Against a backdrop of the cold-looking Thornapple River: Waiting to cross the Thornapple (upper inset, from left) are Jerry Pattok, Charles Krammin, Ron Sootsman, Larry Hawkins, and (sub-inset) Mick Hawkins, who took the picture.  Lower inset: Cal Lamoreaux, who with his wife, Middleville Village Clerk Jean Lamoreaux, organized the day's event.

3-3-7 VOLKSMARCH:  Today, the Chief Noonday Chapter helped the Middleville Chapter of the American Volkssports Association, MOVES (Middleville Official Volkssport Event Site), kick off their inaugural hike along the Paul Henry Thornapple Trail segment of the NCNST.  Conditions brought to mind our Chapter winter hike last month in Battle Creek — very cold, very windy, very snowy.  It was a day to test the mettle of the true hikers and perhaps their sanity.

Charlie Krammin was the first to sign in at the Middleville Village Hall, followed shortly thereafter by the rest of the CNC contingent: Mick Hawkins, Ron Sootsman, Larry Hawkins and Jerry Pattok. No other brave (foolish?) souls had showed up by 9:30, so we started out. The start was a little scary as first Jerry and then Larry slipped on the ice in the parking lot and landed on their derrieres.  Charlie struck out setting the pace for the hike, and Ron soon took over and maintained the trail breaker role for the rest of the hike.

Although our friend, Cal Lamoreaux, the hike organizer, had claimed there were about two inches of snow on the underlying slush, it was soon very apparent that more snow had fallen during the night, and there were now six to eight inches of new snow on top of Cal's two.  Needless to say, it was a very long hike. 

At various times when we were able to look up momentarily from watching where we were stepping in the deep snow, we spotted swans, Canada geese, mallards, and several deer along the way.  With Charlie regaling us with stories and folk wisdom, we finally reached Irving — the halfway point for the 11K hike.  It was shortly after noon -- the time at which most of us had expected to be back in Middleville with a warm lunch in the prospect. So lunch became protein bars and cold water partaken standing in the snow but amid very good company.

Ron and Charlie set off again at a pretty spritely pace while Jerry, Larry and Mick set a little more sedate pace back towards Middleville.  It became apparent that the CNC hikers were the bulk of the participants in the Volksmarch.  We met one of the program volunteers on cross country skis as we trudged back and then a lady from Ann Arbor, a tried and true “Volksmarcher” hiking along with her two Papillon dogs.  Ron arrived back at the Village Hall to discover he had won the drawing for the door prize.  He then hiked partway back down the trail to meet the rest of us as we came dragging in, so he probably hiked closer to 13K.  Showoff!  We made it back to the Village Hall significantly late for a light repast of fruit, cheese and crackers before we headed home.  All in all, it took the slow marchers a bit over five hours to make the hike.

The next event sponsored by the Middleville Trail Enhancement Committee/MOVES will be 5-5-7 which will involve the Volksmarch and perhaps a “Volkscanoe” event as well.  That event will be sanctioned by the AVA and, for the walkers, will count towards AVA mileage (or "kilometerage"?).

Larry Hawkins

The finished product at Horseshoe Bend Park: (From left) Tom Garnett, Larry Pio, Jim Heaton, Larry Hawkins, Josh Richie (front), John Rudnicki, Steve Hicks.

Our first stop was at Bedford Road and Jackson Street where we planted the

first kiosk. We met
Jim Heaton, Larry Pio, Tom Garnett and John Rudnicki there.  A site for the kiosk was chosen and the digging began. 

It was immediately apparent that we had made a major mistake.  It was easy digging!  Jim Heaton was nursing a shoulder injury; so everyone is sworn to silence regarding the fact that he tried to carry one of the kiosk modules by himself.  (Nor will we mention that at one point he unintentionally stepped into one of the finished holes....)

The kiosk went in great, went together great, and everyone was delighted with Josh’s new lightweight modular design.  We decided that we can tweak the design a little by using shorter uprights.  Josh had to use his contractor’s precision cutting tool (a chain saw) to shorten the uprights.

The crew got into their vehicles and Steve led a convoy snaking its way through Battle Creek to Horseshoe Bend Park which took a while because he really didn’t know where he was going.  John finally took the lead and got us to a delightful little park overlooking the river.

Larry, in true presidential manner, made up for the earlier mistake by choosing the spot for the second kiosk.  It took a while to dig through all the rocks and chunks of broken concrete to prepare the site, and we all agreed that we need a cost share grant to buy a heavy duty spud like Josh’s for the chapter.  We brought it to get through frozen turf, but it was invaluable in breaking up chunks of concrete.  Hard work and laughter (not to mention one pratfall) prevailed, and we got the second kiosk erected around noon.

Several of us then went down to Clara’s to check out the sign that the City of Battle Creek is donating to the Chapter on which to mount our NCNST sign, and then we headed for home.  Much thanks to everyone for a job very well done.

Larry Hawkins

They are looking at the last week in August.  Several Chief Noonday members have already expressed interest in going up to work for a week in the UP.  The work will be just west of Tahquamenon Falls.  Food and camping provided.

If you're interested, let Larry Hawkins know, if you haven't already done so.  He can send you further information and can give Clare the info she needs for planning.

See our new Interpretive Project Web page for a background on the project and use the link provided to download your own copy of the brochure.