There is hardly anything I like better than wandering around on dirt roads in Antrim County. Thanks to the grids laid out in the early days, it’s practically impossible to get lost. It is entirely possible to get stuck and have a long walk home, but the roads are drying out nicely. Yesterday was a not-getting-stuck day.
The bees have returned to the orchards, which are still bare. The bees sounded cranky. (I told you we shoulda stayed in Florida another week!) We stayed in the car.
The daffodils are blooming over at the iris farm on Farrell Road.
No daffodils bloom here anymore, but in another month the surrounding orchards will be fragrant.
You just never know what will happen at this time of year. You might wish to be wary.
But we’re tamer than we look. There are astonishing surprises everywhere, especially when a person has imperfect control over her rudimentary photo software.
I hope your weekend is full of good surprises and free of getting-stuck.
Torch Lake Views 
Karma
April 23, 2011
Nice to see that your snow has melted! **SIGH** now I have proof that my daffodils are the latest blooming daffodils anywhere; even northern Michigan daffodils have bloomed before mine.
Gerry
April 23, 2011
Ah, but these particular daffodils are snuggled right up to the foundation in full southern exposure sun. Elsewhere in the Township there are daffodils-in-waiting. In my yard not even those. In fact, everything growing in my yard looks more like peasants plotting revolt than like anyone who might be admitted to Court.
katherine
April 23, 2011
If you would ever want a rider on your backroads wanderings, I’d volunteer. I love “two tracking” even in a less than 4 wheel drive vehicle…
Gerry
April 23, 2011
Yes! That would be excellent.
katherine
April 23, 2011
P.S The photos are beautiful too 🙂
Gerry
April 23, 2011
Thank you. They will be better if I have you riding shotgun.
P.j. grath
April 23, 2011
It’s impossible to look at blooming daffodils and not smile. And for me, as it is for you, a beckoning back road, lusciously free of pavement, has a similar effect.
Gerry
April 23, 2011
Especially when it is also lusciously free of mud. Mud is a big factor.
Teresa
April 23, 2011
That’s a lovely back road adventure. Even though things aren’t in bloom yet, the scenery looks beautiful.
Gerry
April 23, 2011
It has its charms.
Dawn
April 24, 2011
Love the old house photo…and the long hilly road. Makes me want to run on it. Sort of.
Gerry
April 24, 2011
The trouble with running on that road is that you would build up so much momentum you might never be able to stop. OK, I. I would tumble head over heels. You would probably float right up the next hill. It’s a wonderful back road, full of traces of my Civil War veterans.
Robin
April 24, 2011
It looks like a beautiful place to live.
Gerry
April 24, 2011
By which I sincerely hope you mean the daffodils and hilly road and not the abandoned farmhouse. 🙂 Antrim County is beautiful, even when the bare bones are showing.
isathreadsoflife
April 25, 2011
Your backroads are attractive, Gerry. I am happy to read that the bees have returned as they did up here, mostly in the wild cherry trees. What a buzzing concert ! That is a great old wooden house you showed us here ! Have a lovely Spring weekend 🙂
Gerry
April 25, 2011
Thank you, Isa. I must confess that our bees arrive in limousines rather than returning by choice. They are commercial bees, carried off to Florida in the winter, where I believe they go to work in the orange groves. Then back here for cherries and apples and pears and peaches and apricots . . . hard-working bees. Sometime I have to go over to Nancy Hellman’s and do a story about their honey operation. I must wear a Total Suit.
Anna
April 25, 2011
I love trekking dirt roads too; but in our area one can get lost as the roads meander every which way. When lost, I just head in a particular direction and soon find my way out. My, those are beautiful daffodils. Love the old house.
Gerry
April 25, 2011
I’m glad you like the daffodils and the house. Me too. I tend to wander around a good deal and misplace myself, but so far I’ve always managed to find my way home in time for supper. It’s hard to get well and truly lost when there’s a great big lake over there in the west.
harpersfarm
April 25, 2011
I love back-country roads. I especially love it when we get lost. Getting stuck isn’t all that much fun, neither are flat tires. In my book, the adventure is worth the risk! I love your pictures.
Gerry
April 26, 2011
I can never resist these roads. Someday I’ll break an axle and have to walk miles and miles to get home. Maybe that will cure me. Maybe not.