I know, I know...
I am tuning my bike up and plan to be riding very much, very soon. I've been keeping fit at the Y and feeling better than ever. I've also been taking lots of photos. I'm open to do portraits in on location homes or business, graduation photos and engagement photos. I might assist in weddings but I'm not geared up for weddings very well yet...
My photos can currently be seen on flickr, this ever changing banner links to the photos that I have been making visible.More about this bicycling site below the banner...
www.flickr.com
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CrossroadOne? I like bicycling.
This site has many photos for you and bits of information about some of my favorite bike trails around Grand Rapids, Michigan... there are more than these listed trails around here. I'll add them as I ride them or as others let me know about them. The White Pine Trail page has a LOT of photos.
My longest
ride was Sunday afternoon, May 29, 2006. I logged 78 miles. I
know it isn't a century and a lot of you folks go further. But
it was good for me. I finally went to Grand Haven and back in
the same day on my favorite 'trail' that I call Leonard Street.
It felt good to accomplish that. By myself, I headed out around
1:00, met the family for lunch at the Grand Haven State Park
at around 4:00, at 6:00PM, I headed back. It seemed to take longer
getting back than going even though I had the wind in my face
most of the way out there, but after checking my data, it took
the same amount of time both ways. About 3 hours. Was it loneliness,
boredom or just fatigue that made the return trip more difficult?
I'm not sure but now that I did it early in the summer, I'll
try do it a few more times this year when I have an extra day
to kill. I was passed by one bicyclist on the return trip (I'm
not racing) and he just kept on rolling over those hills with
the sun at his back. It was also highly travelled that
day by motorcyclists both ways with single and double riders.
I know, you are called bikers too, but for clarity in this story,
I must call you motorcyclists). I would estimate more motorcyclists
than motor vehicles passed me that day. The gently rolling hills
have to be nice to ride on with only a 1/2 inch turn of the throttle
to keep rolling.
Anyways, enough of this blabber, here's my list of trails with plenty of photos:
- Musketawa Trail-
from Marne to Muskegon, 26 miles of converted railway. For me
to get to Marne is about 8 miles, and then go on the trail, then
all the way to Lake Michigan beyond was about 54 miles one way.
Yes, it took a few hours.
- White Pine Trail - -PAGE
1 - PAGE 2- Michigan's longest
rail to trail park. Approximately 92 miles depending on where
you start. Partially paved, partially hard pack gravel. I've
only gone about 35 miles round trip on it. I hop ed to get to
Cadillac or down from Cadillac on and along it this summer but
it didn't work out. I did drive it though and took some photos
at crossroads along the way and they are visible on PAGE
2.
- Riverside Park,
NE Grand Rapids, The White Pine Trail actually -seems- to start
here on the south side at Ann Street and the Grand River where
there is off street parking behind the Shell gas station. This
park goes 2 miles north along the river in a very nice, mostly
shaded environment. If you just want to run, jog or roller blade
about 4 miles, go from south to north and back. There are also
two Disc golf courses nestled among the trees and ponds for all
to enjoy.
- Grand Rapids to Grand Haven - Leonard
Street is my favorite "trail," It isn't an official
trail but is a well kept secret. I take Leonard street in Grand
Rapids all the way to Spring Lake, over the drawbridge to Grand
Haven. 35-40 miles one way, depending on your starting point.
It is busy around 3 -5 pm going west on weekdays. Everyone wants
to go west toward the lake at that time or they are going home
from working in Grand Rapids. The road's width isn't really bike
friendly. It is best to take it in the morning or before noon
but I do see other riders heading west in the evening. The YMCA
is near the Coast Guard Station in Grand Haven where you can
get a shower if you want... when you're there also visit The
Kirby Grill. Yumm...
Kent Trails - I have taken these a few times lately this August along the Grand River towards Jenison starting out at John Ball Zoo.
I added a couple links
on my links page too.
-back-
