Seen along the way

Last week was tournament week for high school girls volleyball and boys basketball. But since you probably are more interested in the things I saw along the way, I'll skip the sports report and focus on what the camera saw.

Tuesday, we made the long, long, long (200 miles, each way) trip to the state volleyball quarterfinals. Our team played hard and well but lost. So it goes.

Remember this ice fishing scene from about a month ago?

(This was taken Feb. 10.)

This is what that lake looks like now, after the weather's recent warm-up:


We were driving through Escanaba when we saw a sight that prompted a double-take ... and a drive around the block for another look ...

That reminds me of something I'd better get busy with.

Hey, this was the day I saw the first robin of spring, right along the highway ...


And I also saw my first mosquito ...

If you look closely, you'll see they are both sculptures made of bits of scrap metal, posed on the same trailer. I'd hate to have that mosquito tanking up on my arm or ankle. Alas, that season is coming, too.

I have one more picture from that trip (since it was way after sunset after the match ended), and it's a sight I was looking forward to. This trailer has been along the highway for years. Though the paint has faded, this unique sign remains unchanged. Remember: Sign-painters don't have spell-check ...


Later in the week, I made two trips to Houghton for the boys basketball regionals. These photos were taken during the Saturday morning drive.

Look at my amazing photo of an eagle by its nest! Admire!


Isn't that an incredible shot? One of the best eagle pictures you have ever seen? Wouldn't you like to get a picture like that yourself?

Well, just plan a trip our way, bring your camera, and I'll tell you where to look: right next to the big propane tank. He'll be waiting for you ... if the woodpeckers don't take a liking to him first ...


Lastly, we were on a rural road on our way home (of course, all our roads are rural) when we saw some pedestrians doing the turkey trot. So we stopped for a look ...

I count 16 turkeys making the crossing. Count the legs and divide by 2.

I was so interested in the turkeys that I didn't notice something else in the picture--not until my wife pointed it out a few minutes ago. See that deer watching us from the hillside, just in front of the trees?

Our team won the regional title and plays in the state quarterfinals in Marquette on Tuesday night. That, I think, will be the end of sports coverage for a while.

Weatherwise, the weather cooled off a bit last week, and we're supposed to get a few inches of snow overnight. By midweek, though, it will be getting warmer again. At this point of winter, all you do with the snow is give it a quick push with the shovel ... it will all be melted in a few days.