Detroit Detroit Detroit Detroit Detroit Detroit Detroit Detroit Detroit Detroit Detroit Detroit Detroit Detroit

Category: Completed Counties

These are the Counties that have been completed.

Posted on

Mackinac

Mackinac County

Mackinac County Run

fiborn karst preserve to Trout Lake
My phone is still messing up with picking up the Cellular signal. So it's been rough not to have maps or Strava on my phone. But we went and looked at the preserved, then left my car at the preserve, and my parents drove me 3.1 miles. So I didn't need my phone. I then marked where I ran on map my run images above and below.
map Trout Lake Rudyard sault Ste. Marie State Forest Area Epoufette Brevort Gros Cap Evergreen Shores St Ignace Mackinac Island
Where Fiborn is located.
sign fiborn karst preserve quarry walls
My Climbing buddies will love the following pictures, and I have driven to Canada and Kentucky to get on rock so many times. I know they don't want people climbing here, but it looks so tempting. Fiborn Preserve is privately owned, but they allow public access, so it's just great to see this place that I never knew about until today!
quarry Walls
First look at a crag! I need bouldering shoes!
My mom and Creig. It was Creig idea to go here and I'm so glad he suggested it.
Quarry Walls
Crags are getting larger!
Birch trees were everywhere here!
Why have I not climbed in so long?!?!
There were several spots where the land had a little bit of water. I heard there is the longest underground cave in Michigan here, but we didn't see it.
First building we saw here.
Ohhhh man. I was so tempted, 5 years ago this would have been scaled by me.
Inside this building
Second structure.
fiborn karst preserve Unsafe Buildings
Inside.
fiborn karst preserve Unsafe buildings
Another look at that structure.
fiborn karst preserve Unsafe Buildings
The big building. Somewhere it said it was built in 1902.
fiborn karst preserve Unsafe buildings
Me and mom in front of that building.
fiborn karst preserve Unsafe Buildings
Inside the building
walking through fiborn karst preserve
Creig in front of the first building.
Creig and I scaled up a section of the wall area (super-easy section). Here is the view from up there.
A ton of limestone rocks.
Another crag.
Creig all the way to the back of the preserve. I took this photo looking toward the building and the entrance.
We decided that it would be best if I just left my car in the parking lot by the preserve, and Creig and mom would drive me 3.1 miles and drop me off so I could do a 5k back to the car. It was perfect!
There was a lot of water along the side of the road.
A little creek.
Here is the other side of the road looking at the creek.
Had to get a "Gen" photo.
Turn off Trout Lake Rd to get onto Fiborn Preserve Rd.
This was about a 2 mile road, at this point I already had about a mile down.
Loved the looks of this county!
Again, here is water along the sides of the road.
Such a long...
Long straight road.
Another creek, possibly the same one we crossed earlier.
Finally a curve!
Back to my car!
View of Trout Lake
View of Trout Lake just south east of the preserve.
Now I have to show you my score! I found this along the side of the road on Trout Lake Rd. at the very beginning of my run. I was so pleased to find this because I find myself looking for a level often and now I can have on in the shed AND in the basement!
Brimley MI looking at Lake Superior
Here are two shots of the cabin and Lake Superior along with Creig and Cody's handy work (the deck!)
Brimley MI looking at Lake Superior
I just love this spot on Lake Superior! What a great trip!

What an exciting and large county! Of course my first thought is to run one of the islands… But there is so much of this county that I haven’t explored. Also, I’m thinking of someday doing a half marathon on Mackinac Island. I have explored Hwy 2 and 75 heading North. This county goes on a long ways west, but I’ve never been to the west side of this county. So I’m wondering what your thoughts are on where to run.

 

5/22/21 Creig suggested running in Fiborn Karst Preserve and that is what we did the next day.

 

Here is the Cave we spoke of but didn’t find. This video is of people spelunkinc in the Hendrie River Cave: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5h7WMRgFypQ&loop=0

 

Mackinac County

Bois Blanc
Brevort
Cedarville
Clark
Curtis
Engadine
Epoufette
Garfield
Garnet
Gould City
Hendricks
Hudson
Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island
 Naubinway
Marquette
Moran
Newton
Ozark
Pickford
Clark
Port Dolomite
Rexton
Sault Ste. Marie State Forest Area
St. Ignace

Any place in Bold and Red are townships / towns /cities I’ve run a 5k for the county run (or the closest city to my county run)

Any place in Bold and Blue are townships / towns / cities I’ve run anytime in the past.

