Steve's 2006 Year-In-Review From Rochester, Michigan!

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Detroit Sports

We didn’t realize Detroit was such a sports town. First, the Pistons won the NBA playoffs. Then next year, they lost to the Miami Heat (to the glee of my brother Dave who just found sports during this event). Detroit also hosted the 2005 All Star Game and last February's Super Bowl where the Seattle Seahawks battled the Pittsburgh Steelers. We had 3 guests stay with us: two avid Seattle fans, Danny and Jerry Bergman and Helane David from New York City who brought her miniature Yorkshire Terrier “Tinkerbell.”

The Tigers then trashed the Yankees and ended up in the World Series. Then there’s hockey fever with the Red Wings. We won’t mention the Lions, but it is a bit much for Carolyn and I who are basically not sports fans unless our teams are currently winning. Is that so wrong?

Weather

This year we didn’t have our first snow on Thanksgiving Eve. But we set a record with the earliest snow (measurable) on October 12th. But that has been it so far. This weekend could be our first big one. We had a dry summer and then a wet and windy fall season, which did not do much for autumn colors this year.

Family Health

Both Carolyn and I are doing well this year, as are our respective families. Pepper (cat #1) had to have a tooth pulled and the antibiotics messed up her appetite, so the vet bill (I should have been a vet) was a bit much, but she is fine now. She is now a full-fledged carnivore so is hunting birds much to Carolyn’s dismay. Lola (cat #2) is fine, feisty, eating her own food and also Pep’s leftovers.

Birding / Hawk Watch

We went to the north end of Lake Erie for a Hawk Watch that was very interesting. Hawks migrate over this area to avoid the extended flight over the lake. Lots of bird counters, but the most fascinating thing was the captured birds of prey on display, which made for some wonderful photo opportunities.

Visitors

Jack and Ron In Rochester, MI: 10-22-06

Other company this year included the Rogers from New Zealand, Karl Ward from Seattle, my brother Dave from Miami, and Jack and Ron from Seattle. Had a nice visit to The Henry Ford Museum with the Rogers. Took Jack and Ron on a ride through the country, which might have been too long. Sorry!

Laura's High School Graduation

Carolyn’s sister Patti, and her husband Dave, had a great high school grad party for daughter Laura who is now off to Michigan State University. We miss her!

Shave Dave

Laura’s Dad, Dave did a cool thing this year. He’s a social worker for the State of Michigan. He grew his hair and then had a fund-raiser to shave it off. He raised $2,400 for the Foster Kids of Macomb County. The shave event was a blast!

Crops

Had a fun garden this summer with lots of corn and tomatoes. Pumpkin quantity not much with only about 14 this year. Our sunflowers were outrageous this year. One stand-alone was so big it was dubbed the “giant hogweed.” Must have been 9 feet tall with the biggest leaves I have ever seen on a sunflower.

Steve’s Folks / Carvings from John Collins: 11-06 to 11-15-06

So far in 2006, I took 4 trips to see my folks in Lansdale, PA, with one more planned just before or after the holidays. They are doing great. Both still playing bridge, dominos, and doing crossword puzzles. Mom has gotten into bingo. Dad’s now doing small wood carvings and Sudoku. He loves his computer.

Music / Dave Who?: 09-29-06

I ended up seeing 4 music events (Carolyn many, many more): Steve Howe, Jeff Beck, the Detroit Jazz Fest and The Who. My brother Dave flew back to Detroit with me from Miami for the weekend and we went to The Who concert with Carolyn. I have seen them many times before, but had a hard time keeping my eyes off of drummer Zak Starkey, Ringo Starr’s son. He is a great drummer. It was quite a show.

Woodward Dream Cruise

Had a blast at the Woodward Dream Cruise this year. Over the week-long event, went 4 times and saw many, many great cars, from pure classics to hotrods and met lots of nice people. Went to a police/fire parade/event in Ferndale and met our democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm.

Miami Bound / The Everglades: 09-22-06

I went to Miami to see my brother Dave, friends Michele and Pierre, and to spend some time with All Angels Academy, a web client of mine. Had a week to meet and see everyone from staff, teachers, students and parents and to take photos for their website. What a great school they have! Susan Keedy, the headmaster of this school, took us to Everglades National Park, which was very, very interesting.

Halloween: 10-31-06

We had a fun Halloween. Bought some scary masks, got the pumpkins carved, played scary music loud throughout the neighborhood and had 57 trick-or-treaters come to visit. Toned it down for the little ones but had a few genuine screams for some of the older kids. Fun, fun, fun!

