The other day, as I was watching my new derby friends skate around in circles at the rink for practice, I realized that I should really be using them as a more motivational tool in my life and really start being good about my diet and exercise. One of my new friends Daya, lives near by and we occasionally carpool. I suggested that we start getting together once or so each week and do something active.
Yesterday she texted me and asked if Diesel and I would like to go for a walk with her and her pup, Dazzy. We said of course! She and Dazzy met us over here and we walked Diesel and I's favorite loop. Down the street, to the CRT, into downtown, down Grey and back again. It was kinda late, but I knew we'd get through it pretty quick. I think it took us just about an hour to do the full 3 miles! That's some end of the summer speed right there.
The boys got along great, and I think Daya and I had some great conversation along the way too. I look forward to more outtings with Daya and Dazzy this summer. :)
Showing posts with label auburn hills. Show all posts
Showing posts with label auburn hills. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Friday, January 6, 2012
Mild Winter Day
I am one of those people who come November, I usually stop doing fun things outside. I hate the cold. My toes always get cold first and then I feel miserable. And I am not that big of a fan of snow either. Snow always manages to find its ways onto my bare skin, ya know, either up my pant leg or down my cuffs. However it does it, it does. I am also one of those people that hates wearing coats. I don't like being all bundled up in a restricting jacket, add gloves, a hat and a scarf and I feel like I am suffocating. These are the many excuses I have for why I don't take my poor Diesel dog out for walks in the Winter. I am going to try and work on that this year. There is no reason I can't take him for a quick walk every now and again.
Thankfully, Mother Nature gave us one of those weird, random breaks from the cold this week. Yesterday, I believe temps where as high as 56° here in Metro Detroit. Which for January, is warm. The sun was out all day, and melted away all of the remaining snow from the past weekend. The sky was blue and there wasn't much of a breeze, it actually looked as if it was welcoming everyone out to enjoy it.
As soon as I got home from work, I located the leash, and walked around out back to find my puppy. Diesel was overly excited! He's not one of those dogs that jumps up on you usually,or on to the fence even. But boy oh boy, was he excited! He was going for a walk and he was happy! Once I was able to finally get him to back away from the gate so I could open it, I clipped onto him and we were off.
The road of course was a muddy mess, and Diesel nearly dragged me all the way down it. He was walking so fast, we actually passed another dog walker. I had to convince him to slow down for the sake of my shins once we got to Auburn. I was hoping the trail wouldn't be too muddy either, considering that it sits on top of an embankment from where the old train tracks ran. And sure enough, as we reached the trail, we stopped and waited for two joggers to pass us by. It was a good day to be outside.
I don't know if it was the weather, or just the excitement of being out on a walk, but it seemed like we couldn't walk 50 feet without having to stop so Diesel could investigate some smell he had found. That dog had his nose to the ground almost the entire way down the trail. At one point he had stopped so dead in his tracks I nearly fell over. Sometimes having a leash that connects at your waist isn't a good thing.
We walked the trail to downtown, and crossed Auburn on to Grey like we usually do. There weren't too many people out on this stretch but we did pass one other dog walker along the way. I actually expected to see quite a bit more. What we did see however, were squirrels. Lots and lots of squirrels. And Diesel knew it too. It was a welcomed break from all the sniffing, now he was searching the trees and yards with a keen eye, looking for his favorite little creatures, hoping I would let him off his leash for a good chase.
It started getting cooler once the sun started going down a bit more. We continued down Adams and crossed back over into the neighborhood. We met a man on a bicycle who had just moved into the area. We chatted for a bit about the nice system of trails in the area and all of the good neighborhoods to cut through. He said we really had a good town here.
And that was it for our first walk of the year. Sure is nice to go out on a January day wearing just a fleece and a scarf. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate some more this winter and Diesel and I will be able to go out again like this. And like this I mean without feeling like my ears and nose are going to fall off, or having soaking wet pants from all the brown icky slush. Oh what can I say, I am just not a fan of Old Man Winter.
Thankfully, Mother Nature gave us one of those weird, random breaks from the cold this week. Yesterday, I believe temps where as high as 56° here in Metro Detroit. Which for January, is warm. The sun was out all day, and melted away all of the remaining snow from the past weekend. The sky was blue and there wasn't much of a breeze, it actually looked as if it was welcoming everyone out to enjoy it.
As soon as I got home from work, I located the leash, and walked around out back to find my puppy. Diesel was overly excited! He's not one of those dogs that jumps up on you usually,or on to the fence even. But boy oh boy, was he excited! He was going for a walk and he was happy! Once I was able to finally get him to back away from the gate so I could open it, I clipped onto him and we were off.
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| Clinton River Trail 1/6/12 |
I don't know if it was the weather, or just the excitement of being out on a walk, but it seemed like we couldn't walk 50 feet without having to stop so Diesel could investigate some smell he had found. That dog had his nose to the ground almost the entire way down the trail. At one point he had stopped so dead in his tracks I nearly fell over. Sometimes having a leash that connects at your waist isn't a good thing.
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| Diesel stalking a squirrel |
It started getting cooler once the sun started going down a bit more. We continued down Adams and crossed back over into the neighborhood. We met a man on a bicycle who had just moved into the area. We chatted for a bit about the nice system of trails in the area and all of the good neighborhoods to cut through. He said we really had a good town here.
And that was it for our first walk of the year. Sure is nice to go out on a January day wearing just a fleece and a scarf. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate some more this winter and Diesel and I will be able to go out again like this. And like this I mean without feeling like my ears and nose are going to fall off, or having soaking wet pants from all the brown icky slush. Oh what can I say, I am just not a fan of Old Man Winter.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
A Warm October
It seems that for the past few years, it has been staying warmer come October. At least it has here in Michigan. For instance, this week we could see a high of 80° on Saturday. It has been sunny and nice out all week so far, which has been an amazing change from the cold and wet of the previous weeks.
Just yesterday, when I got home from work, it was 70°, not a cloud in the sky and I just couldn't resist taking Diesel out for a walk. And being that it was so nice, I decided to wing it and just walk for the pleasure of it with no real route in mind.
