Recovery

Running:

Not much running last week. The only day I got out to run was Wednesday. I did only 4 miles with no watch, just to loosen up the legs. I went up to Bayfield over the weekend and was tempted for a while to run in one of the Whistlestop races which were taking place on Saturday. They run a full marathon, half marathon, 10k and 5k. The 5k winner was over 20 minutes so I would have had a chance at winning a race for the only time ever. I did find this short video of the start of the marathon race. Brings back fond memories. I think next fall I will target this race again if I don’t run Chicago.

Hunting:
As mentioned I went up north over the past weekend. My brother Todd was up there as well. The mornings were spent fishing, the afternoon working on getting several deer stands up or ready for gun season, and the evenings bow hunting. The weather was incredible for early October and all the leaves were at or just past peak near the lake. Quite a sight. We went fishing in the morning going out before it was completely light. It was something watching the sun rise over Madeline island and completing making the Bayfield hillside look on fire with all the color. Crazy being out on Lake Superior in October in short sleeves. Unfortunately in two days we only caught one small Coho salmon. We marked lots of fish near the mouth of the rivers, but unfortunately we could not entice them to bite. In the afternoons Todd and I spent time refreshing a couple of ground blinds with natural material. One of these is a new spot that looks like it has real promise. We also put up a ladder stand in a new spot, and another bow stand on this same property close to the road and easy to get into. Just a little more work to be ready for gun season next time we get up there. In the evenings I was out hunting. It was much too warm, but I had to try anyway. It was nice to be out and the woods was incredibly beautiful despite the lack of deer. Looks to be plenty of sign including lots of rubs on trees, but they were likely just lying low in the warm temperatures. Here are a few pictures taken near my bow stand. The first is the stand my dad last used for bow hunting. I go past it on the way down to mine. The second is a picture of the woods near my stand, and the third is a picture standing at the base of my stand looking out toward the big oak tree in my opening. Thanks to my brother Tad for taking these.

Gardening:

Gardening chores are now pretty much related to fall clean up. There is some harvest of remaining vegetables, but mostly pulling all the vines and old plants and rebuilding the compost pile. Also lots of leaf raking and pickup. Most of these will end up being put on my garden and rototilled under over the next couple weeks. Out of 100+ pumpkins I started with I only have a couple dozen left. Within the next week I expect them to all be gone except those I keep for decoration myself.