When the invitation to participate in the 2022 Fish & Loaves Happy Soles 5K Run/Walk/Bike event arrived in my e-mail inbox on January 27th, I registered that very night. It was nice to think warm thoughts and plan ahead to June 5th on that nasty Winter evening with 25 mph wind gusts, single-digit wind chills and snow forecast for the next day – ugh.
The e-mail from Ellen Pfafflin, the Happy Soles 5K Coordinator, asked entrants to submit taglines for the event’s tee-shirt and the winner would gain free entry to the 2023 event. I e-mailed back my tagline, admitting it was a wee bit corny. My submission is the title of today’s post. “Move Against Hunger” was the tagline on our official 2022 swag.
The beneficiary of our collective efforts is a food pantry in Taylor, Michigan about two miles down the road from Heritage Park, the venue for the 5K event. In 2021, Fish & Loaves Community Food Pantry distributed over 1.7 million pounds of food to 21,634 neighbors in need. In this COVID era, I wasn’t keen on attending the 5K event in person and happily you could opt-in virtually, so I was happy to do so.
This was the 5th Fish & Loaves 5K event I’ve done, three of them virtually due to the pandemic. You can read about them here, here, here and here if you’d like.
I follow Heritage Park and the Botanical Gardens on Facebook, so I know what events are taking place at this venue throughout the year. There were two events scheduled the first weekend of June: Saturday, June 4th was an all-day Relay for Life event and Sunday, June 5th was the Fish & Loaves 5K event. So that was a conundrum if I wanted to avoid a crowd.
Due to the erratic nature of our weather these days, I decided to go the weekend before the event. The Sunday of Memorial Day was picture perfect, so I did two, count ‘em two, trips around Heritage Park’s historical area, then headed to the Botanical Gardens, which in Spring was still a work in progress, then I wandered around through the Gardens’ new rustic trail. So, yes I did the requisite amount of miles and then some. (I began the day with two laps at Council Point Park.) Maybe next year I’ll be back in person.
You’ll recognize my favorite picture-taking spots and I’ll identify them for the newcomers. My quest for ducklings yielded no Mallard munchkins and to be honest, I saw zero Mallards at Coan Lake. I suspect the Mamas were sitting on nests and the Papas were close by. Even the geese were few and far between.
So tie up those walking shoes and walk along with me.
There’s always lots to see as you near the covered bridge. Coan Lake is usually teeming with waterfowl – not today, just some turtles sunning themselves, who freaked out and plopped into the water when I approached. Later, my second trip around, they had resurfaced when they thought the coast was clear and I had left for good. There was one surprise visitor as you’ll see below.
Once over the covered bridge, there were a few goslings near their parents. They were too young to be the goslings that I wrote about before, first with the eggs in the nest, then toddling after their parents. I focused on this one gosling as it eyeballed me and I had to smile at the little head tilt.
The flag was at half-staff in remembrance of the Uvalde tragedy.
After the second trip around the historical village, I headed to the Botanical Gardens …
… and I took a little detour to explore this small rustic area behind the Botanical Gardens.
Postscript: Ellen, an avid walker herself, advised that there were 12 bikers and 128 runners/walkers that participated on-site or virtually. I was happy to participate in such a worthwhile endeavor. I gave you the facts for 2021, but in general the Fish & Loaves food pantry serves more than 1.6 million pounds of food per year to some 3,000 households in seven communities in Wayne County, where 17% of all residents and 26% of children live in poverty. That is higher than the state’s average of 13% for both populations — all residents and children, according to the 2020 U.S. Census.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
Inspirational.
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Thank you Anne.
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The best walks are the scenic ones!
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Yes! This is one of my favorite parks – the actual 5K finishes up at the historical area, but goes to the other side of this huge park where there is a 1.2 mile loop, a short jaunt through the woods and out into the neighborhood. I like it best on this historical side.
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Hi Linda-
I finally made it to Michigan, Portage to be exact, after my very long relo drive from So Cal.
I’ve been trying to get back into recreational/social walking for exercise and your posts have inspired me in that direction. I’m also a history buff and discovered that Portage has something similar to what you have in Taylor. May treat/challenge myself this week to a historic walk in Kalamazoo and/or purchase of new shoes. Would love to meet you or at least talk IRL sometime. Interested?
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Hi hbsuefred: Congratulations on your move to the Mitten State. That’s a long drive/relocation for you. I am glad my walks are inspiring you. This is my 11th year for walking – my goal for this year is 1,256 miles (equivalent of 2,022 miles, named for the year 2022). Tomorrow, July 7th, I will have lived here in SE Michigan 56 years – we moved here from Oakville, Ontario. I actually had never heard of Portage, Michigan, so had to Google to find it on the map. I have heard of Kalamazoo but never been there. I’m not a big fan of driving on the expressway, so any excursions I take usually are done via surface streets, but thank you for that suggestion.