We had to start out on the Clinton River Trail like always, because I couldn't pass up the opportunity to escape from the asphalt and surround myself with the peacefulness of the trail. As I was enjoying the many new fall colors to be seen, Diesel was busy searching the trees for squirrels. The squirrels have been super busy lately, running in and out of the walnut trees, and barking at one another. It didn't take long for him to spot a few black squirrels and we saw quite a few fox squirrels as well.
Once downtown, I was happy to see that new flowers had been planted along the road way, really capturing the essence of autumn. Downtown Auburn Hills sure has come a long way since I was a kid, but one thing I can count on is a quick soft serve cone at the Twist & Dip. It may not be run by the same owners, or carry any fancy ice cream flavors, the Twist & Dip has always been a nice place to get a cold treat on a hot day. Today wasn't exactly hot, but it sure was nice, and there aren't going to be many more days like this! Diesel got his usual of a doggy dish; small bowl of vanilla with a doggy biscuit, and I just got a baby vanilla cone to satisfy the craving. After all, we are out walking for our health.
And since our health is important, I thought maybe it would be a good idea to add a little to our route and see how a detour would be. We first swung through Riverside Park, walking along the river bank. One of my favorite places in Auburn Hills. The park may be small, but it has a nice trail along the riverbank, a play area, a nice gazebo, a pavilion, and restrooms. A great place to enjoy lunch, or an evening downtown. They have hosted a few different events at the park, most recently the Clinton River Trail Fall Classic that I participated in, as well as an Annual Exchange in the spring, and concerts on Fridays during the summer.
Not ready to head home yet, I thought it would be nice for Diesel and I to head down Squirrel Rd, and make our way back to South Blvd, and then Adams going that route, I figured it would add at least a mile to our walk. It's funny how the simplest things can have you reflecting back on fond memories. And its not like I haven't been down these roads before, I have many times in fact, but there is just something about walking the sidewalks where I used to ride my bike as a kid, really can bring a smile to my face. Even after a not-so-good day of work.
It started to cool down and Diesel and I made our way down South Blvd. and I was glad I had worn my hoodie. Even though the temps have been nice during the day, as soon as the sun sets, you are reminded that it is October in Michigan. One last picture I took along our walk really sums up what I love about this time of year. And maybe it can be the motivation I need to hang the Halloween decorations. (Trust me, 80° this Saturday is not going to make it very easy.) So I leave you with this, a beautiful shot from the corner of Adams & South Blvd.
Just yesterday, when I got home from work, it was 70°, not a cloud in the sky and I just couldn't resist taking Diesel out for a walk. And being that it was so nice, I decided to wing it and just walk for the pleasure of it with no real route in mind.
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| Along the CRT - East of Adams Rd. |
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| Downtown Auburn Hills |
Once downtown, I was happy to see that new flowers had been planted along the road way, really capturing the essence of autumn. Downtown Auburn Hills sure has come a long way since I was a kid, but one thing I can count on is a quick soft serve cone at the Twist & Dip. It may not be run by the same owners, or carry any fancy ice cream flavors, the Twist & Dip has always been a nice place to get a cold treat on a hot day. Today wasn't exactly hot, but it sure was nice, and there aren't going to be many more days like this! Diesel got his usual of a doggy dish; small bowl of vanilla with a doggy biscuit, and I just got a baby vanilla cone to satisfy the craving. After all, we are out walking for our health.
And since our health is important, I thought maybe it would be a good idea to add a little to our route and see how a detour would be. We first swung through Riverside Park, walking along the river bank. One of my favorite places in Auburn Hills. The park may be small, but it has a nice trail along the riverbank, a play area, a nice gazebo, a pavilion, and restrooms. A great place to enjoy lunch, or an evening downtown. They have hosted a few different events at the park, most recently the Clinton River Trail Fall Classic that I participated in, as well as an Annual Exchange in the spring, and concerts on Fridays during the summer.
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| The Clinton River |
It started to cool down and Diesel and I made our way down South Blvd. and I was glad I had worn my hoodie. Even though the temps have been nice during the day, as soon as the sun sets, you are reminded that it is October in Michigan. One last picture I took along our walk really sums up what I love about this time of year. And maybe it can be the motivation I need to hang the Halloween decorations. (Trust me, 80° this Saturday is not going to make it very easy.) So I leave you with this, a beautiful shot from the corner of Adams & South Blvd.
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| I just love the colors of the trees right now. :) |
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
A Bit of Fresh Air
Sunday night I started to get a stuffy nose, and sure enough come noon on Monday I had a full blown cold in the works. I left work early on Monday and came home and got some rest.
Today, still not feeling the best I decided to call into work. Diesel and I spent most of the morning snuggled together in bed. He will take the spot of anyone who has left it. And besides taking up a lot of room, he's quite the cuddler. As a matter of fact, as I am writing this, he has just awoken from another nap and has come walking down the hall from the bedroom stretching his poor legs. Such a lazy dog if we'll let him.
Around 1 o'clock or so today, I couldn't help but notice just how awesome it was looking outside. The sun was out, the sky was blue, and I could tell there was even a bit of a breeze. A quick peek at the weather on my phone confirmed it. Should we go for a walk? Will it make me feel any better? Could it actually make my cold worse? I just couldn't resist it though and I got my stuff together for the walk.
I got some water for us, and ate a quick banana while he finished his breakfast. He could tell something was up. And sure enough, once he saw his leash he was ready to go.
We took it nice and easy, and headed on down to the trail. Avoiding the millions of potholes that fill my street. It always surprises me how many people are out on the trail in the middle of the day, but its good it gets its use. We walked down the trail a bit and I was starting to get worried I was wearing too heavy of a hoodie, but I think it worked out ok.
We stopped at the Twist N' Dip and got Diesel a dog dish, which will probably be the last of the season. I ate a nectarine I had stashed in my pocket and then we continued on. I thought it could be a nice day to head into the park again and see how the river was flowing. As we walked on down the road we stopped and chatted with a man outside of Duffy's that thought Diesel was a great looking dog. Not to brag, but he is!
