Almost-Spring Thaw

This is something you DON'T want to see when you are out driving.

In the field on the right hand side of the van, the ice that formed overnight was hanging about 6 inches up in the weeds. (darn camera was shaking so bad the picture turned out too blurry to post, no more medicine for it) The one below is pixilated from too much enlargement, but you can still see the darkened highwater marks on some of the trees.

The River was running over this bridge on the previous evening.

Turning around.

Let's check out the Park.

There were 2 wooden bathrooms at the other end of this pavillion.

There is a submerged road on the other side of the tree in the center of this photo, that runs to the right back along the river to the right of that cedar tree and into the woods.

Water over the road.

In the summer I sometimes fish from the bank about 15 feet behind this tree. Notice the debris on the 3rd rung of the ladder, that shows you how much higher the water was.

And Friday by 1:45pm the water receeded to about a foot under the bridge.

These pictures were taken early Friday afternoon. They closed the bridge Thusday morning after the melting snow from three days of temps over 50 and then rain all Wednesday afternoon and heavy rain during the night caused the river to flood over the road.

Wednesday I worked outside most of the day in the cold 40 degree temps and rain, Thawing out the septic line to the tank and having the tank pumped and then covering it all back up. Wednesday night I suffered from the consequences with terriffic muscle ache and pain. Thursday I continued to "Rock and Roll" with Mr.Pain and sleep with the help of modern medicine. Friday morning wifey wanted to go to the "Amish" store and in my drug induced hangover I agreed to go. Luckily wifey reminded me to take the camera.

On our way home we had to stop in Cass City to drop off some eggs and came upon this roadblock unexpectedly. We knew from TV that the North Branch of the Cass River had flooded over the road (it has a very short bridge) but had no idea that the South Branch had flooded too until we got there.

So we decided to stop by a few more bridges after our detour here.

These photos will give you an idea of how much water we are talking about. Some of them I took last summer to blog about. So here we go: These were taken at the Dodge Road Bridge about 8 miles from the bridge above;

From this

To this

And downriver

A little zoom

The pylons

And now the Cemetery Road Bridge halfway between the two

A close up looking upriver

and from the bridge

Down river

My Dad was transfered from the hospital in Saginaw Friday afternoon, to a Nursing Home in Cass City for physical therapy. Today he looked good and was in fine spirits. Once they get his medications under control and therapy started, I am hoping things will progress well so he can return home.

Winter Wonderland Excursion

We had to make a trip to our favorite bulk food store about 20 miles away. As the passenger of this ride I grabbed my old camera I keep in the van, and started snapping pictures. I thought maybe some of my WARM weather readers might like to see some of our Michigan snow. The snow started in mid November and has stayed with us through warm ups (40 degreees) and rain. The second photo is looking right at the sun, through the clouds of course, which gives the appearence of it being lighter out than it really was.

After stopping at the store we decided to take the stuff our daughter wanted over to her house.

On the way we spotted these draft horses and cow, and this nice frozen stream.

One of the new wind farms cropping up in our area.

Have you ever noticed how fast a barn goes to ruin after it's no longer being used?

When I was a kid, every farm over 40 acres had at least dairy cows.

Now there are plenty of fallen barns dotting the landscape since the small farms have been forced out of business since the early 1970's.

35 years ago this ruin was a prospering farm. Now its just a pile of rubble in a woodlot. The magnificent house, barn, and outbuildings are just moldering wood and cement. All that's left standing is the silo at the far left. Just too sad for words.

And speaking of SAD. This photo was unbelievable. Just to the left of my radio antenna is a deer

Running as fast and hard as it can from whats chasing it, just to the right of my antenna was this.

That's 2 snowmobiles. As we stopped to let that poor deer (winded, with tongue hanging, and stumbling) cross the road, and they high-tailed it back to and around the edge of the woods.

I have words for people like this, but I can't print them here.

But let's just say I wish that I was driving the snowmobile and they were in the place of that poor doe.

There were plenty of deer out yesterday. This bunch was a little further down the road.

A cold ride for some of our local Amish. (I would NEVER make it as an Amish man)

The big village.

When our daughter say's she lives in the middle of nowhere, this is what she means.

Our destination.

Then back through town and heading for home. About an 80 mile round trip in the beautiful winter wonderland.