Any place in Bold and Green are townships / towns / cities I’ve done website / hosting / design work – best website builder for small business – WordPress design hosting and search engine optimization. I’m a small business website builder – contact me to get a website that works! If no Green color is on this page, please talk with me (Click Here). I’ll be encouraged to change one to Green!

Posted on

Luce

Luce County

Luce County Run

County Complete

There is no Strava data for this run because I didn’t have cellular reception this far north.

My parents took me up to Crisp Point Lighthouse. It was "SUCH," a long drive down a bumpy, sandy, dirt road. Probably the longest dirt road I've ever traveled down.
My mom is searching for rocks. Hunter and Creig were here too, but I didn't get any pics of them.
View of the lighthouse from the beach. Met the gentleman tending the lighthouse, his name was Scott.
Pic of me venturing out to the end of the board formation.
Shot from the end of that formation at my mom and another lady looking for agates.
Start of my run looking at Lake Superior.
I climbed up a bluff for a fantastic view!
This pano shot doesn't do the view justice. But It was unreal!!
Start down the unbelievably long dirt road.
I was amazed at how thick the forest areas were.
Last look at the big lake.
What beautiful country!
Here is another shot of the forest, much different-looking woods than Traverse City.
I know there are many roads on this site, but I love how different this area showed.
Above say's it all.
It is incredible how sandy this road was. I'm sure many have got stuck on this road. And without cell reception, you would pretty much have to wait for someone to show up to help you.
What a super long road!
These were some signs at intersections... I would hate to get lost back here!
It was rough running on this road because of how sandy the road is.
After I completed the run, we headed to this big lake named "Little Lake" I'm sure it is only a little in comparison...
There were a couple of these places that were cleared out because of a forest fire. So you could see burn rings around the bigger trees that lived. But this was a very cool thing to see.
Another shot of just incredible landscape on the drive back to the cabin.
Great Design Plan to run the county for this website

I planned to run Chippewa county today, but my parents suggested we go over to Luce today. I thought that would be perfect as I can run Chippewa later. So we took a ride to Crisp Point Lighthouse. It was an extremely long (maybe 20 miles dirt road trip). However, the very sandy area made me feel better that we were in a four-wheel-drive vehicle. 

Luce County

Crisp Point Lighthouse
Columbus
Deer Park
Helmer
Lakefield
McMillan
Newberry
Pentland
Pine Stump Junction
Shelldrake
Any place in Bold and Red are townships / towns /cities I’ve run a 5k for the county run (or the closest city to my county run) Any place in Bold and Blue are townships / towns / cities I’ve run anytime in the past. Any place in Bold and Green are townships / towns / cities I’ve done website / hosting / design work – best website builder for small business – WordPress design hosting and search engine optimization. I’m a small business website builder – contact me to get a website that works! If no Green color is on this page, please talk with me (Click Here). I’ll be encouraged to change one to Green!
Posted on

Emmet

Emmet County

Emmet County Run

County Complete

This was rough for my phone. It couldn’t find a connection after a failed updated this morning. I did run for 43 minutes, So I’m sure that was at least a 5k. Heading up to my parents cabin in the UP and figured I would knock a county off on the way.

First look at the mighty Mac!
I parked in this lot for the run.
Another shot of the bridge prior to the run.
A look at Lake Michigan off a side road on my run.
Heading West!
Found the home of the Comets!
Was a fairly slow night for traffic. How nice.
After 20 minutes of running I decided to hit the beach and run back on the beach.
View of the Bridge zoomed in.
It was very rocky and a little rough of a run.
A look to the west.
Another look west.
A look east. Man those rocks were rough to run on.
Another view of the bridge on the way back.
I was imagining how expensive those views were for all the residents. I can't even imagine how much a house here would run.
Getting closer.
Another look west.
The first part of the bridge looking east.
I started this run at around 7:30pm and this was the time when I could see my car.
My car in the empty parking lot.
Back on the road and heading to the cabin on Lake Superior.
View at lake Superior about an hour later.
Great Design Plan to run the county for this website

Update: 1/13/21: So this was planned next along with Chippewa County, but here is the deal. I lost employment with a company that I had worked with for 28 years. Along with the COVID pandemic, it was made difficult to plan a trip up to the cabin… This will be a county I hit soon, but I’ve changed it over to “NOT planned next” because of the circumstances.