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As always your walks are wonderful and you photos fantastic. Fishing is relaxing as well as walking. Fighting hunger is a great cause to get involved in.
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Thank you Peggy. It was a beautiful day to walk and take pictures. The historical village is my favorite part of the park. I was there again last Sunday for Father’s Day looking for ducklings. There were a lot of fathers fishing with their kids which was nice to see. Feeding the hungry is a good cause and this food pantry serves a lot of people in the area.
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Always nice to see father’s doing things with their children. Fishing is a great way to enjoy a day. I have done a lot of fishing in my life time.
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There’s a lot of fishing going on down at the Detroit River as well – there you can catch what you eat and the whole family will line up on the boardwalk to fish.
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Sounds like fun.
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I love seeing the little red school house, Linda. Enjoyed reading your story along with the walks. I’m glad that despite the ups and downs of weather and pandemic you are finding ways to get outside to enjoy nature as safely as practical!
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Thank you TD – I am glad you enjoyed this story about the walk and this worthwhile charity. I love the little red house schoolhouse too and always try to get a picture of it when I’m there. If you peek in the windows, there are two life-sized dolls, a girl and a boy, each dressed in period clothing. They have the wooden desks, like were used back in the day, (although I remember those desks when I was growing up too). I have tried to get out as much as possible to keep going on my walking regimen. The weather has been fitful – we have two nice days, then two horribly hot and humid days. I hope next year to do the 5K in person again if the pandemic is over.
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Peeping in the window. What fun to see the creativity of old school days! Keep on walking. You’re doing good things.
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Thank you for your encouragement TD – I appreciate it. I searched for the pictures in the post that showed the “kids” looking out the window. I will put it in a separate comment in case it goes to your SPAM filter. They have an open house once a year where you can go into all the old building, including the very old log cabin. It’s been suspended due to COVID, but I’d like to go one day.
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Here is the post TD – it was coincidentally one of the posts about another Fish and Loaves 5K. The pictures are about halfway down of the kids:
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What a wonderful organization to help raise funds for! Thanks for taking us along on your walk. I do the same thing as you when I register for races – in the depths of winter, I imagine myself running along on a sunny spring morning. Congrats on having your tagline chosen as the official one!
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Thank you Laurie – glad you enjoyed the walk. Yes, thinking warm thoughts gets us through the depths of Winter for sure. Glad you liked the tagline … purple swag this year which was a different look for sure!
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Thanks for taking us along for the walk Linda. Those poverty stats are bad….
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You are welcome Joni – are you getting out for walks in the afternoon these days? The weather here is like yours … two days of gorgeous weather, then two or three scorching hot days. The stats are really bad here for poverty in some parts around here.
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No, I’ve been busy with other stuff…and right now at 2pm am watching the Jan 6 Hearing….very interesting. I watered yesterday for 2 hours as everything was so dry, and today I have a bit of weeding to do later.
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I heard some excerpts of the intern who testified today and I agree with you – it was very interesting what she said. We are supposed to get a bad storm and lots of rain on Friday thankfully as the firecrackers all around us won’t do damage if it is so wet.
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Miss Linda…………………………………thank you for sharing your walk around Heritage Park and your beautiful photos………………………when else could I get to see them…………………………
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Glad you liked the tale about the walk and the photos that went with it. This is a beautiful park as you well know and I know you, as usual, are one very busy women, doing charitable things that keep you very busy.
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I think they should have chosen your slogan!🙂 That was an interesting swallow nest. Any idea the species? Doesn’t look like our cliff or barn swallows.
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Thank you Eilene! (I did think mine was a snappy phrase.) They are barn swallows – very pretty iridescent colbalt-blue plumage with a pale orange chest. They are always buzzing around the covered bridge and often build in the rafters of that bridge. I had a picture of the barn swallow babies looking out of such a nest on one of my walks. I do have some close-ups of barn swallows at Lake Erie Metropark which I’ll be putting into a post in a couple of weeks. They never stop moving, even catching bugs while flying, so I rarely get a photo of them, but in that trek, one or two alighted on a tree branch by an overlook, so I seized that opportunity to get pictures.
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It’s good of you to participate. I enjoy seeing restored historic buildings and these are really picturesque.
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Thank you JP – it is a really good cause, more so now due to the pandemic, inflation and the cost of food. I like the quaintness of the historical village. They are restoring a very old church at this venue. The West Mound Church is 140 years old, was made of wood and relocated to Heritage Park in 1994. There was a fire in 2020 and it nearly gutted this church. The rebuilding process is in its second year and will preserve the original style. It has been interesting to watch their renovation progress as I walk through the village.
