This post is about my participation in the 17th annual Fish & Loaves Community Food Pantry Happy Soles 5k Run/Walk/Bike and Virtual Challenge.
The event took place on Sunday, June 7th and there were 182 participants that crossed the finish line, however, I don’t know how many virtual participants there were. I like that I am able to participate virtually and have done so since this option began in 2020 because of the pandemic. I generally go the day before or after the event, but this year, even though it was gorgeous weather the day of the event, the week preceding it was going to be cloudy, overcast and/or rainy and stormy every day, so I just picked a bright and sunny day before Mother Nature put a damper on my plans – that day was May 28th.
It does not matter where or when you do the event virtually, but I always go to the event’s venue, lovely Heritage Park. I have participated every year since 2018. Long-time followers may recall that every year we could submit catch phrases for the tee-shirt and I usually submitted one or two when I registered for the event in January. I never won (the prize being a free registration fee for the following year) and, for some reason they have abandoned this phrase idea and have used “Moving Against Hunger” since the 2024 event.
I’ve written about this very worthwhile organization in the past, for each 5K I’ve done. Their mission is simple: “Ensuring no one goes hungry.”
Ellen Pfafflin is the event’s race coordinator and she e-mailed the organization’s newsletter to all race participants, so we could see these stats about how the food pantry, which serves the Downriver communities, benefitted those are in need in 2025. All funds from our registration fees go right to the pantry to support those with food insecurity. I think the stats about Fish & Loaves’ service to those in need are impressive:
The 5K event is 100% sponsored. Rather than taking a photo of the back of the tee-shirt, I’ll just include them below.
In addition to the Happy Soles 5K, there is a huge Christmas display called Santa’s Magic Forest and admittance fees are funneled right to the food pantry.
And now that we’ve dispensed with those facts and figures, it’s on to the walk, a picture-laden post filled with feathery friends and a few flowers.
So what did I see as I stepped out on my walk?
There were multiple families of geese lingering on the grassy slopes around Coan Lake. This was one of them, steppin’ out, just as I was about to.
If you ever wondered how goslings grow so fast, well … all they do is eat, mostly grass. Grass becomes such a staple in their diet that by the time they are full grown, adult geese consume the equivalent of four pounds (approximately 1.8 kg) of grass daily.
Up ahead, as I neared the covered bridge, a large group of geese and their offspring were lounging under a tree. Well that was unfortunate as the shade made it too dark to see them clearly. I figured I’d kill some time, walk past them, perhaps just the impetus needed for the group to move into the sun. Hmm – only two adults here and a passel of young’uns, perhaps a blended family. I headed to the covered bridge in search of turtles and hopefully Barn Swallow nests.
This was the second time I saw no turtles on the ramp … I hoped they were okay.
No Barn Swallow nests in the bridge rafters, so I scratched that photo op my list as well.
We had had a cold Spring and just before Memorial Day, there were frost/freeze advisories and the need to cover your sensitive plants and/or vegetation, so I was not surprised to find the Taylor Garden Club’s garden looking bare with no photo ops there either.
Well, there are always the geese and their goslings to photograph – they won’t disappoint and, sure enough, as I walked past them to walk to the bridge, they all stirred, well most of them anyway, the others needed a nudge and perhaps a stern honk from their folks to “get a move on!” They were still fairly young, judging from the pale-yellow plumage mixed with light-gray splotches.
This gosling walked a few steps, then plopped down on the grass and refused to move.
That gosling dawdled, finally got up and stared me in the face. Such a mean look for such a little soul!
Even though their folks walked across the path, these goslings lingered, grabbing another bite of grass as if they were embarking on a long journey.
That same gosling that I singled out above, amused me. It had a bit of a rambunctious streak, a real rebel in feathers. 🙂
The group crossed the path and it immediately plopped down. No, it wasn’t ill because it scurried across the path with its brethren, shoulder to shoulder. The rest of the geese plodded over to the grass to graze.
This little cutie remained on the path – perhaps looking for another photo op by the photographer that was sweet-talkin’ it?
First, there was a sweet pose …
… followed by a side profile …
… then a downward glance, maybe a pouty face?
Well, you know me … I happily clicked away, then, as if to say “are ya done lady, ‘cuz I need to catch up with the fam” it sprung up and waddled over to join the others.