At the park, we walked along the river, and stopped to see some ducks. The park was pretty quite today, with kids back to school. The lunch crowd had started to thin out a little as well. After we hung out there for a while, I decided that we should get on back home and rest for a bit.
And rest we did! Diesel took a nap while I watched a few episodes of Buffy on Netflix. Now the nice weather has shifted to rainy and cloudy, but that's autumn for you. At least my mums are getting water, and they'll continue to fill out my planter boxes a little more. I love looking out the front window at all the awesome fall colors as they change day to day.
Today, still not feeling the best I decided to call into work. Diesel and I spent most of the morning snuggled together in bed. He will take the spot of anyone who has left it. And besides taking up a lot of room, he's quite the cuddler. As a matter of fact, as I am writing this, he has just awoken from another nap and has come walking down the hall from the bedroom stretching his poor legs. Such a lazy dog if we'll let him.
Around 1 o'clock or so today, I couldn't help but notice just how awesome it was looking outside. The sun was out, the sky was blue, and I could tell there was even a bit of a breeze. A quick peek at the weather on my phone confirmed it. Should we go for a walk? Will it make me feel any better? Could it actually make my cold worse? I just couldn't resist it though and I got my stuff together for the walk.
I got some water for us, and ate a quick banana while he finished his breakfast. He could tell something was up. And sure enough, once he saw his leash he was ready to go.
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| I love all of the colors that come out in the fall |
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| The Clinton River in Riverside Park - Auburn Hills |
At the park, we walked along the river, and stopped to see some ducks. The park was pretty quite today, with kids back to school. The lunch crowd had started to thin out a little as well. After we hung out there for a while, I decided that we should get on back home and rest for a bit.
And rest we did! Diesel took a nap while I watched a few episodes of Buffy on Netflix. Now the nice weather has shifted to rainy and cloudy, but that's autumn for you. At least my mums are getting water, and they'll continue to fill out my planter boxes a little more. I love looking out the front window at all the awesome fall colors as they change day to day.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Clinton River Trail Fall Classic 2011
written 9-17-11
Burr! It was a chilly day out there this morning, but Diesel and I got up early and headed down to Riverside Park in Auburn Hills to volunteer in this years Clinton River Trail Fall Classic.
The CRT Fall Classic is an annual bicycle tour and 5K walk that takes place each year along the Clinton River Trail. For a small registration fee, participants can choose either a 5K walk, or 5, 16, 24, or 40 mile bike routes. Each participant gets a t-shirt (if preregistered), maps for the various routes and lunch upon returning. Vendors are also set up in the park offering various goodies.
Walkers start out at Riverside Park and head west on the CRT to Opdyke Rd and back. Cyclists start at the park, but head east on the trail. The 5 mile trail takes you to Crooks Rd and back, the 16 mile trial is to Dequindre and back. For the more ambitious riders, you can pick up the Macomb Orchard Trail on the other side of Dequindre and either turn around at West Rd for 24 miles, or continue all the way to the Clinton River Bridge just past mile marker 12, and head back.
Originally, Diesel and I were just going to participate in the event as walkers, but I came across a posting on the Friends of the CRT Facebook page asking for volunteers. Since we live so close by anyhow, I figured why not. I got to wear a spiffy neon yellow vest and direct the walkers and cyclist from the park to the trail. It was a great opportunity for us to meet so many people who enjoy the trail just as much as Diesel and I do. We even had a chance to pass out a few of our cards and hopefully gain a few more readers to the blog.
Once I knew most of the crowds had made their way to the trail, we stopped back in at the registration table and got my t-shirt. We browsed around a bit talking with the vendors and then headed out to complete our walk.
Diesel and I have walked this side of the trail a few times, however we've never gone as far as Opdyke, we usually turn around at the I-75 bridge, and walk back. I never knew just how nice the rest of that walk could be. The section of the trail between I-75 and Opdyke is mostly wooded, and you can spot the backyards of a few houses but otherwise the trail is pretty secluded. We saw quite a few squirrels and even a bunny while walking, and even had the chance to chat with a few more walkers along the way.
It took us about a half hour to get to Opdyke and then another half hour to get back, so not a bad walk at all. I took quite a few pictures that you can see by scrolling to the bottom of this page, though I wish I would have remembered to turn on my Noom so I could track my stats.
Once back at the park, Diesel and I shared a few snacks and talked with more volunteers and participants about different routes and about the trail. It was a nice morning despite the overcast and the lower than welcomed temperatures. All and all it was a great morning.
If you walked/cycled the Fall Classic, please feel free to share your stories in the comments below. I would love to hear from you!
If you would like more information on the Clinton River Trail, check out the Friends of the CRT Facebook group or visit www.clintonrivertrail.org
Burr! It was a chilly day out there this morning, but Diesel and I got up early and headed down to Riverside Park in Auburn Hills to volunteer in this years Clinton River Trail Fall Classic.
Walkers start out at Riverside Park and head west on the CRT to Opdyke Rd and back. Cyclists start at the park, but head east on the trail. The 5 mile trail takes you to Crooks Rd and back, the 16 mile trial is to Dequindre and back. For the more ambitious riders, you can pick up the Macomb Orchard Trail on the other side of Dequindre and either turn around at West Rd for 24 miles, or continue all the way to the Clinton River Bridge just past mile marker 12, and head back.
Originally, Diesel and I were just going to participate in the event as walkers, but I came across a posting on the Friends of the CRT Facebook page asking for volunteers. Since we live so close by anyhow, I figured why not. I got to wear a spiffy neon yellow vest and direct the walkers and cyclist from the park to the trail. It was a great opportunity for us to meet so many people who enjoy the trail just as much as Diesel and I do. We even had a chance to pass out a few of our cards and hopefully gain a few more readers to the blog.
