One, two, three, four.

Get my shoes.

Enough out the door.

Five, six, seven, eight.

Feels great.

Now I'm gonna shine enough to do.

What's I gonna do about to do with it?

Look at the sky with all beautiful color about the moon And just for me, I'm gonna share it with another I got to show to get that out I want singing Childs Take a look at a beautiful morning that turns to a beautiful evening and get to make beautiful dance.

And that's what I see.

Come along with me.

That's right.

Hello, everyone.

And we are so glad that you could join us for another experience, Miss Yana, and we have a great show for you.

We're going to meet Cliff Zinner.

And if you like photography and adventure, you don't want to miss this interview.

We're also headed to La Porte Airfare and our resident pilot.

Yes, Iris, Dave.

He actually flies planes.

I'm not getting on a plane with him, but you definitely want to head on over to this interview with him.

And then Courtney is taking us to downtown Saint Joseph for Chop the BLOCK.

And I think they are taking talk and they're going to cover the streets with it anyway.

It sounds colorful, it sounds fun.

So let's go.

Let's time to get colorful often.

Same show talk.

The block is going to be happening today.

I have with me Danielle.

Hi, Danielle.

Good morning.

Good morning.

That chocolate block is something our family, we check it out every single year.

This is such a cool thing that we have in our community.

It's happening up on the bluff in Saint Joe, Michigan, and this is just a phenomenal thing that happens.

Tell us more about the actual event.

When does it happen?

Definitely, we are so excited for the return of this event.

And so this is happening next weekend, August 5th through the seventh.

So all weekend long here in downtown Saint Joe, that's awesome.

And it's like a three day process is I mean, I'm not a good artist by any means.

It takes time to make chocolate, I'm sure.

What does that process look like Friday through Sunday for the folks who are doing the artwork?

Most definitely.

So we have a mix of Eritrean professional artists that come in on Friday the fifth.

So some are local, some are throughout the state, some are throughout the country and so they're all going to join us on Friday.

We've got a welcome planned for them and then they'll start getting things out and kind of outlining on Friday, weather permitting.

And then the big bulk chalk day is Saturday.

So they kind of spend all day from dusk till dawn working on their pieces anywhere from like a six, five, six, six or by six foot two.

We've got someone doing like a 20 foot by 20 foot like 3D piece this year, which is really cool.

So that'll take most of the day on Saturday and then they finish up by noon on Sunday, which is kind of crazy.

So they do these amazing chalk pieces.

You said you've been and I just can't believe within 24 to 48 hours they have these beautiful, huge pieces of work to showcase in downtown.

That's amazing.

I can't believe there is a large one happening this year, too.

I think my favorite ones are the ones that are like immersive.

So you put yourself in the photograph and it looks like you're floating in the Grand Canyon or something.

Yeah.

So we definitely have a couple of those that are 3D this year which are really fun.

Awesome.

Now the artists themselves, how many artists you have coming in and how do you find the artists?

Yeah, so we have 35 this year.

We usually fluctuate between 35 and 40, so 35 this year.

We've got a lot of returning faces and some new faces.

So we've kind of over the last eight years really worked with some professional traveling artists from that do like tons of other talk shows and host their own festivals in their hometowns.

We kind of bring them in to kind of elevate our event and also kind of mentor some of the amateurs, you know.

So I've seen them share their little techniques about how to fade.

And you have not to scratch your fingers, whether it's using like an eraser or gloves or, you know, just fun things that you might not have thought of if you were never talking on a professional level.

So yeah, we just get to mix.

It's a lot of referrals and lots of friends say, you know, friends try it with their friends as, you know, just helping out that year and then want to come back and do their own work.

So there's lots of ways to get involved.

That is so awesome and I love to that you guys even have something for the kids that they can participate with too.

Yeah.

This year we brought back the kids zone.

So there's a kids zone hosted by United Federal Credit Union that's going to be on Saturday only, but from noon to four in the general parking lot across waterless outfitters, kids of all ages are welcome to come try their hand at chalk.

You know, there's always chalk on our driveways.

Exactly.

We adults are welcome to we're not, you know, discriminating by age by any means.

That's awesome.

So for the actual event, I know there's also an opportunity for people to vote on their favorite, like a people's choice moment.

When can they do that?

How do they do that?

What does it look like?

Yeah, so we have voting on Saturday and Sunday.

So that is from noon to eight on Saturday and 11 to 2 on Sunday.

You come visit us on Broad Street.

This is where the event is happening on Broad Street between Lake Boulevard and State Street.

And so there's two blocks with there featuring the 35 artists are split, but on Broad Street you've got an artists tent and a people's choice dance.

