Fayette, Michigan - A Ghost Town

This historic town site has a beach, campsite, trails and the town itself as a self-guided museum.  I've been here and camped with 5 teenagers who had a blast.  For more information, see this link for the site dedicated to the town.  If you do visit, be cautious of poison ivy growing along pathways.  Also, if you're able, make a donation, even if only $5.

This page also has information about the town and trails, though I could not locate a map.  There is a map in the parking lot of the town site.

Til our paths meet again...

Today I said goodbye, for now, to a good friend and an amazing person. What does she have to do with you and this blog? As hikers, bikers and outdoor enthusiasts in general, we are at higher risk for things such as skin cancer.

My friend Tina has left us a legacy, defying the statement that the good die young - just because her physical time on earth was only 38 years, she lived many lives during that time frame. She has accomplished what many of us could never do. While cancer was beating her down, her head was held high as she helped others with their journeys. Her strength, class, grace and determination is contagious. She made the most out of the good days and the bad. She never wasted a second, even when she didn't have mobility, she was still fighting the fight.

In her honor, celebrating her spirit and to say thank you for being a part of my life, I share with you the blog of Tina Sullivan, melanoma warrior, and inspiration for Pale Skin Is In. Cancer may have taken her body from us, but it didn't stop her heart, quiet her voice or end her fight. Team Pale Skin Is In is dedicated to continuing where she left off.

To her husband Todd, daughter Teya, parents, brother Cory, extended family and fellow friends - I find it an honor to have known her and if there's anything I can do to continue her journey, I'll be there, you have my prayers and support.

To Tina - Forever in my heart, with the big hair, wrinkling your nose, sticking your tongue out at me saying I'm more stuck up than you are! You have to watch out for those quiet ones, they bite!!

The Big Spring - Kitch-iti-kipi

Okay, this isn't really so much of a trail or hiking spot, but if you are tired of walking long distances and are up in the UP looking for something breathtaking - here you go. I can't say more about it than what's on that site other than I'll be back here every time I'm in the area. The kids had a great time, amazed at the fish, watching coins fall to the bottom of the spring and steering the raft.

Copper Harbor Mountain Bike Trails

Found a link for mountain bike trails in the Copper Harbor area with a lot of great info.  Trails maps in jpg form are on the site.  I'm sure you can download these to your smartphones.

Ahhhh.....

Feels good to finally have the open house over with, my kitchen is still a disaster. I have a batch of photos to edit and two senior photo shoots as well as a historical photo shoot coming up this week, and it's going to be a hot one!

Your emails are full of amazing suggestions and THANK YOU for the compliments. One email in particular said "even though you only have a handful of the existing trails on the map so far most of them are close to most of us... has made for nice short trips just an hours drive". This isn't why I started in the southern part of the state but she has a wonderful point!

To answer another email: Yes, I am going to document closed trails. The reasoning is, if it was a trail once, it may be a trail again. It may have been closed due to budget costs, safety hazards or a sale of the land. Whatever the reason, if you know it exists, there's a chance YOU could make a difference to get the trail re-opened. Just remember to read and obey the signs in and around all trails. If it's a closed trail, you may get permission to enter if you find out who the property owner is and ask, doesn't hurt. Trespassing is against the law. I will do my best to provide information on the owners of the closed trails, but that's not always that easy from here if it's miles away from me - so no promises!

Pure Michigan has wrote me about being a guest blogger and I'm going to take them up on it. I don't know what exactly to cover so I think I'm just going to brag about how we have nearly as many trails in Michigan as we have beaches, campgrounds and rivers and many of these trails are a part of the park systems of the cities, counties and state. Of course I won't be able to get to writing it until next week.

On that note, I'll leave you with this:

If you want to have fun outside, MICHIGAN HAS IT ALL!!