Johnny Panther Quests. Ecotours

I’ll admit it, I’m not always positive. I looked outside the other day; it was overcast, rainy, dark, and gloomy. Here in Michigan it can be like that for a month. It’s too warm for the ice to be safe, but still cold enough to make boating prohibitive. When I went outside, it smelled like springtime in Florida. It was unseasonably balmy. I reminisced about working in Florida as a young man, making $4.50 an hour as a laborer building a prison outside of Daytona- now it’s easy to feel appreciative. That afternoon the temperature plummeted 25 degrees, the wind howling, and the snow was going sideways. I stood in the woods listening to the wind roar above me using the shadow of a big tree to shelter me from the snow. It was invigorating to savor and experience all the weather had to offer that day. A week later, and the weather is still overcast and gloomy. I headed up to get some of my Dad’s things, a trip I really wasn’t eager to do. The wind blew, and it wasn’t balmy. A rather crappy morning set me off in the wrong mood and the day appeared dismal. I tried to let my anger and frustration go, and appreciate again how lucky I was. I crossed the Cass River, and there was a bald eagle standing on the ice. It was an omen of all that is beautiful and right with the world. A friend came and helped me load some of the heavy stuff and we enjoyed trying to identify some of the tools. On the way home I stopped at the club to check things out. The track was in various stages of melting, pooling, and running off. I looked at the fresh animal tracks and listened to the wind blow through the trees over my head. The air in the woods smelled almost sweet and enveloped me in a tranquil oasis surrounded by mud and wind. I know my Dad was up there grinning at me. I took that love home and shared it with my family. I was relaxed and hopeful that they appreciated being warm and comfortable on such a gloomy evening. It can be easy to get sucked into a vortex of negativity, doom, and gloom- there’s plenty around. For a long time I’ve been trying to find the beauty and potential we are surrounded by. Some call me a dreamer, but I would rather have dreams and goals that make me happy than nightmares. The rain will make the grass green and the rivers high- and that’s a good thing!

When the water is too hard for Johnny Panthering, we find other ways to get our fix. Wether it's enjoying the tranquil solitude of the Shiawassee Flats or rubbing elbows at sixty, I LOVE the outdoors! Here's a link to a video of some of the best riders in the world having a little fun... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMGvAbVIDjg The Ice Racing National Championships are February 5th and 6th at Potter Lake!

I like to show images from years ago on or around the same date. This time of year is tough, the water is getting too hard for boat rides and not hard enough to ride on. I did a lot of reflection over the Holidays (even more than normal), and I am thankful the sweet is greater than the bitter. A few years ago I had a job at a factory. I interviewed for a sales position, I was hired for it, and wound up in the repair shop. Showing up my first day of work (business casual), they told me I was overdressed! They then explained they were going to put me in the repair department for a while. When I asked how long, they told me a few years! I was not impressed, to say the least… This image was taken looking out the back door of the factory during a break. Occasionally I was lucky enough to hear a rooster pheasant cackling out in the field beyond. I consider myself a people person and love to provide exceptional service. I also love the outdoors and the environment as a whole, it is my church. When I take guests through the “Everglades of Michigan”, I am essentially guiding them through my playground. I give them forty years of recent history, ecology, and exploits. When they get off my boat they have a new appreciation for the “industrial armpit of the State”. I show them the “good side”, the potential we have and some of the obstacles when need to overcome. I want to be able to show off my “playground” everyday and share the potential of our surroundings. With renewed motivation I will strive to share our streams, rivers, valleys, and mountains- it’s beats the heck out of concrete, steel, and the smell of cutting oil…

We are blessed to have a little swamp in our backyard. I don’t get out there nearly as often as I would like, or used to. I still occasionally sneak back there to get away from it all. The other day during a time of procrastination, I went back to meld with nature. As I stood at the edge, I watched a flock of bluebirds move through. Then I started to notice woodpeckers; downy, red-bellied, and northern flickers. There were a pair of red tail hawks; one perched in our front yard, and another way back in the swamp. It was a pretty productive little walk and I was thankful for the opportunity. The voices of my Dad and Stepdad were in my ear. I love to let myself go and be absorbed by nature, and I’m still trying to make it my “real job”. Moments like these recharge my motivation and ambition to make it so.

The best time to go Johnny Panthering? WHEN YOU ARE BREATHING! Last week marked my first real winter boat ride. The air was brisk (that’s putting it mildly). We were dressed appropriately and had plenty of fuel and motivation. I learn much fall through spring out in the Shiawassee Flats. The foliage is down and there’s lots of stuff still migrating through. We saw eagles, including a pair of males that weren’t real impressed with each other. We also heard many swans and saw several. There were hooded mergansers by the thousands, yet the feeling of solitude was overwhelming. I live for this stuff, and being able to share it is a bonus. I wanted to go all the way to St. Charles and back but a late start made that impractical. Opting for tranquility versus brutality, we decided to turn around and head back at a leisurely pace instead of hauling butt and freezing our faces off. The moonrise certainly outclassed the sunset, but it wasn’t bad either. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to get back out there, but am thankful for each moment I am. Not many want to put on a snowmobile suit on to go for a boat ride, but for those who are dressed properly and prepared, the rewards can be priceless!