You can purchase those tickets.

It's a dollar per ticket cash only, and one ticket is one vote.

So you can vote as many times, as often for however many artists you'd like, and you can vote all weekend long.

I always have to ask, so that always baffles me.

How do they get it to stay?

Yeah.

So we have these.

So the Senior Day staff goes out on Friday morning to tell us what size they want and if they want a background.

So we offer like a background fill of white or black.

So you got this temper paint that sometimes will put behind it, which helps the chalk stick a little bit.

And that is a water based paint.

So eventually it does wash away, but it kind of helps grip the chalk and the ones that wash away a little bit faster are going to be the ones that have no fill so and no temper on them.

So it's a little it's fun.

And sometimes they have like a finishing spray almost, you know, like I'm like a makeup spray.

But for the for the chalk, it felt like a setting spray, I guess settings for a century.

So it's really cool.

Yeah.

But after a couple of good hard rains, it'll, it'll wash away no matter what.

So it's not there forever?

No, it's not.

Definitely is the opportunity.

See it.

So if you want to watch them starting to stick it out, you do it on Friday.

Watching them do the artwork on Saturday and seeing the finished product on Sunday is just phenomenal, I'm sure.

Yeah, awesome.

So people can come out August 5th or seventh.

That's amazing.

But aside from that, there's actually a ton of stuff happening in same show that entire weekend, starting with the farmer's market.

I know we talked about the kids on that's happening to what's going on in Saint John.

This is a perfect weekend to get out there and enjoy it.

Really?

Most definitely so.

Same today.

In addition to hosting Chalk the BLOCK, we're also hosting our weekly farmer's market.

So that's on Saturday from 9 to 2 and then also on Sunday are into on the bluff from 10 to 5.

But farmer's market is great.

We love this event.

It starts Memorial Day weekend and goes every Saturday through mid-October.

We've got anywhere between 30 to 40 vendors that join us.

You can find coffee, cheeses, fresh cut flowers, fresh produce, baked goods.

So really it's ever changing, you know, to see what they're bringing weekly, what's what's coming up, what's in season.

So we're really excited for that.

And that's always in Lake Bluff Park.

So this week is just our normal hours, 9 to 2, but a couple of weeks we are in conjunction with our Lake Bluff Artisan Fair and we host these extended hours and we'll have some tote bag days.

So we've got two more days of those throughout the summer.

Awesome.

And for all of this information, of course, where can people get information about it?

Yeah, you can always visit us online at Saint Joe Today.com.

You can follow us at any of our social media channels or you can stop in our office, which is actually in the welcome center, were located at 301 State Street in downtown Saint Joe.

And are you guys going to be open that weekend?

We are.

We're going to be open a little bit extended hours on both Saturday and Sunday.

All right.

And there's I mean, I just love going to jail.

We built out of Saint Joe is our favorite place.

That's our sweet spot.

I love when there's so much activities happening on the bluff.

I think even the is the summer movie happening and I know the concerts.

Yep so we've actually got on the summer movie is going to be in Milton Park, it's going to remember the Titans and that's at 730.

So they're still doing their summer movies that kind of rotate throughout some of the same.

Joe Parks.

There is going to be the American Cancer Society, the Relay for Life that's going to be on Lake Bluff Park immediately following the farmer's market.

So as the farmers are packing up, really, if your life is coming in for that, we'll take over the block on Saturday night.

So we are just ready for everything this weekend in downtown Saint Joe.

But there's live music all over in the breweries, restaurants, wineries.

We've got tons of fun things happening all weekend long.

That's so awesome.

And I know I mean, this is I hate to say it is coming to the end of summer now.

Yeah.

You guys are up in Michigan.

I live in Indiana.

So our schools are starting here in just a couple of weeks, actually in like two weeks or so, you know.

So this is the last days of the summer, really.

That's the peak of the tourism season for Saint Joe.

Is it like right before school starts?

Most definitely.

So we've seen our season extend a little bit into the fall, which is really great with, you know, the winery tours and different things.

But we're just really thankful to have such a great event to end our summer and, you know, get ready for all the fun fall and winter thing video.

That's awesome.

Well, I hope everyone gets a chance to get up and check out the chalk, check out the artists.

Thanks so much for sharing all the details with us, Danielle.

And we will be up there for chocolate coming up August 5th through the seventh.

And if you love photography and you have a flair for adventure, do we have the right man for you today on experience?

Michigan Cliffs, the North.

Thank you so much for being with us.

You are, I would say, a photographer extraordinaire.

I had an opportunity to look at some of your photographs and all I can say is they are absolutely stunning.