Thinking about going up to the Lake Superior cabin with Alex and Melody. Lisa and I visited Fort Mackinaw in the past and maybe if I ask Alex to drop me off a 5k away from the fort he and Melody could enjoy the fort; While I complete the run. Not sure that it will be open because of the COVID lockdown. Another thought is to set them up at a restaurant while I do my run. Can’t wait to spend some time with him.

This plan got pushed back a couple of weeks. It looks like this might happen mid-September now… (now it’s mid-October and this still isn’t complete.) I will try to finish this one before the end of 2020, but not sure when. I’ve had difficulties that I’m addressing currently to get back on track. Can’t wait!

Emmet County

Alanson
Bear Creek
Bliss
Carp Lake
Center
Cross Village
Friendship
Harbor Springs
Littlefield
Little Traverse
Maple River
Mackinaw City
Mackinaw City
McKinley
Pellston
Petoskey
Pleasantview
Readmond
Resort
Springvale
Wawatam
West Traverse
Any place in Bold and Red are townships / towns /cities I’ve run a 5k for the county run (or the closest city to my county run) Any place in Bold and Blue are townships / towns / cities I’ve run anytime in the past. Any place in Bold and Green are townships / towns / cities I’ve done website / hosting / design work – best website builder for small business – WordPress design hosting and search engine optimization. I’m a small business website builder – contact me to get a website that works! If no Green color is on this page, please talk with me (Click Here). I’ll be encouraged to change one to Green!
Posted on

Gratiot

Gratiot County

Gratiot County Run

County Complete

Although this looks like a prolonged run, I turned off the record button twice, so I’m sure I’m missing some time that I was running. Also, some distance, so I probably ran 3.6 miles and was super tired. I had planned to run Saginaw on this trip, but I didn’t want to complete another once I finished with this run. So I’m disappointed because it just means more time in the car to rival another county. But this is part of the thing that makes this a difficult challenge. Driving is a more challenging part of this challenge than the actual running. Who would have guessed?

I met up with my eldest cousin Cheryl and had dinner in the park. She works in Alma, and it was so great to see her again.
I started this run and didn't know which way to head to match my planned route. I had thought that I planned my run in Alma, only to discover that the run was actually in St. Louis.
Here is a look at downtown St. Louis.
I finally figured out N, E, S, and W and was closer to my planned route.
First, look at the water. There was a lot of plant growth.
A look on the other side of the road. I think this is called the "Pine River."
Here is a better look at the river.
Impressive lawns and houses were all over the place on this part of the river.
Very nice neighborhood.
I think the stop sign represents Cheesman Rd. It was closed to traffic over the bridge, and I wasn't sure if I would be able to get across the river.
Here is a look at the southernmost part of the river from where I ran.
There was a machine blocking the way across the bridge, but I was able to run under that machine.
Another look at the river ponds.
I was heading east on the road heading back to my car.
There were a lot of people but not much traffic on this side of town.
There were a few dirt roads back here off the main streets.
...and a water tower picture, of course.
Great Design Plan to run the county for this website

I will try to do Alma tomorrow. I reached out to my nephew, Leighton, but he’s swamped and probably won’t meet up. However, I did contact my cousin Cheryl too (she works in Alma). So it sounds like we will meet up before my run. I can’t wait. I planned this route about a month ago, but just getting around to it!

Gratiot County

Alma
Alma
Arcada
Ashley
Bethany
Breckenridge
Elba
Emerson
Fulton
Hamilton
Ithaca
Lafayette
Newark
New Haven
North Shade
North Star
Perrinton
Pine River
Seville
St. Louis
Sumner
Washington
Wheeler
Any place in Bold and Red are townships / towns / cities I’ve run a 5k for the county run (or the closest city to my county run) Any place in Bold and Blue are townships / towns / cities I’ve run anytime in the past. Any place in Bold and Green are townships / towns / cities I’ve done website / hosting / design work – best website builder for small business – WordPress design hosting and search engine optimization. I’m a small business website builder – contact me to get a website that works! If no Green color is on this page, please talk with me (Click Here). I’ll be encouraged to change one to Green!
Posted on