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Well done, Linda, supporting such a worthy cause. It’s sobering to contemplate how much hunger and malnutrition exists in our country. I love the gosling pictures, what a little ham for the camera that one was! I noticed the water-powered sawmill with the waterwheel outside of the building instead of a turbine in the basement like the one we have here. I have to wonder at the birds making nests in lampposts, so close to a light at night, you’d think that would deter them. Loved the picture of the turtle king on his rock. 🙂
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I think it is good cause too Barbara – the cost of food right now is off the charts and it’s difficult for Fish & Loaves to keep their shelves stocked due to demand. I heard an interview with a rep from Forgotten Harvest (which organization goes and retrieves food from grocery stores or restaurants and distributes it at local food banks); it was interesting as it said the lines are forming for food and they pull up knowing they don’t have enough to feed all of them, despite having a full truck.
I thought that light with the broken pane was an anomaly so “our Mama bird” made herself at home, so I was surprised to see two more lamps the same way. It seems like maintenance workers would watch for those birds building nests due to risk of fires. I know it is a Federal law you cannot move a nest once it has eggs in it. That gosling was so sweet – the head tilt by any animal is so endearing. Those big turtles hog the boulders and sunbathe all day, not allowing others up there!
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Always feels good to help others in need, doesn’t It Linda!
If I were a bird I’d nest in those lamp posts as well! Comes with light and warmth! Only thing missing is cable!
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Yes it does feel good Wayne – it is a very good organization to help the hungry. With the price of food (and everything else) these days, a lot of people will be needing assistance.
I agree with you about the safe haven bird nest in the lamp post being a wonderful place to build a nest, away from the wind, light to warm the nest. Yes, too bad about the cable though. 🙂 I am amazed that none of the maintenance folks takes this nest, or the other two down, or maybe repairs the glass pane?
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the lack of attention to the lamp post maintenance sounds more like restricted budget then anything else?
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Yes, or could be lack of workers as well Wayne – so many businesses cannot find enough help. Restaurants are closing or resorting to carryout only because of the problem.
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where did all these people go? Did a fleet of alien space craft visit us?
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You have to wonder sometimes Wayne – restaurants, whether fancy or fast food, bars … they are all clamoring for workers which they cannot get. A lot of restaurants here never returned to dining rooms and have just continued to serve “to go” orders as they don’t need to pay a waitstaff/busboys, etc. You can walk down any street and see “help wanted” signs everywhere.
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all these people still need money to be able to eat and live somewhere. One would think other sectors would be increasing in numbers,but they are not. The mystery is global.
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I agree with you and today they said on the news that there is a lifeguard shortage. They gave the statistics on how many lifeguards they usually have across the nation. Pools are closed in places where people pay annuals fees to use the metroparks (or a $10.00 daily visit fee). Lake Erie Metropark’s pool and wave pool is not open this Summer – something to do with malachite of the pool. The issue with lifeguards I heard was “no cellphones used while on the clock” and it is a “physically demanding job” which surprised me as lifeguards are not ALWAYS rescuing people?.
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I bet the majority of people missing are from minimum wage jobs?
There has been a silent but huge economic shift in society and I do not think we fully understand the ramifications of it?
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I realize the cost of living has gone up, but when I graduated from high school, I worked at the diner for $1.10 an hour and was happy for that. Yes, I got tips, but it still was hardly the equivalent of what people want now to work at a fast food (some hiring at $15.00/hour).
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I’m not sure but I think the cost of living is greater now then back in the good old days!
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It sure sounds like it to me Wayne. The other day I heard a news story that said six months from now we will not be having this supply shortage crisis and things will return to normal. Not sure I believe that to be honest and that would be year-end at/around the holiday … I am skeptical.
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I can see the supply crisis easing but I can also see ” the powers that be” will keep the price high to fill their pockets!
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I don’t see it happening before Christmas if it’s six months and, like you said, it’s all the more reason to charge much higher for goods and services … every day, I wish I lived in another era, a simpler era, certainly not this one!
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I’d say……200 years ago would be more your speed Linda!
Imagine If “Time Machines” actually existed? You could hop in and zip back to a more gentle time! People would vacation in another time!
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I wish I lived in a gentler time Wayne … maybe “Happy Days” or even “Little House on the Prairie” days!
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two sides to every coin. On the one side a far more safer environment but little none health support like we have today. People died younger back then for a reason.
You just need to move a smaller town where you do not need to be afraid all the time!
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That’s true too Wayne – you make a good point. I wish I lived in a small town. We moved here 56 years ago today.
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Well, nothing stopping you from living in a small town Linda?
