Chief Baw Beese and Hillsdale

Today I decided that even though it was kind of cold, I needed to get another county done. So Wes and I headed out to Hillsdale after having lunch in Adrian.

I had never heard of a Chief Baw Beese. He was a Huron-Potawatomie and he and his band of about 100 are credited with helping pioneer families in the Hillsdale area through the harsh winters by providing meat and medicinal care. He appears to have been loved and respected by the settlers but eventually he and his people were relocated to a reservation at Council Bluffs, Iowa.

This afternoon, I walked along a beautiful lake south of Hillsdale that bears his name. Wes hung out in downtown Hillsdale at the local coffee shop, Jilly Beans Coffee Shop, while I walked on the paved Baw Beese trail which turned into a part of the North Country Trail which is a dirt path. It was very beautiful and natural. I covered five miles and then I called Wes and told him to come and get me. It sure makes it easier when I have a driver.

Here's another interesting fact about Hillsdale County. Four rivers have their headwaters there: Kalamazoo, Raisin, St. Joseph river that goes to Lake Michigan and another St. Joseph river which ends up flowing into the Maumee River. Pretty cool. Kind of like a state continental divide.

So tonight I'm tired but happy that I now have Hillsdale County checked off on my list!

PS:  In case you're interested here is a neat link to find hiking paths in Michigan.
http://www.michigan.org/Things-to-Do/Outdoors/Hiking/Default.aspx