A Continuing, Bi-Weekly Journal
of People and Places
Along Bay County, Michigan's Rail Trail System
Enhance your health, stretch your mind, embrace your community; hit the Trail.
September 15, 2007
by Dave Goss
Dear friends,
I am writing this portion of my letter on August 31st.
What a grand day! When I awakened this morning, the temperature on The Morning Show, on TV, read 49 degrees.
Betty couldn't go with me this morning, so I dressed in riding shorts, sweat pants, t-shirt, and a wind-breaker. The air was crystal-clear. It is really good to see so many familiar faces along the trail, as well as the wildlife. It is no exaggeration to say: the scenery is different every day. By the time I reached my turn-around point on the Kilarney Beach portion of the trail, I had shed my wind breaker and was sweating.
I would estimate that the use of the Rail Trail has at least doubled every year for the last two years.
Having a trail through our area, allows all of us to see the differing neighborhoods, the many different lifestyles that it takes to make up our community. To see our area outside of the confines of a car, allows you to actually be there. It brings back that old-fashioned feeling of the community. You actually see the people of Banks, Bangor Township, the South End, Portsmouth Township, and Bay City proper, as they live in their homes and go about their daily lives. You see the care that they take in their gardens and yards. You see these things without intruding into their lives. You actually connect with the different parts of the city and the countryside.
I find that if I am ambitious enough to get out on the trail in the early morning, just as the ambient light from the not-yet-visible sun makes it light enough to see, it is always worth the effort. It is a special feeling when you ride along the trail, and you suddenly and silently ride up on a doe and her fawns. I have seen the same doe with her fawns at least a half-dozen times, but I have yet to get a really good picture of them.
I carry a camera with me whenever I'm on my bike now. I wanted to somehow capture that feeling of wonder, when you have that special contact with wild things. It seems that every time I see something that “wows” me, I am somehow unable to capture the special time on film.
Some days though, I like to linger over a good cup of coffee and do my biking later in the day. I find that for the most part, my daily ride on the trail is the high point of the day. It puts me back in touch with the essential part of my life. If you are suffering from anxiety, high-blood pressure, or any of the symptoms of modern life: get out and walk, ride, or roll, around at least part of the Rail Trail. I find that looking forward to my daily dose of nature, makes me more optimistic. And I know beyond a doubt that our daily rides along the trail have enriched my health and my life. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that I've got it all together. I don't. I have only just begun to realize, that I already have everything I need for an amiable life. Things just don't really get much better than they already are.
We have a very healthy crop of ragweed this year. The pleasing, yellow blooms seem to be everywhere. These blooms are not as lovely if you suffer from pollen allergies.
Ragweed-a-plenty.
It's September 11, 2007. It's been raining off and on all day. The wind blew in gusts that made you take hold of something. Betty and I went to Home Depot to get some wood for the interior of an old steamer trunk that I am redoing. When we arrived at Home Depot, the sun was shining and the sky overhead was quite clear. Betty went to the kitchen department and I went to look for some cedar in the lumber department. We both have our own favorite sections. We were only in the store for a total of 15 minutes. When we looked outside, the rain was coming down so hard on the metal roof, that it made everyone in the store stop and take note. I am one of those people that like to be out in the wind and rain. I don't tempt fate though. I always figured that if I were caught in a lightning storm in a crowd of people, standing at 6' 4”, I would be the lightning rod.
I'm writing this entry in the evening. I just returned from a bike ride from our house on State Street Road, to the end of Kilarney Beach and back; a total of 11 ½ miles, round trip. Betty didn't want to go while a storm was threatening. I ran into 3 different down-pours of rain, interspersed with periods of bright sunshine. I took a few pictures of clouds along the way. When it rained, I couldn't chance getting my camera wet, so I packed it away when the rains came. There was a storm on every horizon, with clear sky and sunshine in between. It was quite invigorating. I was sopping-wet when I got home, with a mud stripe up my back from the rear tire. It turned out to be quite inspiring, and just what the doctor ordered.
An approaching squall.
Note the edge of the storm where the heavy rain is already falling.
Beautiful and dramatic cumulus clouds, surrounding the area.
During a lull between storms, the sun peeks through the storm.