Well, could I top that sweet interaction on this walk?
I had no great expectations for seeing many flowers at the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens located on the fringe of Heritage Park. As you long-time followers know, that to get more steps in, I walk up to Pardee Road and take the long way around and, in doing so, I have to pass the Petting Farm.
You may recall last Summer I decided to turn back the clock and visit the Petting Farm to feel like a kid again and yes, for some photo ops. I had fun interacting with the farm animals and had a face-to-face meet-up with the chickens and rooster. I often see them roaming around the Botanical Gardens, having slipped under the white wooden fence.
On this day, while I strolled along Pardee, the fence separated me from the barnyard, but I walked closer when I saw the Pekin ducks clustered around a child’s swimming pool. The Petting Farm has the swimming pool out all Summer for the ducks. Besides the Pekin ducks, there are the larger domestic ducks like the Ancona Duck you’ll see in the photos. In the past, I’ve only seen the Pekin in or around the pool, drinking from it and bathing and paddling around it.
I’m guessing the workers just filled the pool with cool refreshing water as the ducks clustered around, mostly Pekins.
Gee, I hope they were wearing sunscreen as I’d checked the forecast earlier and the UV Index was going to be “8” right around noon, so, even with sun protection clothing and a sunhat, I aimed to be back at the car by then.
Well, there’s always that one opportunist in every crowd, whether it’s a human, or in this case a large Ancona Duck.
It flew up into the pool, sitting squarely in the middle. The Pekins looked miffed and the Rooster just shook his head. 🙂 It was as if their mindset was “couldn’t we have just sipped on that refreshing water for a while before you had to jump in?”
One Pekin rested its head on the rim of the pool, looking hopeful that big duck would move, but no it did not.
I thought to myself “well Buddy, so much for team play – you pull those tricks and the rest of the ducks will just leave – I hope you’re happy.” It’s like back in the day when the bully took over the sandbox and the other kids left. Sure enough, as I predicted, the Pekins left.
One Pekin had a change of heart and walked back, hopeful to share that refreshing water, but changed its mind and eventually waddled back to join the rest of the Pekins.
It was time for me to move along and see if there were any photo ops at the Botanical Gardens. I saw the Farm had moved this mythical Phoenix from the barnyard to a planter (with a measly showing of flowers) out front of the Petting Farm.
As if it were a color competition with the bright hues of the Petting Farm, on the sidewalk leading to the Botanical Gardens, the Wiegala were blooming profusely.
Just as I suspected, there was not much to see yet. I took a shot of this memorial paver brick.
The potted annuals were still a work in progress, but …
… the perennials had a pretty good showing, considering our potpourri of wacky weather, from cold to torrential downpours and the seemingly ever-present wind. Ugh! These are Dianthus and then Meadow Sage. I didn’t take any more flower photos.
It was getting pretty warm, so I headed out, once again along Pardee Road, passing the Petting Farm, enroute to the car.
I picked up the pace as cars whizzed by along Pardee Road. Suddenly I felt a presence behind me. Slowly I turned around to soft clucking noises.
Hmm, what do we have here?
Well, here was a feathered brigade behind me … what did I do to deserve this photo op? No, I wasn’t worried – I can run faster than them. This is not like the male Mute Swan that chased me while defending his Missus.
The trio was a bit comical … this Blue Ameraucana rooster, all puffed up with pride, a thorn between two roses, just defending his girls against humans, especially those toting a camera.
The rooster, while keeping an eye on me, allowed one of his charges to wander off on her own.
Soon she gravitated toward busy Pardee Road, but then she saw it was a “GOOSE CROSSING” and not a CHICKEN CROSSING and quickly turned away and joined her friends.
I guess not all chickens cross the road to get to the other side. Some stay on the sidewalk or grass where it’s safer.
I am linking to Terri’s Sunday Stills Photo Challenge: Yellow, with more yellow coming for Wordless Wednesday and Flower Hour, plus Pepper’s Hiking Challenge One Step at a Time.
Linda Schaub
Good on you. Great poultry photos Linda
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Thank you Brian! They are pretty funny to watch sometimes. I saw the same group last Wednesday along with two Guinea Fowl running outside of the Petting Farm barnyard fence. Do you have Guinea Fowl in Australia? They are unique looking (and sounding) for sure.
