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By: Jim Fitzpatrick |
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Email: jim@nunica.com |
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Local Farmer in Polkton Township writes for the Coopersville Observer. |
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Along Brandy Creek By Jim Fitzpatrick
The Coopersville Observer February 16, 2009- - No. 99 |
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Winter set in somewhere along the middle of November last fall here along Brandy Creek. Grandpa Will often talked about winters much like this back in the “old days”. The fields and woodlands have been smothered in white since long before Christmas. The outdoor folks have been happy all winter long. Deer hunters had their tracking snow, skiers went to the slopes earlier than usual, snowmobile riders are buzzing their motor sleds at high speed whenever and wherever they please. Cross country skiers and snowshoe walkers are in it up to their knees. The ponds, lakes and streams are frozen up tight. Ice fishermen have it just the way they like it best. The bayous along the Grand are heavy with the thick white ice of a long cold winter. Down on Jubb’s Bayou a fellow was said to have bicycled form one end to the other and back again, in the icy stillness of a cold moonlit night.
Grandpa’s stories included talk of crossing the ice on Grand River with teams of horses pulling heavily loaded sleighs. Kids and adults would skate for miles and miles, after a good wind had blown the icy river’s surface clear of snow. That old river is frozen again this winter season, from bank to bank just like way back then. Cross the river at Eastmanville on the bridge right there; looking down on the icy crust you won’t see any activity these days. Times have changed, no need to use the water ways as in days gone by. Grandpa Will would have thought that rather strange. But, then how could he have known about such things as modern day cars and trucks and paved roads and indoor skating rinks. |
