just sell off a piece of land purchased, in part, by the state. Personally, I agree. Why should my state taxes go to help Novi pay its debts? Anyway, it's mortgaging the future to sell off the parks to meet debt.”

“Forty acres isn't that big. Would we do laps? (I can't help it,this is me!)

A day hike somewhere would probably be good. I don't want to have to sit around and watch you and Max make googoo eyes at each other all day. Or just bring alot of beer and I'll entertain myself and the rest of the crew!”

“I'm not sure about the state funds, you may be right. I know they passed a milleage to buy the park. And I believe they have hired a management firm to run the ice rink. I do not have nice things to say about the city council, nor the old city manager. Hopefully the new city manager and some fresh faces on council will start turning things around.”

“If Sass is drinking, I'll be sure to visit!

Maybe I could be the "beer fairy"!”

“I meant hike around his place AND go to Deerfield... You are so freakin' impossible... I think that will fill a day.

There will be a couple other people there (a couple friends of ours) and hopefully, le subtil and cow patty chime in soon - Cause I think they had both agreed to go before. Maybe they stopped loving me?”

“When did they start loving you?”

“hehehehe, good one Smiley!”

“i can't deny the possibility that they never loved me.”

“I can deny that I've stopped loving you.”

“All right, enough with the love. Le Subtil and Cow Patty, you guys hiking on this trip or not?”

“Thanks le subtil. i feel better already. ;)”

“I fear the lack of response from cow patty and le subtil means that they are not going and don't want to tell us yet so we don't attempt to pressure them into going. (sorry for the very long sentence) Of course, I hope I'm wrong!

The list keeps changing...

Tarabull
Max
Joy
Birch
Smiley Girl

cow patty?
le subtil?

I'll be emailing directions soon.”

“Tarabull - I'm back from playing outdoors, and I will still go next weekend (I said I would).......and I love you so much I want to see you & everyone else really enjoy a cold weather trip! Please check yer email.”

“OoohLaLa, Cow Patty LOOOOVES Tarabull!

Bad news Boo boo, having a difficult time finding a keeper for Abigail.”

“Anyone hear from SB lately? I hope we haven't scared him off.”

“Sass - that's bad news for Birch. You can still come, though, right?”

“I'm still trying to decide. I like winter camping; when you're hiking you stay warm, and when you're in a sleeping bag you stay warm, but standing around you get cold fast. What will we be doing all day? If there were snow, we could build igloos and quinzees for fun. I guess I'll keep an eye on the weather before I commit.”

“I'm riding the fence right now Tarabull. I got so excited about the prospect of Birch coming along to protect me I'm feeling all sad and empty at the prospect of going alone.”

“Yeah. cow patty still loves me, too!

le Subtil. I was hoping for snow. According to weather.com, Blanchard is supposed to get snow all day today and tomorrow...and more snow on Thursday and Friday. How much? I have no idea.

During the day, we'd like to be hiking somewhere. I'm open to suggestions.”

“LOL @ Sass - you just don't want to lose your bedwarmer!”

“I just e-mailed my dad to find out the weather situation (and to warn him I might be crashing there next Saturday!) I asked him to keep me up to date with the snow totals.”

“Will we get another chance to contribute $500 to the breast cancer foundation?”

“You'd have to be there to find out.

Wouldn't you hate to miss THAT?!”

“Damn, Tarabull, you're good. Your attractiveness and disarming smile”

“Is this a backpacking trip?”

“oops- hit submit too soon.

Sorry. I swear this never happened before, really...

I was goiing to continue on about "mask an indomitable will, etc., etc.", but it lacks momentum now.”

“Hummmmm I just want to know is this a backpacking trip with hiking or a car camp with hiking?”

“ROTFLMAO LeSubtil!”

“LOL!

I hear it happens to all guys at some point.”

“"Your attractiveness and disarming smile mask an indomitable will, etc., etc.",

They mask something, but I'm pretty sure its not her will...”

“You don't think so?”

“I was thinking something much worse... :)”

“Anyway, about your stoves. I really do have some stoves made that I intended to give you. But, when I looked at them, I realized one of them was an early model that had the burner holes made with a pushpin. That makes the holes too big and it burns lean. I switched to a tiny drill bit in the next version and it worked so much better. The stove actually develops a little pressure with the holes small enough, and the flame is nice and blue. But that created the second problem, when it pressurizes, it will leak around the top joint between the 2 can halves. It really doesn’t hurt anything, but some people seal the joint with epoxy or flue tape, and I wanted to try it. I’m a procrastinator and just didn’t get around to finishing them, or telling you about it.

I have 2 versions of stove stands also. One is made out of ½ hardware cloth rolled into a tube. The other is 3 interlocking leafs of aluminum that form a triangle, like the Trangia stand. (I didn’t know I was copying their design).

So I got some flue tape on the way home tonight and I'll try to have them done for this weekend.”

“"Anyone hear from SB lately? I hope we haven't scared him off."
reformed lurker

Since Ft. Custer I've been involved with year end fun and games (at work), battling a sinus infection, and waiting for that next snow storm to get back on the s-shoes . . . but scare me off? . . . HA . . . NOT A CHANCE! LOL!

In fact, I've decided to test my threshold of bravery (sanity) next weekend on another "club" bpack outing . . .

Happy Hiking,
its crazy sb”

“Scream it SB!”

“I miss hikin' with ya'll.”

“We miss hiking with you too, Buddha!”

“Le Subtil, thanks for the stoves. I'm sure they'll be great, especially considering I don't have any kind of stove at all!

Is this weekend still happening? I heard rumors that it may not, so I sort of made some other plans....”

“I'm still camping this weekend. I can't speak for anyone else.”

“Who told you it won't happen? What other plans? Geeze, so much for catching a ride up with SmileyGirl and a ride back with Tarabull and Max. I hope it's a hot date at least.:o)”

“Well, yes, it is a hot date! :)”

“OOOOHHH! Details, please!”

“Watcha wanna know? You can ask, but I might not tell!”

“So, what is the deal? Sounds like this weekend is falling apart, with Birch and Sass and Smiley bowing out...”

“Tarabull and Max are still going. Sorry I'm not going to make it!”

“Birch was never supposed to go, I shouldn't go but haven't decided yet. Abby's birthday is next week and this weekend would pretty much be the time to prepare for it. I also feel like crud right now and have a quarter sized blister on each heel. But I want to go, does that count for anything? See, if Birch went along and I felt cruddy still he'd take care of me and give me sympathy. If my feet are hurting on the hike he'd give me little "buck up lil' soldier" glances and ask how I'm doing. Plus I wouldn't be the only one being irresponcible by blowing off prepations for our daughter's first birthday party. I don't think I can count on you guys to take care of me and worry about my feet or be irresponcible with me. It's just no good.”

“I'm sure Tara would give you glances now and then, but you're probably right, they wouldn't be sympathetic! They'd be more like Srgt. Hartman saying "MOVE YOUR SORRY A**!"”

“cow patty is now a maybe. She's not feeling so good. She'll be deciding by Thursday.

Hopefully, Sass decides to be "irresponsible" and heads up, too.

Sass - if you do... I promise to try to take care of you the best I can. Just bring cully and he'll keep you cozy warm.

The bottom line: I'm still going. Snow or no snow. TTers or no TTers. It would be great if some TT people were there since I really enjoy hanging out and walking around with all of you. But, if no one else can make it... So be it.

(If none of you show up, my "real" friends are really gonna think I've made you people up!)”

“You're bringing your imaginary non-tt friends?”