Well, it's very kind, really up.

So we let you develop a love for photography.

I think it probably started when I was a kid just because I had a love of nature.

And probably the best thing a nature photographer can do is become a better naturalist.

So the more you learn about the subjects you like, probably the better photographs you're going to get.

But I really didn't pick up a camera seriously to do this until about the late eighties, early nineties.

As everybody can say, they experienced or know somebody who has jobs changed, and I found myself looking at where I would take my career next.

I started I was in horticulture and adult education, so I'd already been doing things outdoors, but I really had a love of nature photography as my sideline and my loving dear wife said, Go for it.

And we kind of rolled the dice and I had some good breaks.

And I've just gotten to travel to a lot of wonderful places and meet great people and all the ways I learn as much or more when I go on a trip with clients than maybe they do for me.

And we'll talk a little bit more about that in just a little while.

But let's go back to your career because you really I mean, you're still in the midst of it, but what a career you've had.

I mean, you have traveled all across the United States.

You've been to Kenya, the Galapagos Islands, I mean, Brazil, Alaska.

Tell us about what some of your adventures in those places are like.

Well, everything is done with a flair for comfort.

So as rustic as the location sounds, we're always fortunate to book in with nice lodges.

So there's always good food, warm beds, all that people think, Oh, you must be slogging around in tents and all that.

Well, you could if you wanted to, but I would like to spend as much time doing photography and less time doing housekeeping and camps set up and those kind of things.

Where did you get this idea to combine photography and taking people on an adventure?

Well, it wasn't my idea.

I'm not that smart, but I guess I'm cool, but I'm clever enough to see a good thing.

And I started out as really as a roadie for a group that I really admired, and my favorite photographer was one of the speakers.

And so we got to become friends.

I realized him from his books and his videos, and pretty soon I find out that I'm going to be leading trips with him.

And now we're good friends.

Now you have a trip coming up in September.

Yeah.

And it's to Oregon and L.A. Why?

Why did you choose that?

And how can people come on this trip with you?

Oh, terrific.

Well, there again, I wasn't smart enough, so I'm I team up with it with an old friend and good photographer who lives out in Seattle, Rod Barbie.

So he and I are co-leading the trip, but it's mostly in his backyard.

He's in Seattle.

He even has written the book on photographing the Oregon coast.

So doesn't that make sense?

I want to go with him.

He and I have been photographing together for a long time and teaching and it's been a while since I've been out there to the coast, so I'm going to get to see some old haunts and make some new images too.

But what's nice is it's all very close by.

You don't spend hours driving someplace, so watch it with him, especially in his knowledge.

People are always very happy to go to the Oregon coast.

So what does if somebody would like to come on the trip?

What does a day on the trip look like?

Oh, very good.

Well, you better be ready to get up early.

Like in the dark.

We would like to get to some place.

Not as the sun rises, but easily before that so we can talk about it, get set up, anticipate what's going to happen so that when sunrise happens or even the pre-dawn light happens, maybe that's the most glorious time.

The 20 minutes before sunrise.

As we all jump in, our cars, go to our place, set up, talk about it, enjoy the quiet morning or the exciting whatever's happening.

And then after 9:00 or so, we call that breakfast light.

Okay, it's not it's nearly as excited.

So you go have breakfast, you relax a little bit, look at your images.

Usually after around lunchtime, we get in the classroom and we talk a little bit, teach a little bit, and then people give us their images and we all critique.

You put it up on the screen and everybody gets to see the work and you get to find out what are wonderful, strong points and where are some things you can improve.

So we have some downtime, then we pack up and we go out for afternoon, light and sunset.

So you're always out in good light and we always have time to learn either from instructors or from each other.

Yes.

Now, if somebody, let's say, would love to come, but they've never really picked up a camera, you know, everybody's on their cell phones, on their on their can somebody come if they're really just the beginner?

I have a hard time saying anybody calls themselves a beginner these days.

In fact, I used to teach a beginner course out in Maine, and I had to change it because nobody signed up, even though people probably should know more basics than they do, they've played around with the camera.

Digital cameras are completely different than the film world, but if somebody did come and they wanted to walk through basics, I would do that with them.

Wonderful.

That's great.

Now, one of the things you mention, I hear you talk a lot about, you know, learning and you learn about when you're taking the photographs, you say you learn about nature, you learn about the landscape, you learn about the animals that you photograph.

But you also, as a photographer, learn about yourself.

So tell us, what is that process like and what have you learned?

Well, I've learned that I'm more patient out in the woods than I am looking at a computer.

Don't take that personally.

You know, I like to do things.

I like to be out in it.

