The clock is ticking

Well, I've actually finalized my date of departure. Monday July 5th is the day I've picked to leave, and boy is there a lot to do in the meantime. Nothing too major, just lots of little loose ends to tie up and small things to buy, etc. I hadn't realized all the little stuff I needed to do until I actually started to make a list and add it all up. I'm a list kind of guy, don't ya know, so I've got several of them going, broken down by category, etc! Am beginning to realize just how short the days really are.

On the run!

Wow! It's been a busy couple of weeks. Last week I spent three days in the Porkupine Mountains, located in Michigan's Upper Penninsula, with my buddy Dan doing a trial run for the big trip west. Everything went pretty well overall, and we hiked about 22 or 23 miles in three days over some fairly rough terrain. We both held up fairly well, although I had a slight hyper extension of the left knee that became quite bothersome as I got more tired. It seems to be ok now though.

The highlight of the trip was probably when we saw a wolf on our way to the trailhead on the second morning there. He was as black as the Ace of Spades and was crossing the road when we spotted him and as he trotted into the woods, Dan whistled and the wolf stopped to look at us. that gave me time to get the camera out and snap a couple of quick shots as he peered at us from behind a tree before turning and trotting offf into the deep woods. What a thrill!

We also found a couple of fresh bear tracks while hiking--one big track and one little track--so we quickly decided that discretion was the better part of valor in that situation and high-tailed it out of there. The last thing we wanted to do was get a Mama bear mad thinking we were some sort of threat to her cub!

Caught a quick glimpse of an eagle too, but no pictures of that. Anyway that's all for now.