Hiking / Adirondacks: 11-10 and 11-16-06

After a few light ventures to the mountains since 2001, I finally made it to Seattle last year (2005) and went up Granite Mountain, then Iron Peak with Pat Frye, and finally the Lake Ann Loop trail with Skip Ranck. This year, I went back to the Adirondacks to climb Algonquin Peak.

It’s been 30 years since I’ve been there. I had hoped to go first thing October. But Carolyn was heading to Canada to see relatives and friends and also a trip to Oregon to see Hal and Kathryn Fernandez. So my trip kept getting pushed back.

Finally left early November. This trip would be dedicated to Tom Pratt, a friend who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. After a drive through Canada, I made it to Lake Placid, NY, and slept in my truck at the trailhead. Was on the trail by 7:00. It was really nice to be there. Trail became quite rocky then frozen from the prior rain and snow. Left crampons in my truck as it was 57 degrees when I left the lot. Trail got pretty tedious.

I ended up making it to about 4,700 feet, but went way beyond my designated turn-around time. I was a bit bummed not to have made the top, but too tired to care. So took some photos, then headed down. The trail was eroded to rock and was like a river of ice. I slipped on a steep long rock and had some nice scrapes and bruises from the fall but continued down. Made it to car just as the trail turned to darkness.

From there, I went to Lansdale, PA to visit my folks. My Dad got a kick out of seeing me in much worse shape than he was. I was extremely stiff, sore and tired. I was also beginning to get more miffed at not making the summit. Had a nice visit for 4-5 days and then headed back to Detroit, Michigan as planned.

However, my brain wouldn’t let me turn west onto I-80 to Detroit, so ended up heading back to the Adirondacks for trip #2 to Algonquin Peak. Left trailhead at about 11:00 p.m. and did my first all-night ascent and reached the summit at 4:00 a.m. Took crampons this time, but too dark for photos, so basically raced up with flashlight in hand.

Was 39 degrees when I left parking lot, but trail had melted and was just water on rocks this time. No crampons needed. The summit was very cold and windy with just a light, slick layer of ice on top. Took a photo of me and of summit benchmark. Was getting windier, so I got behind a big rock and dressed in warmer clothes.

Then decided to head down. I was hoping to be on top at sun up, but the summit was in the clouds. Wind continued to pick up speed. When I left Lansdale, tornados were ripping up N.C. and the storm was heading north. I was on the edge weather-wise.

So down I went. I followed some small yellow hash marks painted every 50 yards on the rock, but after finding two, I could not find the third. Hmm. Back to the summit I went to seek cover and regroup.

It was even windier now. So I tried again but still could not find the third yellow hash mark. By this time there were 50 mile per hour winds with higher gusts and it was cold. Decided I would zigzag to find trail but would continue down to seek shelter in trees. Finally, I stopped and dug out my map and compass and realized I was heading down east. Not north as hoped. I angled back up in a northerly direction and just after sunrise, I found the trail. Yes, this was a lot of fun!

Was getting hypothermic, so continued down feeling better bit by bit, until I slipped on the same damn rock (no ice this time – just wet with wind-blown leaves and berries). I went for a ride on my back and as I turned to grab some foliage, I went off the end of rock and smacked my head fairly hard before coming to a halt.

Once reality set in, I headed back down and finally made it to my truck at 9:07 a.m. – record time! Or so I thought. My watch said 9:07 a.m. but my truck clock said 2:15 p.m. My guess is 9:07 was the big crash and I broke my watch. Also bent my trekking pole. And from the looks of my head in my truck mirror, I would have two black eyes any minute now.

Made it back to Rochester next day and ended up with a horrible cold that I am just now getting over. Black eyes have finally disappeared. Due to a cold, I missed Thanksgiving, but this holiday was especially sad since friend Tom died the day before. Tom will be truly missed by everyone that knew him. He was a very hard worker, a craftsman, and a great parent. Tom would help any friend in need and was a really great person.

Now it’s December and the holidays are upon us. I wish the best for you all and have a great 2007, too!

Best wishes,

Last minute tax deduction?

I am collecting for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society this year so if inclined, please send a donation if you can. Checks should be made payable to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I will forward all checks by January 15th. Thanks!

Address: Steve Collins, 702 Parkdale Road, Rochester, MI 48307-1739
Telephone: 248-402-9802,  E-mail: summitpath@aol.com