So I think the best thing that's ever happened to me is when I can be out and slow and I have to say, I never take my best photographs when I'm on a trip with clients because I'm really with them talking about good photographs, sometimes work side by side, photographing the same thing.

Oh, isn't this great?

How's it looking?

You know, that kind of thing.

But I think I still take my best photographs when I'm out by myself.

Or I probably take better photographs when I'm out with my wife.

That's great.

Yeah.

She's also a naturalist and she's a snap shooter, but she's a quiet, watchful person.

She knows more about nature than she really gives herself credit for.

She's scouted some of the best scenes for me while I'm dawdling somewhere over here.

She says, Maybe you should come here.

You're right.

Thanks.

That sounds wonderful.

And I'm sure that there are plenty of people watching right now that would love to have an experience like that.

So how can they join you on this next trip?

This one, you should sign up pretty soon because it's in September and we like to get things booked and everybody arranged.

So if you go to my Web site and it's just cliffs on Tor.com, then you can go to the workshop page and you can see the schedule and you can click on the link that will take you to the registration site.

My friend Rod Barbie is organize that.

And so you'll go to his Web page and you'll see all the particulars.

He spells it out in a really friendly but thorough way so you can find out what to expect.

All the information you need to plan and make it successful.

And then when you get when you meet us, you'll say, okay, let's let's do it.

You can sign up for my newsletter because it's at least once a month I will send out something that will have updates on the schedule.

So you can see that and you can always contact me by email.

Okay.

All right.

Well, Cliff, we are your information is right on the screen and you have a talk coming up in September.

But there are many tours that people can be a part of.

And so for more information, there's a website and you can also go on to experience messianic talk.

Well, Cliff, thank you so much for being with us.

It's been a pleasure.

Oh, likewise.

Thank you.

Right now on experience mission for anyone who watches the show, you'll probably know that I'm a pilot and I love aviation.

And it's something that I just think we're actually really blessed in this area to have a lot of great aviation events.

And one of the best one is the La Porte airfare that happens every year and it's happening again.

And Rachel, you're one of the organizers of the event and this is a really big deal in La Porte.

It is.

So this is the third year that we've had our airfare event.

We started it back in 2020.

It was the 75th anniversary of the La Porte Municipal Airport, and we just wanted to celebrate the history of aviation in our community.

La Porte has really a rich history in aviation.

Going all the way back to 1910, we had community members involved in aviation, which is just seven years after the first flight.

We already had people here in La Porte Loving Aviation, and so we wanted to celebrate that.

And so back in 2020, we brought a B-17 E and we just had flights happening and we had thousands of people show up just for the flights.

And we thought, this is really something people in our community obviously really care about aviation and they want ways to get involved.

And so every year we've grown the event a little bit more.

This is our third year doing it, so we've made it quite a bit bigger now and we are just excited to have the community out here.

And you know, for a lot of people, including myself, I used to think aviation was somebody else's dream.

And then in 2019, I met a couple of aviation pilots and enthusiasts around the area who encourage me of like, No, you can do this.

So I went for it.

I got my license over in Goshen Airport, but I know that in La Porte you also have flight schools there and you want to be able to introduce the general public to give them the kind of get it into them that they can also become part of the aviation community.

That's a big deal for you at the fair, right?

Absolutely.

So one of our goals at the airport itself, including airfare, outside of airfare, we love bringing the community in.

That's an extremely important thing for us.

We host several events throughout the year, airfare being the biggest of those, because just like you, there's a lot of people that think that they can't be a pilot, they're not going to be a commercial pilot, so there's no place for them.

And that's absolutely not true.

Most of the people based here at our our airport are just pilots for the fun of it.

They just like to go out to fly with their friends.

They love being a pilot.

They love aviation.

You don't have to go into it as a career just to be a part of that.

And so we want to bring people out here to experience that.

And there are several flight schools locally that can give flight lessons out of La Porte.

We have people here that have purchased an airplane because they are dedicated.

They want to become pilots, but they don't know how to fly it.

So they've actually purchased a plane.

They'll keep it here at our airport.

And then either a local CFI will come out to meet them or one of our local FAA examiners actually also gives lessons out here.

And he'll give you a lesson in your own airplane so you can learn how to fly it, get your license and then go fly by yourself.

I know who that person is.

Hey, it's always good to fly with a Fed.

You know, they know the rules better than anyone else.

Absolutely.

So a big thing for me.

I absolutely love historic airplanes.

And I know that historic flights.

You mentioned the B-17 in your first year.

What about this year?

What kind of historic flights will there be available?

Yeah, that's a great question.