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Yes. Some farms have Guinea Fowl. They are so stupid
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I think some farmers use them like a watchdog as they alert them to danger.
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Same here
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They are pretty loud … these were foraging so they weren’t loud, but last time I saw four of them from the Petting Farm on the lose and they were pretty animated!
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This was a poultry post! Not even one squirrel!
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Yes, not a squirrel in sight unfortunately. I don’t see many of them at this park for some reason. I was there last Wednesday and saw the same group cross my path, plus two Guinea Fowl, plus a man was feeding corn to the ducks … they were all over him as he feeds them every day. Then he left and all the ducks and about 20 geese came waddling over to me as I was talking to the man. I got pictures of them almost running me over!
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🙂
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I guess you got to be one of the early birds! It’s a shame you couldn’t capture the chicken crossing the road – that would have made for a great meme contest!
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Yes, I was earlier than usual due to a string of crummy weather days – I beat the crowd, of people anyway. They had a good weather day for the 5K though. I originally had the chicken who was conflicted over the goose crossing as a Wordless Wednesday post, but the headline was so long, reluctantly I used it here instead.
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what a nice 5K you had! I did one virtual 5K during covid. It was fun but also lonely.
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Yes, it was the best day all that week, although the actual race day ended up being good weather. They decided not to forego the 5K as 100% of the registration fees goes to the pantry, so they went this route instead. It was a nice group the two years I did it in person.
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Truly a great cause, Linda! Love the geese ducks and foul, all sporting pretty yellows! The Fish and Loaves sign reminds me of one in Sacramento called Loaves and Fishes, another NP and food bank. Have a great day!!
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Yes, they are a great NP Terri. That’s interesting – perhaps they can’t use the same wording for the organization, so they changed it a little? That was a mess of goslings, mostly still yellow. I was there last Wednesday and all the goslings are now full-sized geese and you can’t tell them from their parents, at just three months old. You do the same – I hope you are healing up well!
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haha no chickens crossing at that spot ! That one big duck is quite something, I have never heard of that type. Live the Good Life every day…….words to live by !
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I started to make that chicken that was rethinking crossing at the goose crossing a Wordless Wednesday post, but the title was so long I just kept it in here with the rest of the chickens. Going the long way from the park, past the Petting Farm, always yields some fun pictures. I went last Wednesday and there were the same chickens and rooster, no ducks this time, but two Guinea Fowl, all strutting around. Those are domestic ducks and they are huge. The don’t fly, but they are unusual looking and friendly. They have lots of paver bricks with inscriptions at the Botanical Gardens and I always scan them for something fun to photograph – most are memorials or event recognitions. I like this motto too!
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Do they clip the ducks wings ? or they just can’t fly? I love inscriptions especially if they are clever !
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I understand they can fly if they want to go a few feet if they’re spooked, but they are very heavy so they aren’t overhead like regular ducks are. I’ve never seen them flying. I don’t think they clip their wings, but they are huge ducks, chunky and tall, so not really built for flying. The domestic ducks come up to my knees.
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Wow those are big ducks if they come up to your knees! I guess there are other birds that can fly for short distances too.
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Yes, they are tall and heavy. About five years ago, just before Christmas, someone dumped two large domestic ducks at Council Point Park. They were big and friendly, so I assume they were someone’s pets, but likely didn’t waddle off from the house. The two ducks came right up to me, nuzzling my knees – I didn’t have any food for them on me. I took photos of them and sent the pictures to Michigan Duck Rescue and Sanctuary, a duck rescue/rehab organization that I have followed on Facebook for many years. It is a big barn with an adjoining pond and an electric fence around it and is run by Matt and his wife Theresa and a slew of volunteers. Matt said they were Khaki Campbell domestic ducks, obviously dumped and would die as they would not know how to forage in good weather, let alone in Winter. He told me to call him anytime I saw them and he or a volunteer would come rescue them. He lives about an hour from me. I never saw them again and I felt badly that entire Winter … I thought maybe a predator got them or they died from exposure/lack of food. I did not see any bodies though or signs of a struggle near where I found them. Nature is cruel sometimes, but humans are as well.