Once I knew most of the crowds had made their way to the trail, we stopped back in at the registration table and got my t-shirt. We browsed around a bit talking with the vendors and then headed out to complete our walk. Diesel and I have walked this side of the trail a few times, however we've never gone as far as Opdyke, we usually turn around at the I-75 bridge, and walk back. I never knew just how nice the rest of that walk could be. The section of the trail between I-75 and Opdyke is mostly wooded, and you can spot the backyards of a few houses but otherwise the trail is pretty secluded. We saw quite a few squirrels and even a bunny while walking, and even had the chance to chat with a few more walkers along the way.
It took us about a half hour to get to Opdyke and then another half hour to get back, so not a bad walk at all. I took quite a few pictures that you can see by scrolling to the bottom of this page, though I wish I would have remembered to turn on my Noom so I could track my stats.
If you walked/cycled the Fall Classic, please feel free to share your stories in the comments below. I would love to hear from you!
If you would like more information on the Clinton River Trail, check out the Friends of the CRT Facebook group or visit www.clintonrivertrail.org
Friday, September 16, 2011
Fall is Near
written 9/5/11
On Friday, before Labor Day it was close to 100 degrees here in Metro Detroit. As I sit here today, this Labor Day Monday, it has been in the high 50's all day. How the temp dropped nearly 50 degrees in 3 days... Oh yea, that's right I live in Michigan. Anything is possible.
Today was very overcast, with the sun only peeping out here and there. I stopped by Auburn Oaks Nursery after breakfast and picked up some more perennials for the flower boxes and the front garden. After getting those planted I figured that I should take the dog out for a walk.
We headed on out of the neighborhood as we always do and it definitely felt like an early fall day. The leaves were crinkling as they drifted on down the road, and you could see the trees were starting to change colors. As much as I look forward Halloween coming, I have to be sad the the end of summer is soon upon us. And after those few brief weeks comes the good old Michigan winter.
The trail was quite busy today with so many people enjoying the cooler weather. We made our way downtown and decided that it would be nice to cut through River Woods Park, and head back around that way. I had actually thought it would be a longer walk but it turned out to be just about the same as our other walks, 3 miles are so.
It still ended up being a nice walk and we met a few nice people along the way. I am looking forward to more walks as it starts cooling off, though I am working on some ideas for what I will write about over the winter as I am not a huge fan of being cold. I appreciate any ideas you can toss my way.
On Friday, before Labor Day it was close to 100 degrees here in Metro Detroit. As I sit here today, this Labor Day Monday, it has been in the high 50's all day. How the temp dropped nearly 50 degrees in 3 days... Oh yea, that's right I live in Michigan. Anything is possible.
Today was very overcast, with the sun only peeping out here and there. I stopped by Auburn Oaks Nursery after breakfast and picked up some more perennials for the flower boxes and the front garden. After getting those planted I figured that I should take the dog out for a walk.
We headed on out of the neighborhood as we always do and it definitely felt like an early fall day. The leaves were crinkling as they drifted on down the road, and you could see the trees were starting to change colors. As much as I look forward Halloween coming, I have to be sad the the end of summer is soon upon us. And after those few brief weeks comes the good old Michigan winter.
The trail was quite busy today with so many people enjoying the cooler weather. We made our way downtown and decided that it would be nice to cut through River Woods Park, and head back around that way. I had actually thought it would be a longer walk but it turned out to be just about the same as our other walks, 3 miles are so.
It still ended up being a nice walk and we met a few nice people along the way. I am looking forward to more walks as it starts cooling off, though I am working on some ideas for what I will write about over the winter as I am not a huge fan of being cold. I appreciate any ideas you can toss my way.
Starting Again
Sorry to all of my readers for being a bit absent lately. The weather has been rainy and icky these past few days and I haven't really gotten out on many walks with Diesel. Not to mention I have been battling my allergies and it seems to be draining all motivation to do anything. I've even skipped out on two personal training sessions! I've been working this week on trying to get back on the good side by going to the gym every day after work, getting my butt kicked by Toria and trying not too eat too much crap.
Hopefully, this weekend can be the start of a new healthier week. Earlier this week I signed up with Door to Door Organics a produce delivery group. I am hoping that the new, fresh fruits and veggies being delivered to my home every week will give me that needed push to start bringing my lunches to work. Not to mention its also getting colder out and I hate going out for lunch when its cold.
Also this Saturday, Diesel and I will be walking a 5K hosted by The Friends of the Clinton River Trail. The Fall Classic is a great opportunity to support the community, the local hiking/bicycle trail, and meet people who love the trail as much as I do. Before the CRT was even a designated trail, I would walk along those abandoned railway tracks to pretty much anywhere I wanted to get in the Auburn Hills Area. And no, the tracks back in the day were not the spooky things you see on TV. They ran the length of the town and crossed by many homes and business and into neighborhoods where my friends lived. The tracks were just a shortcut.
Well that's all I have for now. Just wanted to pop in and let you know I am still around. I'll be posting an update on the CRT Fall Classic sometime this weekend. Hope everyone is enjoying the end of Summer cool down.
For more information on Door to Door Organics, please visit https://michigan.doortodoororganics.com.
To participate in the Clinton River Trail Fall Classic, visit www.clintonrivertrail.org
Hopefully, this weekend can be the start of a new healthier week. Earlier this week I signed up with Door to Door Organics a produce delivery group. I am hoping that the new, fresh fruits and veggies being delivered to my home every week will give me that needed push to start bringing my lunches to work. Not to mention its also getting colder out and I hate going out for lunch when its cold.
Also this Saturday, Diesel and I will be walking a 5K hosted by The Friends of the Clinton River Trail. The Fall Classic is a great opportunity to support the community, the local hiking/bicycle trail, and meet people who love the trail as much as I do. Before the CRT was even a designated trail, I would walk along those abandoned railway tracks to pretty much anywhere I wanted to get in the Auburn Hills Area. And no, the tracks back in the day were not the spooky things you see on TV. They ran the length of the town and crossed by many homes and business and into neighborhoods where my friends lived. The tracks were just a shortcut.
