I struggled a bit with the idea of writing an entry this week. The main theme was going to be how fortunate I am to live where I do and have the family/friends I do. With the events in Las Vegas last night, it seemed to me like that might be seen as gloating. Or that such a horrific event could never happen here. Truth is, it can happen anywhere. I am not going to get up on a soapbox and try and explain the the “why’s” of the tragedy, or even being to say what can or should be done going forward. However, I do feel it is very appropriate to express how saddened I am by what happened and grateful for all I have in my life at this very moment. I look forward to the girls getting home and just hugging them.
I was hoping that I would have some nice color shots to share with you, but the trees have had different plans in the past 7 days. There has been very little color change since I last wrote, so I do not have a single color photo to share with you. I do have a feeling that the peak in the colors is still only around 7-10 days away and that means that the change will happen very quickly. It’s hard to say if this coming weekend will be the peak weekend or the following one, but I believe the true peak will come sometime the middle of next week. It has been a very different color season though. About a month ago, it looked like the trees were heading for a peak in mid-September and looking at them now, you would think we are still at least 2 weeks away!
The heat was broken early last week, as temps dropped from the 80’s into the 50’s and low 60’s by Tuesday. The only problem was that the humidity forgot to leave as well. So this is what happens when the temps cool into the 50’s and low 60’s, but the humidity still sticks around. That was Tuesday late in the morning and was what we had for most of that day. The humidity departed as we worked through the week and left us with a perfect autumn weekend. Temps in the 60’s, low humidity and the cobalt blue skies. It made for some great hunting weather for Nora, her brother and nephew, as well as for Gracie’s soccer game Saturday.
When we got Grace’s soccer schedule and I saw game scheduled through the end of September into early October, I imagined having to watch those poor kids play in pouring rain and temps in the 40’s. They still have a few games left (playoffs just started), so I guess there is still a chance that they will have to endure such weather, but hopefully that does not happen. In fact, other than some showers today and again tomorrow, the rest of the week and weekend looks to be very nice, with lots of clear skies and temps in the 60’s. There are some signs of colder air coming in by around a week from now, perhaps even cold enough to touch off a few snowflakes in areas away from the big lakes warming influence.
Speaking of snowflakes, that time is drawing closer and closer! The Keweenaw Snowmobile Club is having its trail work session on October 20th-21st. Free lodging is available at the Trailside Lodge just outside of Calumet. We will be meeting at the Trailside Lodge both mornings around 10 am to organize things and then head out. There will be plenty of work to do, so come one, come all!
I guess that about covers it for this one. Talk to you all next week, with hopefully lots of color pics!
Good night from the Keweenaw.
–JD