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I wonder what happened to them, how horrible that someone would just dump them off. I’m sure someone would have taken them in if they has advertised it. I love the rescue sanctuaries, if I were younger…………
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I felt badly for them. I had never encountered domestic ducks, except the white Pekins before and they are big, but not that big. At Elizabeth Park they have a lot of Pekins – they are the fuzzy chicks that people buy for their kids at Easter, then they get bigger and people leave them there to fend for themself. A few years back while at Elizabeth Park, I met a woman who brings corn for all the ducks every day and peanuts for the squirrels and I was chatting with her and she told me she was there one morning and found several Pekin ducklings (I think five if I remember correctly) and they were left there but had been “corralled” into a makeshift pen near the marina. This woman removed the pen, then guided the ducklings all along the Boardwalk, using corn, over to the pond where the adult Pekins and families hang out and the adults there accepted them as their own. It was a great story. I had told her about the Khaki Campbell ducks which prompted her to share her story.
You and me both as to rescue sanctuaries … a lot of love and dedication by these folks. Every day I see these stories at Wild Hearts in Oklahoma – so many orphans there and countless hours to feed and take care of them. Duncan, the gray fox, is doing better, less head wobbles after his many chiropractic treatments. They think he was shaken by a large predator.
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Oh I love that story! The woman taking all the babies over to the other ones and they took them in. That is so sweet.💕
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I thought it was so sweet – guiding them down the Boardwalk. It’s a long Boardwalk and she told me “I thought we’d never get to the adult Pekins – they would drift apart and I’d have to get them back in a line again!”
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haha that’s so great, I would liked to have seen that !
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Yes, me too from how she described it. A tiny version of “Git along, little dogies!”
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Such fun photos that made me smile. The goslings are adorable! Good for you for walking for a good cause and also the photos. 👏
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Thank you Pepper, I’m glad you enjoyed it. I was back there last Wednesday and unbelievably, those goslings are now all grown up now and you can’t tell them from their parents. I think it is a good cause too!
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They grow up so quick! 😉
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Yes, it is pretty amazing. When I saw them at Council Point Park on an everyday basis, it was incredible to see the day-to-day transformation, coloring especially (attitude-wise as well). 🙂
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Miss Linda………………………………….I enjoyed your Heritage Park blog today………………..such nice close up pictures of the hens and roosters and geese……………………you’re such a good story teller……………………………………..
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Thank you Ann Marie! When I was there last Wednesday, I saw those chickens and rooster again. I think they like getting their picture taken!
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I bet that gosling sat down so as to warm it’s underside? The asphalt retains heat. Snakes love to lay out on it for the same reason.
Love the shots Linda!
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Thanks Wayne! I’m sure you are right. It was a warm and sunny day, so how nice to just do a belly flop onto the warm asphalt … you can always catch up with Mom and Dad and all your siblings.
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Well done on your run and certainly you had an extra reward afternath with those sweet poultry encounters and beautiful flowers. Lovely pics too🤩as usual thanks for sharing
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Thank you Ortensia! This is such a good cause, combined with a nice place to visit as there is always something interesting to see. Unbelievably, last Wednesday when I was there, I had the same sweet poultry encounter. This time the rooster flew up to the top of the fence and crowed repeatedly and I had a couple of guinea pea fowl (which are kind of unique looking) go by. The beauty of the Botanical Gardens this time of year is always a treat.
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So much beauty around us, we just have to look at it💕
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Yes Ortensia – that is important not to have blinders on when out in nature, because there is always something of beauty that will catch our eye.
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That gosling wants to be a star!
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I agree Eilene! It put itself front and center and abandoned the family for fame! 🙂
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I admire your commitment to this cause, Linda. The goslings are adorable and I enjoyed the duck tales and the chickens following you. Our chickens will follow us if they think we have food for them. 🙂
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Thank you Ruth! It is such a good cause and I like that 100% of the registration fees goes right to the food pantry thanks to sponsors and all the volunteers who set everything up. I was back to this park last Wednesday and all the geese are grown now and as big as their parents. They are so adorable when they are young. Last Wednesday, I saw four chickens, (three red and one white) and the rooster, who flew up to the top of the fence and crowed nonstop … he was very loud. Next they will be following me for treats … now I have to buy corn. The Petting Farm had a field trip and there were kids running around the barnyard area and since the chickens are free to roam, I think they were escaping the commotion. 🙂
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You had a great 5K, wonderful cause. Enjoyed your lovely photos.
