I woke up bright and early on Saturday morning to a hazy, hot and humid day. I had a busy day planned and took off for Portland which is just west of Lansing. They had extensive trails and an interesting city. It's called the city of two rivers because they have the Grand River and the Looking Glass River and really cool old metal bridges. I got there by 9AM and found the trail which ran along the river. There were beautiful purple and white flowers that smelled divine.
There is a whole system of trails around the city and the part I walked on was the Bogue Flat Trail. I did the walk pretty quickly although it was already getting hot but I wanted to get to the next county quickly because my goal was to do 3 counties on Saturday. I drove around the town for a quick look/see and there were lots of historic, cool buildings.
The post office.
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I was excited about a rail trail called the White Pine Trail which runs from Grand Rapids to Cadillac. I figured that using that trail I could get 4 counties done really easily. So I headed up 131 to Montcalm County where a little burg called Howard City was right on the trail. There was major construction downtown and I had trouble finding the trail. It's usually easy because if it's a rail to trail the railroads would have gone through downtown. I think my mind was addled from all the driving and I went back to the Subway by the expressway and ate and then hit the trail. It was pretty evident pretty quickly that it was too hot for me to be walking especially by myself especially with no sunscreen or hat. Sunscreen doesn't work for me because I sweat so much it drips into my eye and I don't want to look like Lebron and wear a sweatband lol. So I decided after 2.5 miles that I'd had enough. I had a motel room booked at Big Rapids so headed up there and took a nice refreshing shower and figured I'd walk in the evening when it cooled off a little.
I was excited about a rail trail called the White Pine Trail which runs from Grand Rapids to Cadillac. I figured that using that trail I could get 4 counties done really easily. So I headed up 131 to Montcalm County where a little burg called Howard City was right on the trail. There was major construction downtown and I had trouble finding the trail. It's usually easy because if it's a rail to trail the railroads would have gone through downtown. I think my mind was addled from all the driving and I went back to the Subway by the expressway and ate and then hit the trail. It was pretty evident pretty quickly that it was too hot for me to be walking especially by myself especially with no sunscreen or hat. Sunscreen doesn't work for me because I sweat so much it drips into my eye and I don't want to look like Lebron and wear a sweatband lol. So I decided after 2.5 miles that I'd had enough. I had a motel room booked at Big Rapids so headed up there and took a nice refreshing shower and figured I'd walk in the evening when it cooled off a little.
Birch trees in Howard City.
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I really liked Big Rapids which is the county seat of Mecosta County. The only thing I really knew about it is that it's where Ferris State is and people that I've known who have gone there like to party. I think school is out so it was pretty quiet when I was there except for the rafters down on the river where there really are rapids. Duh! Who knew? I decided to just walk around town instead of doing the rail trail and it was very pretty with lots of historical houses. These towns up north have so many beautiful Victorian style houses I just want to take pictures of them all.
This is the entrance to a stairway that takes you down to the riverside.
On the trail along the river you go under an overpass and this is the graffiti art that is on the wall.Very cool!!
Here is a scary looking tree guarding the little creek that is heading to the river.
Some of those rapids.
A cool fence around a really cool old house that I didn't take a picture of. You couldn't really see the house because there were overgrown bushes in front of it. Hidden curb appeal!
More pretty flowers by a river.
This used to be the county jail. See it says "jail" on the building.
I think this is the post office.
Oh my Lord! I have been having issues figuring out this net book. I love it thanks Emily!! But I'm not very technically blessed and I better leave well enough alone and get this posted. Next on the agenda is Sunday when I went to Reed City, Cadillac and finished my 5 miles in Montcalm County with a 2.5 mile walk on the White Pine Trail.
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