Well that's all I have for now. Just wanted to pop in and let you know I am still around. I'll be posting an update on the CRT Fall Classic sometime this weekend. Hope everyone is enjoying the end of Summer cool down.
For more information on Door to Door Organics, please visit https://michigan.doortodoororganics.com.
To participate in the Clinton River Trail Fall Classic, visit www.clintonrivertrail.org
Monday, September 5, 2011
An Evening Walk
written 9/1/11
The other night I had the urge to talk a walk downtown, but Mikey and Diesel were up state and I don't do silly things like that when I'm alone. So I put it off, and decided that one night before it starts getting too cool outside, I would do it.
Tonight ended up being that night. Not having to work tomorrow was an added advantage because I knew I would want to come home and immediately upload my pictures and start writing. So about 8 o'clock or so, Diesel and I headed out on down the road. It was still close to 85 degrees out, and a bit on the muggy side, but it wasn't awful. I sprayed down with some bug spray, did a spritz across Diesel's back as well. I was not going to deal with mosquitoes all night!
We started our walk as we usually do, crossing Auburn and heading west down the Clinton River Trail. There was quite the serenade from all of the wild life. The cicadas were out in full force and you could hear them all over. The bat's were flying up and down the trail so low to the ground that I could make out the detail on their bellies.
Downtown was bright and alive despite the shops starting to close up. There were teens on their skateboards pushing curfew as the sky grew darker. There were kids and their parents lined up for some after dinner treats and the Twist n' Dip. Outside Duffy's tavern, a group was enjoying a cigarette and talking about the nice weather. We walked past all of the shops, many of them new, but a few that still remain from my childhood.
Rather than walking down Grey Rd as we usually do, we circled around and walked back up the other side of Auburn. The street was nicely lit all the way to Adams and it was a nice stroll back to the neighborhood. And honestly I wasn't worried about anything going bump in the night, that is until I hit my own dark street and remembered that we could encounter a skunk! I kept my eyes open and we made it back to the house without any unwanted visitors.
It was a nice walk through my old downtown. I used to ride my bike up and down those roads as a teen, though it wasn't as nice and lit up as it is now. And the streets are much nicer and have working walk signals now too. I probably won't do too many night time walks but it sure is nice to get out every once in a while.
When is your favorite time to walk?
The other night I had the urge to talk a walk downtown, but Mikey and Diesel were up state and I don't do silly things like that when I'm alone. So I put it off, and decided that one night before it starts getting too cool outside, I would do it.
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| The moon over the CRT |
We started our walk as we usually do, crossing Auburn and heading west down the Clinton River Trail. There was quite the serenade from all of the wild life. The cicadas were out in full force and you could hear them all over. The bat's were flying up and down the trail so low to the ground that I could make out the detail on their bellies.
Downtown was bright and alive despite the shops starting to close up. There were teens on their skateboards pushing curfew as the sky grew darker. There were kids and their parents lined up for some after dinner treats and the Twist n' Dip. Outside Duffy's tavern, a group was enjoying a cigarette and talking about the nice weather. We walked past all of the shops, many of them new, but a few that still remain from my childhood.
Rather than walking down Grey Rd as we usually do, we circled around and walked back up the other side of Auburn. The street was nicely lit all the way to Adams and it was a nice stroll back to the neighborhood. And honestly I wasn't worried about anything going bump in the night, that is until I hit my own dark street and remembered that we could encounter a skunk! I kept my eyes open and we made it back to the house without any unwanted visitors.
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| Downtown Auburn Hills |
When is your favorite time to walk?
Saturday, July 9, 2011
A Long Walk
Yesterday was a day off from work for me and it should have been for Mikey too but he ended up having to work. After running some errands in the morning, I decided that the weather would be perfect for walking up to the park with Diesel.
I gathered up our usual necessities; water, bowl, sunblock, sunglasses and put them all in my little backpack and Diesel and I proceeded on down the road. I don't think Diesel and I have many walks together where we don't talk with at least one person while we're out and about. And sure enough, we hadn't even made it to the CRT yet when we were stopped by a fellow neighbor who had recognized us from walks the previous summer. We stopped and chatted for a bit, and he offered to trade Diesel for his dog. Poor thing! We eventually got back to walking again and made it down to the trail.
Along the Clinton River Trail we passed quite a few more people, surprising since it was noon on a Friday. I guess I wasn't the only one who thought it would be a great day to have off of work. We made a brief stop to get some water, but then we were right back on our way again.
We made it downtown and headed over to Riverside Park. For 1) I thought it would be nice to sit and enjoy the river for a bit and 2) I really had to use the restroom! Again I have to mention how awesome Diesel's new leash is, when we made it over to the restrooms, I was able to just clip Diesel's leash around a close tree and I didn't have to worry about him getting away. Not that I really think he would go anywhere... Another thing that was refreshingly nice was that the bathrooms at Riverside have really improved since I was a kid. I haven't had to stop in there much over the years, but it was nice to see that they had changed out all of the manual facilities with those handy automatic sensors. And they have replaced the paper towel with one of those high-powered hand dryers. The place was exceptionally clean. It's a restroom I won't be afraid to use in future.
After our bathroom visit we headed on back down to the riverside and chose a nice shady spot to sit and chill for a bit. There were a few people in the park that day enjoying their lunch or reading a book. Not too many kids at that point, no one on the playground equipment. The river was running pretty low and slow on this day, we haven't had much rain since last weekend. The ducks seemed to enjoy its lazy pace for a change. However this completely bored Diesel. He was ready to walk again, but where would we go from here? As we made our way back out of the park it was nice to see a small group of seniors from the local American House were settling in to have a picnic.
We exited the park on Squirrel Rd and headed north. My sister lives on that end of town and maybe she would wank to take her dog for a walk in the nicely shaded River Walk Park across the way. We made our way over to her house and stopped for some water. Unfortunately, she had a hair appointment in a few minutes and wouldn't be able to go. We had a nice visit anyway and said we'd try to plan the next one better.