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Thanks Monica! Yes, it is such a good cause and 100% of the money goes to the food pantry which I really like. They have sponsors for everything else and lots of volunteers helping out. Glad you liked the photos as well!
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These were such pretty photos and loved the story of the goslings.
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Thank you Kirstin! I was back at this park last week and again today and their flower gardens have really filled in since this visit. The goslings are so sweet and they have so many geese and ducks at this park, that it is easy to find lots of goslings to take photos of and even ducklings if you’re lucky as they all hang out at Coan Lake, a man-made pond at the park.
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So many goslings!
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I was there last week and all these sweet goslings were grown up – you couldn’t tell them from their parents. There was a man feeding corn to some ducks and he left. Then it was a frantic rush of geese and ducks to see me as I had been speaking with him … they assumed I also had treats. 🙂 I took some pictures of the geese on the rampage for a future post.
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Now that’s a mess of goslings and ducks and chickens, and I really enjoyed the beautiful photos of the flowers and covered bridge — and all for a wonderful cause.
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Those goslings grew up fast too Rebecca as I went back there last week and they were all as big as their parents. Those chickens were funny last week too; they were out of the barnyard, along with the rooster, so I got some more photos of them. The rooster flew up to the top of the fence and was crowing repeatedly. No ducks this time, but, the Guinea Pea Fowl were also out and about … they had an event at the Petting Farm and I think they escaped all the commotion! This is a good cause and I’m happy to support it. I like that 100% of the race registration fees goes to the food pantry as it is totally sponsored and run by volunteers.
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Those guinea pea fowl can make a commotion all by themselves! I love to watch and hear them.
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Yes they do make a lot of commotion! I can thank you for introducing me to them in a post you did awhile back. I’d have never known what these odd-looking birds were otherwise!
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Those are the most adorable gosling pictures ever! 💙
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They sure are sweet at that age Barbara! I was at Heritage Park two weeks ago and saw a lot of geese and all those adorable goslings are grown up now and look like and are the same size of their parents. There was a man feeding the ducks some corn and after they finished up their treat, the man left and the geese and ducks looked at me.
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Hopefully they just looked at you and didn’t come over and demand another handout. 😉
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They got pretty close Barbara, so I backed up and turned around hoping they wouldn’t follow me and didn’t. Many years ago, before I learned bread was bad for waterfowl, I took a bag of bread that I bought at the store – a BOGO free deal and spread it around for the geese. They gobbled it up, then more geese came along and I had nothing more and they chased me, so I ran into a crowd of women to lose them. Luckily they lost sight of me – whew!
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This was a really fun post I like how you let us through each section, and how one part what do we have here? You asked us… Also, I wonder if they are getting rid of the phrases and we’ll just stick with moving with hunger for now on. And it’s great that you have a virtual option for this. I think these virtual options allow more people to participate but also give more options for when to go that is convenient and glad you found a sunny day and had so much beauty
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Thank you again Yvette! I do like this annual 5K which I’ve been participating in since 2018 – it is really a good cause. I also have participated in Running to Honor for vets that suffer from PTSD. I’ve not written about that 5K yet. It is held in the same place, but it is open to virtual participants across the country, but unfortunately the organizer, an Iraq war veteran himself, has decided 2026 was the last race as he will be participating in other endeavors to help vets with PTSD. Perhaps someone else will take over the rains as it is a good cause. I think the virtual options are a good idea. I enjoy going to this park as there is always something to see in the many areas of the park.
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That is sad that this will be his last race for the Vets fundraising – however – we know how much work these events can require and maybe the ROI is just not there – not like it is for the other race
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When Aaron sent out the e-mail last December about signing up for the July event, he said it took eleven months of planning to have one race which takes a few hours. So, I understand that aspect, plus it’s great that he can put his time and effort into something else to help veterans with PTSD. He lost several members with whom he served in his two tours in Iraq, not only to battle injuries, but also to PTSD. It was a very well-run event though, I’ll tell you that. For the virtual participants, we got our shirt/bib/metal a week ahead of time, with tracking info e-mailed to us.
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Well glad it was a good experience and sounds like it will be missed by many
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