On Wednesday, September 12th, I stopped in to Castaways, on State Park Drive, and talked to the owner: Lori Dole. Lori has owned the restaurant/lounge for 6 years. Her enthusiasm is contagious. She has a myriad of warm-weather activities available during the summer. The outdoor deck gives romantic views of the Kawkawlin River. There is something magical about eating dinner as you watch the boaters pass by, or pull up to one of the many docks that she has available for customers. There are also other activities such as volleyball tournaments, and horseshoe tournaments.
On Tuesdays during the warmer months, hundreds of bikers appear for Bike Night. It is quite a sight to see as the parking lot is cordoned off for displaying motorcycles of every shape and variety. These are friendly bikers looking for the comradery of other bikers from all walks of life.
On Wednesday evenings, Jedi Mind Trip entertains in the spacious great room. My two sons and I happened to see this exceptional, local group 4 years ago. They were true musicians. Lori says that they have only gotten better over the the past few years.
Castaways has hosted several benefits for local children in needy situations. Lori also hosts private parties, with no-hassle service and free decorating.
The menu goes from burgers to prime rib, to seafood. The indoor eating area is well lit and cheerful. There is also ample seating on the outdoor deck, overlooking the river.
Lori says she has plans to do some landscaping along her property that touches the Rail Trail, with rocks and trees to beautify an already attractive area.
During the winter months, Castaways is a favorite stop for snowmobiles that find their way up the frozen Kawkawlin River. During the late fall and early spring, perch fishermen sit along the pier at Castaways, and along the bridge adjacent to her property.
Lori is a community-minded, business woman, who is dedicated to promoting the area in a positive way. She is supportive of the ecological improvement of the Kawkawlin River area, and our Rail Trail.
The Trail Tour
In our last newsletter, we ended up in a little pocket park on Marquette in the Banks area. We continue, heading west.
We leave the Marquette Industrial Park, and enter the Banks business district, which has an old and unique history. I did some research, and found that in 1865, there were 7 lumber companies operating in the Banks/Bangor area, producing over 118,000,000 board feet of lumber in that year alone. One of the area's first salt mines was drilled here, back in 1862.
Anderson Pharmacy, on our left, is one of the few home-owned pharmacy's left in Bay County. We pass United Plumbing and Heating, Banks Barber Shop, Fish Bate and Tackle, SOS Deli, Old Town Pizza, Shining Star Dance Studio, Master Body Shop, American Real Estate, Beson's Market, where you can have your deer processed, and C&J Auto Body. As we leave the designated Banks business district, Marquette Street curves to the left. Armature Rewind on the right, faces Bay Carbon Inc, just across the street. The old buildings from the former Fletcher Oil Company stretch on for the next quarter-mile. After passing an open field on the right, we see Joint Clutch and Gear Service, then, just beyond is Defoe Park, named for the Defoe family who once built battleships on the Saginaw River. The park is home to several softball fields that are in constant use during summer evenings.
Across the street is Wheelers Landing Marina, a good place to dock your boat on the Saginaw River, within a reasonable distance from the Saginaw Bay.
Infinity Park is across the street on the right. The park was built for skate boarding. It is really good that the local people who are so masterful on the skateboard, finally have a place that they can skate. There are very few public places where skateboards are not restricted, or banned all together.
The Rail Trail then crosses Marquette and parallels an existing rail track that leads to Midland Street. We frequently see trains along this stretch of track. (Continued in two weeks)
My wife, Betty eyes an on-coming train, near Midland Street.
Culinary Favorites
Last month, my sister, Jan Curtis, from Colorado Springs, Colorado, visited us. She whipped up the following recipe. We all loved it. And it's fast and easy to make. I'll share it with you.
Three Cheese Bread
Ingredients:
1 loaf French or Italian bread, sliced lengthwise.
1 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese (shredded)
¼ cup real mayo
¼ cup Parmesan cheese
Sprinkle of garlic salt
8 oz. Mushrooms of choice, chopped
Spread over bread and bake at 400 degrees until cheese melts. (about 10 minutes)
Favorite Quotes
The individual who pollutes the air with his factory and the ghetto kid who breaks store windows both represent the same thing. They don't care about each other- or what they do to each other. Daniel Patrick Moynihan
My riches consist not in the extent of my possessions but in the fewness of my wants.
J. Brotherton
The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.
Nelson Henderson
If there is another world, he lives in bliss
If there is none, he made the best of this. Robert Burns
If you have any comments, or ideas for Life Along the Trail, please contact me on line at: boggdweller@yahoo.com.
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