It's like having your own little farm...

Our local riding stable features a small petting farm every year. A personal fave for G. This year's animals include a very shy cow named Red, two hilarious goats that go by Bob and Gabby and a small, but portly pig appropriately named Bacon.

With the help of his Dad, G was able to coax Red from his little barn yesterday.




Despite earning Red's trust, G still favors Bacon most. So starts a season of nightly drives over to feed his new friends.

G's First Solo Ride

...on his PW50. Learning throttle control and braking.

Bull Gap

Another dirtbiking / camping event complete with winter-like temps.

Took some lovely pictures—this time with my camcorder. Too bad I can’t get them OUT of my camcorder. Sigh.

Friday

5:00 PM
Arrive at camp. Weather is sunny and just a bit cool. Nice enough for G to toss a football around with his friends while the adults set up camp. Tom arrives and sets up nearby.

5:15 PM
Temperature starts to drop like a rock.

8:00 PM
Dinner. Then we all try getting as close to the campfire as possible without burning ourselves. Still too cold. So we take the little ones off to bed.

Saturday

8:00 AM
Cold enough to deer hunt—as Paul likes to say. Sun is shining though and the guys suit up for their ride. Paul challenges authority a bit by riding G on his bike up to sound check. Doesn’t go well, but no worse than expected. And it doesn’t stop him and others from taking their littlest ones for rides.

10:00 AM
Shelly and I take the kids into Mio, to the Amish store there. By the time we returned to camp, it was tee shirt weather. The kids had a great afternoon and G was completely absorbed in play and watching dirtbikes return from the trails. When his Dad and Tom returned from their 45 mile—wet—loop, G got to go for a ride. Later, he spent time on his own PW50 with Dad running alongside.

7:00 PM
Dinner with everyone. Then a nice campfire and more play. A couple of guys stop by and let us know that a storm with 60 mph winds and rain is on its way. Everyone scrambles to take down easy-ups, awnings and every other thing that may blow away. Then the rain comes and we all scramble inside campers and tents.

Sunday

8:00 AM
It’s virtually winter outside so we all pack up to head home. No riding for our guys, but Tom was still contemplating it when we left. Did you go Tom?

10:00 AM
Just as we’re leaving, Chris invites us to camp with his family again next weekend. Jennifer replies with an affectionate, but firm NO. Mom is NOT camping again until it is warm.

G has graduated...

...to the next bike size up. Woohoo!!!

Fish Fry at the Black Hole

Black Hole, North Branch of the Ausable River

Annual fish fry with the guys from Trout camp.


Deep fried perch, battered halibut, garlic shrimp and more. G's favorite? Chocolate donuts for breakfast the next day.

A little river fishing for G and Dad. Then a little puddle fishing for G.


Campfire, spirits and song--thank heavens the "song" started after Mom and G went to sleep in their cozy tent.

A little rain and cooler temps--but not enough to dampen a great time with good, good friends.

Fish and Turtles Instead of Morels

Came up dry--literally--hunting for morels so we opted to drop a couple of lines in a little fishing hole near the house. Dad in all his fisherman gear and G with his Scooby Doo rod.


Didn't take long for G to land the big one. He reeled it in and then, before Dad or Mom could act, G reached out and grabbed the poor bluegill in a football tuck.




Dad convinced him to hand over his catch and together they released it back into the water. Not enough for a meal you know.




On the next cast, G snagged a Painters turtle. Unlike the fish, he had no desire to touch it. "Put it back, put it back!" he yelled. Dad dislodged the hook, broke off a little clam attached to its toe and, after failing to convince G to hold it, he put it back.


Mom's note to self. A bath is definitely in order tonight.

Rites of Spring

May 6th and 7th, 2006, Montmorency County Fairground

Stayed in a "cozy room"--as G calls it--at the TimberLodge. Dad's friend Ken and all of his cohorts also stayed here and Dad enjoyed Friday night partying before Saturday's ride. Leaving all of the late-sleepers at the motel, we joined our friend Tom at the fairgrounds Saturday morning. Temps were pretty chilly and Mom and G alternated between games outside and cuddling inside the truck.

Tom and Dad took off for the 45 mile south loop whild Mom and G walked the fairgrounds looking for G's friend Michael. When we couldn't find him, we opted to go and watch the safety training for the littlest riders. G was content to watch from afar, shying away from everyone who stopped to chat and play with him.

In the afternoon, we returned to our makeshift camp to wait for Dad. We kicked the soccer ball around, munched on cheese crackers and took a ride for treats (and coffee for caffeine-deprived Mom). Then we walked the dusty fairgrounds again looking for familiar faces.

When Dad and Tom returned, we went back to watch more safety training. There, we met Scott and Barb. They had two daughters in safety training, cruising the course on their little Hondas. Later, G and Dad took a couple of spins of their own.







Before the afternoon drawing, G and Dad went to check on Tom and bumped into Michael and his Mom and Dad. G was thrilled and any trace of shyness vanished as he and Michael goofed around. We went to the drawing where Dad won a pair of riding gloves for G. Then, with promises to come back and see Michael, we left for our cozy room and dinner out.

G literally fell asleep between chicken tenders, right at the table. I had to cradle him in my arms while I finished dinner. Of course, he woke up when we arrived back at the motel and wanted to know why we weren't at Michael's campsite. Kid is just crazy about Michael.

Sunday, Dad, Tom, Mike and Michael took off for the 58 mile north loop while G and Mom visited with Michael's Mom. When they returned, we headed for home. And guess who fell asleep before we could stop for ice cream?

And Monday morning? Looks like someone is pretty geared up for dirtbike riding season.