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| A photograph of the main grooming contraption, a Piston Bully if I have it right, returning to the garage early Saturday morning this last weekend when I again escaped two hours north for three days of cross-country skiing. |
Time to get myself back to the painting bench this evening (post-ski trip) from some more brushwork on those Anhalt-Zerbst infantry. Probably the very thin leather brown water bottle straps first and foremost. If that goes well, then maybe I'll finish the evening's session with something easier, cleaning up a few edges around shoes on the green bases. We'll see how it goes.
The following details my most recent jaunt up north for an extended weekend of cross-country skiing. Feel free to skip if that's not your cup of tea.
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Managed to get a few shots early Saturday morning (Valentine's Day) of the main snow grooming contraption at the end of its morning run along all 35km+ of trails at Forbush Corner Nordic Center, my primary cross-country skiing haunt. That's one of the various models of Piston Bullies above. These occupy the large garage and space just outside it when not in use. Four or five similar machines all told. The two qualified drivers use them to groom and (re-)condition the various trails adjacent to and through the Hartwick Pines Forest along Interstate 75 just north of Grayling, Michigan.
Ok, ok. But what about the skiing?
In a word, amazing. Just at or above freezing by midday Saturday meant lots of skiers of all ability levels. Same on Sunday. Everything from first-timers and families with small children to semi-pro racers out for their daily practice sessions just after the fresh groom early that morning.
The entire weekend was an absolute blast, missing only the Grand Duchess and Young Master. Besides the usual recreational skiing across three days, yours truly partook in a couple of Saturday clinics (taught by a guest coach on loan from Minnesota) to work on specific handling skills for both the classic and skate varieties of the sport. The cherry on top, however, was when the two regular coaches there, a couple of interesting and very fit guys in their 70s (my new skiing buddies: A. who is a Level 3 PSIA instructor and C. a Level 1), invited me out for a lengthy recreational tour after lunch Sunday before the drive home.
Skiing with members of the inner circle? How could I say no to that?
Sunny and about 35 F. (1.6 C.), the experience defies easy description. Through woods, up hill, down dale, around corners, and across meadows. The snow held firm and fast despite the sun and temperature, and the top dog, during a pause for water, actually paid a very nice compliment to my classic striding technique, which was an unexpected but added boost to the ol' ego.
Skiing technique is an ongoing pursuit in a way very similar to learning and improving one's skills on a musical instrument. There is always something to tweak, improve, and perfect. Or get closer to nailing one's timing and coordination of balance and weight shift with kick and glide. And that's before taking wax into consideration if one goes the more traditional route. Like the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, though, perfection in any one thing is always just beyond the horizon. But the journey toward perfection is where the real fun happens.
And when the stars align, and all of those elements converge? Magic!
Overall, that final tour for my most recent visit was a wonderful way to conclude the weekend. Hopefully, conditions will hold through month's end, when the plan is to make one more foray north for the 2025-2026 season. 38 separate sessions (and counting) on the snow so far since early December last year. Not bad for the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes Region.
Still very tired today (Tuesday), but miraculously not stiff anywhere despite about a dozen falls across the three days. The possible benefits of routine Yoga with the Grand Duchess to keep our middle-aged selves limber maybe?
Before you ask, there was one spectacular wipe-out (with an audience) late Friday morning. You know, in the interest of full disclosure. Lest we get too smug. On a rather steep hill that I have managed before. Of course.
-- Stokes
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