This year we actually have three planes giving the historic flight.

So there's a lot of options for you this year.

We have a T 13, a 26 and a C 45.

So two of those were actually trainers back in World War Two.

So if you joined the Air Force and you were going to go fly, these were the planes.

You learn how to fly in.

And so it'll bring back a lot of memories for a lot of people, but they are really fun.

Planes to fly, just two people in there.

It's just you and the pilot out in the small plane, you can see everything.

It's really an incredible experience.

So that will be a lot of fun.

And, you know, not to be like a downer about this, but a lot of these planes, you know, parts and everything are getting harder to get for these planes because they're so old that I think for a lot of these planes, they may not be around forever.

So really, while they're here now, it's really great to see them.

I mean, there's just something so magnificent.

Some of them are, you know, 70, 80 years old when you see these historic planes.

And to think that they're still flying is absolutely amazing.

And I know that there's going to be other rides available like discovery flights for people, too, right?

Yes.

So one of our local flight schools, regional fliers, they will be giving on Saturday, they're going to do aerobatic flights.

So that's going to be an option for people if you want a little bit more intense flight experience.

But that's definitely the flight for you.

And then on Sunday, they'll be giving discovery flights.

So if you've never been in a small airplane and you think it's something you'd like to try out, or you just want to try out what it's like to become a pilot, that's the flight for you.

And so you'll be one on one with CFI, who is a flight instructor, and they're going to talk to you all about, you know, how to fly a plane.

And then we'll also have we have an FAA certified flight simulator here at the airport that we own and that'll be available all weekend long as well for free.

People will be able to sign up 15 minute increments on that with a CFI as well.

They can sign up at our booth at airfare just come out, sign up for a time slot and we'll get you in there if there's a spot available and you can learn the basics of what it's like to become a pilot.

So I would encourage everybody watching this, use this as an opportunity to find out.

By the way, we never mention when it's on it's August 6th and seventh, right?

That it's on August six and seven, 9 to 5 Central, 10 to 6 Eastern.

So I believe there's also going to be food trucks that are going to be at the airport.

Yes.

So there will be food available all weekend.

The main attraction of food is Sunday, August seven, 7 a.m. to noon.

Central is our annual pancake breakfast.

So that'll be happening that morning.

All you can eat pancakes.

It's only $8 for an apple, $4 for a child.

And then the rest of the weekend, when the pancake breakfast is not happening, we will have food trucks out here.

So you will not go home hungry.

Nice.

Just go along.

Get to know people.

And again, you know, and in most cases, pilots, wives or pilots, husbands, they're tired of listening to the pilots talking about aviation.

So they'd be more than happy to share your knowledge with you.

It's just a really great community of people.

Don't be intimidated by it.

Go along and just find out more.

If you want to go in the plane, go in it.

If you don't go on the simulator like, but just be around it because it really is a wonderful community of people to be around.

Absolutely.

And pilots absolutely love talking about aviation.

This is not a group of people that are just like, okay, this is kind of fun.

I do it just because I have to.

They do it because they love flying and they would love to share that with you because they want you to also become a pilot so you can share the joy with them and the cost of the fuel just can't hurt.

But yeah, and I have to point out, you will not be flying in any of the planes that are behind your head right now.

It's not on this.

Okay?

This is at La Porte.

But no, you will not find me.

I like it.

I know that people don't realize necessarily that from an infrastructure and business point of view, that municipal airports like La Porte, they're really important and that there's a lot of businesses around that area that really they choose to do business there because of the accessibility of the airport as well.

Absolutely.

We just had a CEO fly in about 30 minutes ago.

This is the place when somebody wants to bring a business in your community, they're not going to go fly on an airline to get in a rental car and drive an hour and a half to get to your city.

They're going to fly a private jet to get to your city.

I love it.

It's extremely important.

And just finally, website for anyone who wants to have a look before the go website is just La Porte Airport dot com.

All the information is there.

All right.

Thank you so much.

And I hope that even more people turn out than even last year.

So thank you.

Thank you so much.

Well, everyone, thank you so much for joining us.

That's it for today's show.

But be sure to join us next week for another great experience, Martina, and also be sure to send us your ideas, by the way, I know it's still July, but fall is coming and you all know that's one of my favorite seasons.

Want to know what you want to see on experience?

How in the fall?

But I guess you know what?

Let's just enjoy the rest of the summer first.

So your next week's experience, Miss Diana, is made possible in part by the Community Foundation of Saint Joseph County and the Indiana Arts Commission, which received support from the State of Indiana and the National Endowment for the Arts.

This unity local production has been made possible in part by viewers like you.

Thank you.