After refreshing for a bit, Diesel and I made our way back to Squirrel. It was starting to get quite a bit warmer now, and the look on Diesel's face made it clear that we should head back home. We crossed the street and entered River Walk Park. It's a little known fact that you can walk the trails all the way through the park and end up in the Adams Ridge Sub. That's a nice little shortcut back to the trail and then back on home again.
We were gone for about 2 hours and managed to cover about 4.5 miles. Not bad on a pretty warm day. I took quite a few photos and have started posting all of my pictures to Picasa. Now my most recent photos will be displayed along the bottom of this blog, along with a link to view the gallery all together.
As always I welcome your feedback! Feel free to follow @DieselStomping on twitter. Also, feel free to leave comments, let me know what you would like to see in future posts. Diesel and I are always looking to see new places, meet new people and participate in what ever we can! If you like us, share us with your friends and family who may be interested too!
I gathered up our usual necessities; water, bowl, sunblock, sunglasses and put them all in my little backpack and Diesel and I proceeded on down the road. I don't think Diesel and I have many walks together where we don't talk with at least one person while we're out and about. And sure enough, we hadn't even made it to the CRT yet when we were stopped by a fellow neighbor who had recognized us from walks the previous summer. We stopped and chatted for a bit, and he offered to trade Diesel for his dog. Poor thing! We eventually got back to walking again and made it down to the trail.
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| New flowers behind the Dentist office along the trail |
We made it downtown and headed over to Riverside Park. For 1) I thought it would be nice to sit and enjoy the river for a bit and 2) I really had to use the restroom! Again I have to mention how awesome Diesel's new leash is, when we made it over to the restrooms, I was able to just clip Diesel's leash around a close tree and I didn't have to worry about him getting away. Not that I really think he would go anywhere... Another thing that was refreshingly nice was that the bathrooms at Riverside have really improved since I was a kid. I haven't had to stop in there much over the years, but it was nice to see that they had changed out all of the manual facilities with those handy automatic sensors. And they have replaced the paper towel with one of those high-powered hand dryers. The place was exceptionally clean. It's a restroom I won't be afraid to use in future.
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| Auburn Hills Riverside Park |
We exited the park on Squirrel Rd and headed north. My sister lives on that end of town and maybe she would wank to take her dog for a walk in the nicely shaded River Walk Park across the way. We made our way over to her house and stopped for some water. Unfortunately, she had a hair appointment in a few minutes and wouldn't be able to go. We had a nice visit anyway and said we'd try to plan the next one better.
After refreshing for a bit, Diesel and I made our way back to Squirrel. It was starting to get quite a bit warmer now, and the look on Diesel's face made it clear that we should head back home. We crossed the street and entered River Walk Park. It's a little known fact that you can walk the trails all the way through the park and end up in the Adams Ridge Sub. That's a nice little shortcut back to the trail and then back on home again.
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| The boardwalk at River Walk Park - Auburn Hills |
As always I welcome your feedback! Feel free to follow @DieselStomping on twitter. Also, feel free to leave comments, let me know what you would like to see in future posts. Diesel and I are always looking to see new places, meet new people and participate in what ever we can! If you like us, share us with your friends and family who may be interested too!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Auburn Hills Farmer's Market
My apologies for not getting this posted sooner! I had plans to rush home that night and blog, but a friend called and needed some talk time, and before I knew it, two more days had past.
On Thursdays in Auburn Hills, there is a small but delightful Farmer's Market on the corner of Auburn and Squirrel. It runs from 4pm to 7pm, weather permitting. They have a few farmer's that bring their produce of course, but they also provide booths for other local businesses. There's the cookie lady and her friend who makes smoked meats. Duffy's Irish Pub can always be found grilling hot dogs and selling sodas. Auburn Oaks Nursery has a booth as well, and has specials on many of their plants. I have also seen booths selling organic dog treats, home made pasta & cannolis, pies, fresh breads, jewelery and woodworking. Nana’s World Café has also had a small booth offering up samples of their gourmet marshmallows. And one of the other treats I love, is the live music! A different guest artist each week.
In the past I have always just driven up and browsed the market on my own, but this year I thought that it would be nicer just to walk up with Diesel. I have done this once before, and Diesel was so well loved and welcomed (even getting a free hot dog) I had to bring him again, and post about our walk.
Well come Thursday wouldn't you know it, the weather was hot! And usually on hot days I like to wait until after dinner when the sun has started to hide behind the trees a little more. If Diesel and I were going to make it to the market we'd have to be on our way no later than 6 and it would take some extra planning and supplies. I got on my lightest weight cloths, my walking shoes and packed my little backpack. Complete with Diesel's travel water dish and a bottle of water, and for bring the goodies home, my farmer's market bag I got last year.
Diesel and I headed on down the road about 6 o'clock, hit the Clinton River Trail as always, and then made it to downtown about 20 minutes later. It didn't take any time at all to meet up with my mother-in-law who had stopped up as well. And wouldn't you know it, as soon as I turned around there was Mikey on my motorcycle. He deemed it too hot to walk but wanted to take our new bike out for another test run. We let Diesel get some water and we rested in the shade for a moment and then the four of us wandered amongst the merchants. While Diesel was busy making friends, I picked up some tomatoes, some garlic bread and an ice cold Arnold Palmer. Mikey headed on down the road to our friends house, while I parted ways with Margaret.
Since the sun had started to set, the air was cooling off a little better now and Diesel and I weren't in much of a hurry to get home. We headed on back towards our house, but stopped at our friends house for a bit. He ran and played with his girlfriend, a blond lab named Daisy while Mikey and I chatted for a bit with our friends and their kids. It was a nice walk home after that reflecting on how delightful the day had turned out. Hopefully next week it won't be as hot, but the forecast isn't playing to my favor right now. But it wouldn't be a Michigan summer if it wasn't 80 and humid.
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| Auburn Hills Farmer's Market |
In the past I have always just driven up and browsed the market on my own, but this year I thought that it would be nicer just to walk up with Diesel. I have done this once before, and Diesel was so well loved and welcomed (even getting a free hot dog) I had to bring him again, and post about our walk.
