tomcook.net » Outdoors

Broken Chaco’s, broken heart

Thomas Cook — Sun, 22 May 2011 12:57:45 +0000

Yesterday I noticed I had a huge crack in one of my sandals! This pair is my “newer pair” that are 5 years old, but restrapped in 2008. This morning I filled out the form to send them in for repair (or maybe replacement). I noticed that the shipping address was in Rockford MI. Weird, they were based and made in Colorado. Some searching and it would seem that in 2009 Chaco was sold to Wolverine (who also owns Merrel and Hush Puppies) and the company was being kept intact. That was good news, then I found out that later in 2009 they laid off all the Chaco people and moved production to China.

That makes me sad….

Drawn in different directions.

Thomas Cook — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 23:39:07 +0000

I have a few hobbies, and I tend to cycle between them. I love having a project, and making something. Craft wise they fall into three main categories: metal, wood, cloth.

Yeah I know, that pretty much runs the whole spectrum. They all boil down to the outdoors and here is how: knives, canoes, and outdoor gear. Usually I flow between them. I get too focused to do anything else. Right now it is too cold to work in the garage, and because of basement renovations there is no sewing area or inside work area. I have pretty much been focused on the basement, but since it is wrapping up my mind wanders to other projects.

Knives: There are a few knives I have been wanting to make. Also some that I need to make. Most recently I made a couple cheese knives, but that was a few years ago. I hope I get to spend a good bit of time grinding this spring/summer.

Canoes: This one has been on hold for a while. I haven’t been pining for a new one and have kinda given up on making paddles for the time being.

Sewing: I would like to work on a small pack for me. Also a smaller portage pack to accompany the larger one I made a while back.

Am I going loony?

admin — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 16:27:39 +0000

There are some places around SE Michigan that is less then hospitable to canoeing due to motorboat traffic. I love canoeing some of these places, but it is really only worth doing outside of the Memorial-Labor Days window. A couple weekends ago Bridgit, Eli, and I paddled Highland and Halfmoon lakes in the Pinckney area. We were paddling along the north end of Halfmoon and I saw a bird dive under the surface. It came up behind us and it was a Loon. I have never seen one this far south, but I am certain that it was a loon. I must have caught it on it's way south.

I took it as a good sign. Too bad Eli was asleep.

Maps

admin — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 16:53:31 +0000

So I have always been a map nerd. On family trips I would always collect maps from everyplace we went. My minor was geography, and I took classes in Aerial-Photo Interpretation and Computer Mapping. Michigan is a great place, and I love that the DNR has tons of data online. Here are a couple of my favorites

USGS Topographic Quadrangle Maps by County

Lake Maps by County

Algonquin Weather

admin — Wed, 21 Jul 2004 12:09:12 +0000

Here is a link to the weather in Algonquin (where the canoe trip is happening).