Crawford

Crawford County

Crawford County Run

County Complete
Today was a two-county day. I hit Otsego about 20 minutes before this run with my high school bud and cousin Brenda.
I was very excited because I was probably in the 3rd or 4th grade when I was here, back in the 1970s or early '80s. I remember it, even from 40 years ago.
I parked along the side of 93, and this was the welcome sign to the trail.
It was very wet, not only here but throughout to south path.
Some spots I did get my shoes wet.
But the high ground to the north was dry and the forest looked so cool and welcoming.
Well-marked trails made my run a delightful one. I knew where I was on the whole run.
White pines were everywhere!
A look up!
...and down.
I think this trail was called the old growth trail.
There were a lot of people on this paved part of the trail.
Smooth and easy running.
Came across many building like this one on the path.
I also came across this old Chappel; how cool!
Loved the look of this old growth.
...and here was the top of that tree.
Getting toward the end of the northern trails.
This building was right off 93 road.
A look at the south of 93 trail.
A lot of water back there on the trail.
Dig the looks of these branches.
Look up at this interesting knot in the tree.
A lot of the trail was in great shape.
But many watery spots. I hope to someday take Lisa and my grandkids back here.
Great Design Plan to run the county for this website

No real plan just wanted to knock another county down on the same day I hit Otsego. Glad I did. Such a great run! Also met up with Mike and Kathy Dell earlier in the day. Was so good to see them in Otsego County!

Crawford County

Beaver Creek
Frederic
Grayling
Hartwick Pines State Park
Lovells
Maple Forest
South Branch

Any place in Bold and Red are townships / towns / cities I’ve run a 5k for the county run (or the closest city to my county run)

Any place in Bold and Blue are townships / towns / cities I’ve run anytime in the past.

Any place in Bold and Green are townships / towns / cities I’ve done website / hosting / design work – best website builder for small business – WordPress design hosting and search engine optimization. I’m a small business website builder – contact me to get a website that works! If no Green color is on this page, please talk with me (Click Here). I’ll be encouraged to change one to Green!

I'd like to hear from you!

Contact

If you have information to share with me about a county, please do so on that page’s comment section. I’d like others to hear what you have in mind about a particular county. If you have a question for me, if you want to go for a run with me, if you have a project you need help with, I’d love to hear from you. Thanks so much!

Facebook-f Instagram Envelope
Such a fun weekend! Tackled three counties! Eaton County, Jackson County, and Livingston County Headed down after work on Friday and headed back after my Livingston run at 10 am Saturday morning over 9 miles of running in about 14 hours.
Eaton, Jackson & Livingston Counties
Eaton, Jackson & Livingston CountiesMay 17-18, 2024
Memorial Weekend and I decided to knock a few counties in the U.P. off the list. Schoolcraft was also planned but Friday I had an appointment that ran late and I had to drop a run So I did Delta County, Dickinson County, and Menominee County!
Delta, Dickinson & Menominee Counties
Delta, Dickinson & Menominee CountiesMay 24-25, 2024
Ran my final lower peninsula county! Had a graduation party in Davison so I decided to drive to Macomb to get this final one complete. Now to the UP! Macomb County.
Macomb County
MacombJun 15, 2024
My wettest run of the challenge. I'm heading up to the U.P. to knock five counties off my list: Schoolcraft County is the first, followed by Gogebic, Ontonagon, Houghton, and Iron.
Schoolcraft
SchoolcraftJuly 3, 2024
This Fourth of July weekend, I ran 5 counties in 5 days. Schoolcraft County already listed, then Gogebic County, Ontonagon County, Houghton County, & Iron County
4 U.P. Counties Ontonagon, Houghton, Gogebic and Iron
Ontonagon, Houghton, Gogebic & IronJuly 4-7, 2024
These three counties were planned for Memorial weekend, but paused because of car issues. Finally done. Alger County, Baraga County, & Marquette County
Alger, Baraga, & Marquette Counties
Alger, Baraga, & Marquette CountiesSept 19-20, 2024

McCatty websites

Contact

If you have some ideas about a county please share them on that counties comments section. I would like others to see what makes the county great.  If you would like to contact me privately you can do so here:                                   thanks. m