Well come Thursday wouldn't you know it, the weather was hot! And usually on hot days I like to wait until after dinner when the sun has started to hide behind the trees a little more. If Diesel and I were going to make it to the market we'd have to be on our way no later than 6 and it would take some extra planning and supplies. I got on my lightest weight cloths, my walking shoes and packed my little backpack. Complete with Diesel's travel water dish and a bottle of water, and for bring the goodies home, my farmer's market bag I got last year.
Diesel and I headed on down the road about 6 o'clock, hit the Clinton River Trail as always, and then made it to downtown about 20 minutes later. It didn't take any time at all to meet up with my mother-in-law who had stopped up as well. And wouldn't you know it, as soon as I turned around there was Mikey on my motorcycle. He deemed it too hot to walk but wanted to take our new bike out for another test run. We let Diesel get some water and we rested in the shade for a moment and then the four of us wandered amongst the merchants. While Diesel was busy making friends, I picked up some tomatoes, some garlic bread and an ice cold Arnold Palmer. Mikey headed on down the road to our friends house, while I parted ways with Margaret.  |
| Our Farmer's Market Goodies |
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Sunny & Breezy!
First, Diesel and I would like to thank the Rochester Patch website for featuring our blog occasionally. I have been granted access to blog for the site, but I haven't yet decided if I should move over there or stay here. I sort of like the control I have here, though it could open me up to a larger audience.
Today, Diesel and I had the most perfect weather for walking. Partly cloudy with a fantastic breeze. Okay, maybe more windy than breezy, but it still felt great! Temperatures were in the 70's which made it perfect for some shorts and a t-shirt. Usually I don't go for walks much before 6 o'clock, but today I had an appointment at 7 I couldn't miss. This meant getting out on the road at 5 and having to deal with the traffic. Yuck. Thankfully the worst of it was crossing Auburn to get to the CRT after that we stayed on the trail for most of our walk.
After walking down the CRT, we cut through beautiful downtown Auburn Hills. I love the way the streets are lined with the old fashioned light poles and flowers hang from baskets and are planted in stone gardens along the street. Add in the brick accents on the street and the new building fronts, downtown Auburn Hills is starting to look exceptionally nice.
Once we got back on the trail we continued west while enjoying the seclusion from the road. We passed quite a few people and made some new friends as they stopped to pet Diesel. He sure is a handsome dog and are frequently told so!
Unfortunate for us, I remembered to take a peek at the time and realized we had only a half hour to make it home and had already walked for an hour. We got to stepping and raced home without taking too many unnecessary stops. We were forced to take a short-cut and follow Auburn road home, but that wasn't to horrible as the traffic has started to mellow out by then. Our complete walk took us an hour and a half and was almost 4 and half miles round trip.
And one last thing, I recently created a twitter account for the Diesel Stomping blog so that we can live tweet any pictures or events that may be happening while we are walking but before I have a chance to write. Tweets will appear on the right-hand side of this page, or you can follow us by clicking here.
Today, Diesel and I had the most perfect weather for walking. Partly cloudy with a fantastic breeze. Okay, maybe more windy than breezy, but it still felt great! Temperatures were in the 70's which made it perfect for some shorts and a t-shirt. Usually I don't go for walks much before 6 o'clock, but today I had an appointment at 7 I couldn't miss. This meant getting out on the road at 5 and having to deal with the traffic. Yuck. Thankfully the worst of it was crossing Auburn to get to the CRT after that we stayed on the trail for most of our walk.
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Once we got back on the trail we continued west while enjoying the seclusion from the road. We passed quite a few people and made some new friends as they stopped to pet Diesel. He sure is a handsome dog and are frequently told so!
Unfortunate for us, I remembered to take a peek at the time and realized we had only a half hour to make it home and had already walked for an hour. We got to stepping and raced home without taking too many unnecessary stops. We were forced to take a short-cut and follow Auburn road home, but that wasn't to horrible as the traffic has started to mellow out by then. Our complete walk took us an hour and a half and was almost 4 and half miles round trip.
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| Our walk today (image provided by Gmaps Pedometer) |
And one last thing, I recently created a twitter account for the Diesel Stomping blog so that we can live tweet any pictures or events that may be happening while we are walking but before I have a chance to write. Tweets will appear on the right-hand side of this page, or you can follow us by clicking here.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
June 9th, 2011
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| Downtown Auburn Hills |
Being Thursday, it meant the Auburn Hills Farmer's Market was going on downtown. The farmer's market is along the same route we normally walk. We headed out the door, down the street, and on to the CRT. The trail was full of life today. Lots of bikers, and the occasional runner/jogger. There were plenty of birds as usual, and not too many bugs. Once we were downtown, we headed over to the public parking area where the market was set up.
Being that it is still early June in Michigan, there's not too much produce out. What there is a lot of is sweets! The Cookie Lady was there as always and we made sure to stop by so she could meet Diesel, and get some of her famous cookies. After taking a lap or two, enjoying the sounds of the one man band, and letting Diesel meet all of the new dog lovers, we made a stop at Duffy's tent and ordered a fresh of the grill hot dog and soda. The guy even sneaked a hot dog out for Diesel too! After a few bites we headed on down Grey Rd on our way back home.
Along the way, we ran into Connie and had a quick chat until the mosquito's drove us back down the path. So long as you're moving they don't seem to bite. Just before Adams Rd we stopped and Diesel met a 1 year old German Shepperd puppy out for a walk with its owner. She was a cutie! We made it back home without too much more effort. And we were both ready to chill on the couch for a bit.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
May 24th 2011
Yesterday turned out to be a really nice day. The day was warm with a cooling breeze coming through in the evening. After getting home from the gym, and one heck of a workout, Mikey and I had originally planned to go see a movie. Mikey suggested instead that we take the dog for a walk, and postpone the movie to the next day, when there was a chance of rain. That sounded like a good idea to me.