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Yes, that is true Wayne, but it costs a lot of money to move, whether still here in the U.S. or returning to Canada. I would be leery, since I have only worked part-time (6 hours/day) since 2011, to use up a lot of my long-term savings … especially the way things are right now with 40-year high inflation, headed toward a possible recession. I have the security of having the house and am reluctant to put myself into a bad $ situation by doing something risky. I am way too cautious.
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then cozy up to the high crime
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I have an online acquaintance who has touted her small-town life publicly for years. She’d post pics of parades down Main Street on the Fourth of July, town get-togethers with neighbors and families on holidays like Christmas sing-a-longs or the main street in town being renowned for how they all decorate alike for Halloween. I recently told her I envied her (after an evening of barricaded gunmen, senseless shootings and road rage on the expressways and crime in my own City) and the small town atmosphere she enjoys, BUT, she admitted crime had even hit her small town. So there you have it – crime is everywhere, we are headed to a recession – if not the end of 2022, likely in 2023 and inflation now at a 40-year high. A recession will bring even more rage and crime than is running rampant today. I may want peace, but I’m not going to lose everything in a gamble to “get out of Dodge” – yes, it would be easy for you, living in an apartment to move to another apartment – no big deal, but I am not eager to take on a mortgage and possibly go into debt the rest of my life simply for peace of mind.
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why don’t you rent like I do to make your life simpler and yes crime does happen everywhere to be sure,It just happens far less in smaller towns.
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Yes, that is an idea too – when I heard about that crime in her town after her saying all these years it was such a small-town atmosphere, that discouraged me greatly. I would not plan any kind of move if I did it until after I retire. I just don’t know as I don’t want to overextend myself in my later years.
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Caught the “half-staff” comment 🙂 I love the covered bridge and I assume it’s part of the collection of historical structures in the park (versus a fully-utilized bridge). Aren’t covered bridges typically found in New England instead? Good on you for completing another (virtual) 5K, Linda. I can’t think of the last one I ran, it’s been so long. Probably our local St. Patrick’s Day 5K in downtown Colorado Springs – a “party on feet” as some referred to it. Finally, the comment about “close your mouth – you’ll catch flies!” brought a smile. My late mother used to say the very same thing and I was always guilty as charged when she said it.
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Yes, I remembered your initial reply to me on your post and I realized I had used “half-mast” incorrectly. I really love the covered bridge too – it is perfect to cross over Coan Lake. Many couples come to take photos for prom, homecoming and weddings, plus others come at graduation time for pics in their cap and gown. It is picturesque, but no vehicles are allowed on it. I would love to see a real covered bridge, the likes of the one used for the book/movie “The Bridges of Madison County”.
I’ve only done the two 5Ks this year – I’ll see if I can do another virtual one in the Fall, perhaps nature related. We have some fun runs like that – in particular the Paczki Run that takes place just before Lent. That run ends with the participants downing a Paczki and washing it down with a beer. I was guilty for the gaping mouth plenty of times too Dave. 🙂
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Beautiful!!! Love all the wildlife, those turtles remind me of Austin!
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Yes, it is such a picturesque park Mackenzie – I love walking there. I remember that beautiful area in Austin and you’d be running along and snapped some pictures and I think you had some of the turtles in your posts!
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I did enjoy virtually waking along with you!
What a good cause to fill the pantry!
And the way you mentioned sighing up in cold January really added to the mood of the nature and June sunshine☀️🌸
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Thank you Yvette – glad to have you along with me! This is a very busy food pantry and the stats on hunger and poverty in our state is pretty bad so it is a good thing Fish & Loaves is there to help out. Yes, thinking Summery thoughts in the middle of January was/always is a real mood booster for sure.
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☀️☀️☀️🙏
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Well done on walking for such a good cause 😁. Listening to your description of the multitude of amazing sights you see really brightens up my day. I love hearing from sighted people what beauty the world holds and that is such a beautiful talent you have ❤
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Thank you Zena – I am glad you are picturing in my your mind what I saw that day from my description. It is such a pretty little historical village that is located on the perimeter of Coan Lake. I went back again for Father’s Day looking for ducklings to take photos of. Lots of families fishing together here and I got some cute ducklings to use in a post in the next month (I’m always behind with posting my walks.)
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I envy your commitment to walking Linda. What a beautiful gazebo for a wedding! I don’t recall ever seeing a swallows nest. Great pictures of the turtles as it is so hard to get a shot since they seem to jump right in the water when we see them.
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Thank you Diane. I walked 14 miles over this weekend as I wanted to include the total for tomorrow’s post. It was still hot, but no humid, Saturday and Sunday so I walked a lot and took a ton of photos, which I will sort through in the next few weeks, but likely won’t use until the Fall. The swallows build in that covered bridge and are always flitting around the bridge and beneath it. The turtles, if they are sunbathing, especially with their eyes closed, I can get a picture – but if they see me, all bets are off and they do jump right into the water.
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