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| Our usual route |
After Mikey finally got ready, the three of us headed out on Diesel and I's normal route. We headed out of the house and down the street. Just on the other side of Auburn, a quick movement caught Diesel and I's attention and we both stopped to have a stare-off with a groundhog. He was no more than 6 feet away from us, the opening to his tunnel between him and us. We waited for a while before the groundhog finally turned back the other way, ducked under the fence and found a new opening to crawl into. We continued on and caught the Clinton River Trail. Walked the CRT west until we came to downtown Auburn Hills. There we sat on a nice metal bench while we contemplated walking to a friends house or to the Twist 'n' Dip for some ice cream. The sweet-tooth in us all won over and we stopped in for some flurries. Diesel got his usual doggie dish, and like always he tried to swallow it all in one gulp! After our ice cream was finished, we continued on the route walking down Grey, all the while Mikey quizzing me on the types of trees. Along the route we identified various Maples, Oaks, Hickories, Poplars, and numerous others. There a quite a few different tree types that grow around southeast Michigan.
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| Mikey and Diesel walking along Grey |
As we neared home the sun began to set, and it was pretty evident we were all pretty beat. Ice cream and a long walk sure do hit the spot. Always nice having some peaceful time with the family in the evening. Though I am still hoping to get to the theater tonight and see the new Pirates movie. :)
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Our First Walk
I love spring! The weather in Michigan is just right for taking nice long walks after work without being too hot or too cold. And if you can plan them just right you can squeeze them in between rain showers.
Today, Diesel and I completed our typical route. This route is roughly 2.8 miles, and takes about an hour for us to complete. It takes us through my neighborhood, onto the Clinton River Trail, into Downtown Auburn Hills, around through the Grey Rd subdivision.
The weather today was pretty nice, sunny, few clouds, and around 54°. It cooled down quite a bit on the way back, and I tried to stay in the sun as much as possible.
We didn't make any stops today, but we did see a rabbit and a black squirrel out today. If I go at the right time, I have seen deer, partridge, rabbits, squirrels, fish, and some hawks, along with other birds. We have also been lucky as to not have to deal with too many bugs, mosquitoes and nats can be quite annoying! There were quite a few people out enjoying the trail today as well. Some runners, a few on bikes, and some dog-walkers like ourselves.
One of the other things I love about spring time in Michigan are the colors! The little green and red buds start to pop out onto the long, tall branches, and flowers begin to appear in the greening grass. There were yellow forsythia, purple hyacinths, and red tulips!
There's not too much else to say about today's walk. Mikey said he was going to join us but got caught up at his father's house longer than he had intended. There will be plenty more chances for him this summer, as he has said he would like to walk with us more. We also have a fancy new Subway downtown with a patio, it could be nice walking up for dinner some time.
I will share more walks, and more photos next time. Hope you enjoyed it!
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| Our walking route via Gmaps Pedometer |
The weather today was pretty nice, sunny, few clouds, and around 54°. It cooled down quite a bit on the way back, and I tried to stay in the sun as much as possible.
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| The Clinton River Trail just west of Adams |
We didn't make any stops today, but we did see a rabbit and a black squirrel out today. If I go at the right time, I have seen deer, partridge, rabbits, squirrels, fish, and some hawks, along with other birds. We have also been lucky as to not have to deal with too many bugs, mosquitoes and nats can be quite annoying! There were quite a few people out enjoying the trail today as well. Some runners, a few on bikes, and some dog-walkers like ourselves.
One of the other things I love about spring time in Michigan are the colors! The little green and red buds start to pop out onto the long, tall branches, and flowers begin to appear in the greening grass. There were yellow forsythia, purple hyacinths, and red tulips!
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| Some of the wonderful colors around town |
There's not too much else to say about today's walk. Mikey said he was going to join us but got caught up at his father's house longer than he had intended. There will be plenty more chances for him this summer, as he has said he would like to walk with us more. We also have a fancy new Subway downtown with a patio, it could be nice walking up for dinner some time.
I will share more walks, and more photos next time. Hope you enjoyed it!
Welcome!
I am not a very good blogger. I always seem to drift away from the subject at hand and don't post often enough. My other attempts are hit and miss (Life As It Happens & Back to Little), but I am hoping that this will be one I can really get into. What I am hoping to do with this blog is share with you the many walks my dog, Diesel, and I take together.
We are always walking about uptown or down the Clinton River Trail, even occasionally through the woods on our property up state. Together, Diesel and I have seen dozens of sunsets, quite a bit of wildlife, and met many new friends. We walk on dirt roads, paved streets, gravel paths, wood chip walkways, plank bridges and have covered quite a few miles. We may walk only a few hundred yards, a couple of miles, or if the weather is right and we have the time, we may even walk for hours. We tend to keep to the neighborhoods of Auburn Hills, but you can catch us trying to walk as far as we can into Rochester before having to head home for the night.
I am not much of a photographer, but I like to think I have a decent eye, and a camera phone. I like to take pictures of the scenery Diesel and I come across, or of any wildlife I can catch before it scurries off. Hopefully my words will help fill in the blanks between photos. I will also be occasionally including little maps of our routes in case you would like to explore them yourself.
Hope you enjoy my new blog!
Jennifer
We are always walking about uptown or down the Clinton River Trail, even occasionally through the woods on our property up state. Together, Diesel and I have seen dozens of sunsets, quite a bit of wildlife, and met many new friends. We walk on dirt roads, paved streets, gravel paths, wood chip walkways, plank bridges and have covered quite a few miles. We may walk only a few hundred yards, a couple of miles, or if the weather is right and we have the time, we may even walk for hours. We tend to keep to the neighborhoods of Auburn Hills, but you can catch us trying to walk as far as we can into Rochester before having to head home for the night.
I am not much of a photographer, but I like to think I have a decent eye, and a camera phone. I like to take pictures of the scenery Diesel and I come across, or of any wildlife I can catch before it scurries off. Hopefully my words will help fill in the blanks between photos. I will also be occasionally including little maps of our routes in case you would like to explore them yourself.
Hope you enjoy my new blog!
Jennifer
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