Wandering Knight

Travels, trials, and tribulations of Kenneth Knight:<br> a legally blind passionate lightweight and ultralight-weight traveller.

#18: Spring Cleaning, Trail Maintenance on the North Country Trail 05/04/2010

#18: Spring Cleaning, Trail Maintenance on the North Country Trail Hiking trails require attention. If they do not receive attention they become overgrown, hard to follow, perhaps even dangerous. With attention a hiking trail, even one that does not see much foot traffic, can remain a high quality pathway ffor years.Three times a year I join friends and we go to a stretch of the North COuntry Trail to give it some special attention. We are just a few of the hundreds of volunteers who help maintain the NCT. The NCT, like the vast majority of long-distance trails, is maintained by dedicated volunteers. Some take care of just a mile or so and others take care of considerably longer stretches. Some trail segment could be in remote locations. Our section though is not among these as it is bounded by two minor roads in Newago County. We just have to drive across the stae to reach the trail. Our section rolls through modestly hilly forest passing by several lakes as it worms its way between 16 and 13 Mile Roads. We also maintain, and helped build, the spur trail that leads to Highbanks Lake campground. All in all we are responsible for about 6.5 miles of trail. /episode/index/show/1cfcd6e1576b23fcbae0edcacc549487/id/804101

#17: Autumn Dusk at Hudson Mills Metropark 11/06/2009

#17: Autumn Dusk at Hudson Mills Metropark You don't have to go into the wilderness to get a taste of nature. If you want to just get out there but live in an urban or sub-urban area look into the parks in your region. You'll probably be surprised at what you find. Besides the numerous city parks here in Ann Arbor we are blessed with an extensive metropark system that covers 5 counties (we are lucky to also have State Game Areas and much more, you probably have them too). This time we visited Hudson Mills Metropark and strolled broad nature paths and paved trails for a couple hours. Even though we were about as close to civilization as you can get an urban nature hike can still re-vitalize and give you that little extra boost that makes being outside worthwhile (the excursive doesn't hurt either). Autumn is a superb time for little treks like this. Get out and enjoy. /episode/index/show/1cfcd6e1576b23fcbae0edcacc549487/id/652158

#16: Mountain Laurel Designs Trailstar - First Pitch 07/27/2009

#16: Mountain Laurel Designs Trailstar - First Pitch I have a confession to make: I like space. I shudder when I look at some backpacking shelters and see that they claim to be suitable for two people and yet have only space enough, or so it seems, for one. To the best of my knowledge I am not claustrophobic but I know that squeezing into a shelter with just 20 or so square feet and only a small bit of headroom near one end or another really gets on my nerves if I must spend hours, let alone days, under the sheltering canopy of fabric. I worry that in such a tiny space something will get wet all too easily as I brush the walls of the shelter. I bemoan the fact that I can wriggle around all long nights but must stay put so I don't bump the walls. I know that in the vast majority of cases I really do not need the space. I shelter alone most times even if I am traveling with a group. I don't have a canine companion I need to keep under cover (though I have thought about that now and then). But I like the ability to spread out. That desire outweighs the urge to save a few ounces of weight (heresy, I know). So when a shelter like the Mountain Laurel Designs Trailstar comes along I find myself intrigued. Here is a shaped tarp, a plus in its own right since I don't have to have an advanced degree in tarpology, that when even pitched low affords not only ample floor area but copious headroom (i.e., volume). It feels larger than it actually is because of its openness. I can bring a Tyvek floor or a bug bivy to improve my comfort depending on the situation (in either case the weight will likely be similar) and I even have all the extra space I could want should the day come and I find myself sharing a shelter routinely with another person. /episode/index/show/1cfcd6e1576b23fcbae0edcacc549487/id/630555

#15: Ann Arbor Art Fair, 2009 07/21/2009

#15: Ann Arbor Art Fair, 2009 The Ann Arbor Art Fairs have been around for fifty years (the original street Art Fair) and I don't think they're going to stop any time soon judging by the number of booths and people I saw milling around thi summer. I enjoyed my wandering around over the 4 days of the Art Fair. I think the secret for my successful enjoyment is to spend just a couple hours any given day. If you can spend some of that time enjoying the Art Fair extras like live music that makes things so much better. /episode/index/show/1cfcd6e1576b23fcbae0edcacc549487/id/629107

#14: Rhode Island, Small Is Beautiful 03/25/2009

#14: Rhode Island, Small Is Beautiful Rhode Island is the smallest of the fifty states in the U.S.A.. Covering a mere 1,545 square miles, just big enough to contain New York City three times over, the state boasts considerable wonderful scenery. Last fall I spent a few days with family learning that Rhode Island has more than two well known cities and extensive coastline. From the shores of Narragansett Bay to the state forests in places like the Arcadia Wildlife Management Area Rhode Island can surprise you with its variety of flora and fauna. /episode/index/show/1cfcd6e1576b23fcbae0edcacc549487/id/594307

#13: We're Not 25th 01/17/2009

#13: We're Not 25th The first geocaching rally was off to a rollicking start on an overcast, snow bound, January afternoon in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The energy and enthusiasm of the teams was undeniable. People wanted to win. Even our little team of myself, Laurence and Marla, and Paul wanted to at least not finish last. Lar, Marla, and I have been geocaching for several years but we are hardly power cachers,having logged fewer than 50 finds in that time. Compare that against some folks who likely find that many caches in a routine day of geocaching and you get a sense of how we go about things. Our goal: not to finish 25th out of 25th. Paul, a long time friend through hiking and camping, joined our merry band as we were in his neck of the woods. /episode/index/show/1cfcd6e1576b23fcbae0edcacc549487/id/527202

#12: Happy New Year 01/10/2009

#12: Happy New Year For the past few years I have been fortunate to spend a few days in late December with friends at the rustic Burns Bunkhouse cabins in Waterloo Recreation Area. The rustic cabins, we have stayed in both of them over the years, provide bunk beds, a wood stove for heat, plenty of table and counter space for cooking and eating, and benches. You provide everything else. If you want light after sundwon bring a couple of Coleman lanterns. If you want hot food a couple Coleman camping stoves will work great. And don't forget to bring water or be prepared to get it from the nearby pump and deal with the iron taste. The cabins force a relaxed atmosphere and provide a fine place for base car camping as trails abound. The past few years we have managed to snag a cabin for New Years and this year we had cabin #2 for 3 nights. /episode/index/show/1cfcd6e1576b23fcbae0edcacc549487/id/525307

#11: The Gathering, 2008, Part 2 12/05/2008

#11: The Gathering, 2008, Part 2 The Gathering is held at the old Schoolhouse near White Cloud, Michigan. The Schoolhouse, run by the Western Michigan North Country Trail Chapter, has served us well over the years. Although we were expecting iffy weather we knew this would be another fine Gathering. /episode/index/show/1cfcd6e1576b23fcbae0edcacc549487/id/507350

#10: The Gathering, 2008, Part 1 11/25/2008

#10: The Gathering, 2008, Part 1 It was a glorious day to maintain our section of trail. This is the Highbanks section of trail that runs between 13 Mile and 16 Mile roads in Newago County about 6.3 miles of North Country Trail. The section rolls through a passing of Manistee National Forest passing by several lakes over its length, along ridge lines, and a few slightly wetter areas. It is one of the prettier section of trail and over the past few years we have whipped into shape. We all maintain the new Highbanks Campground connector trail which we had a hand in scouting and building earlier this year. To do proper trail maintenance you really need to come out three times a year, more if the trail warrants it. Autumn is an ideal time for us because we can roll our trail maintenance into the long weekend before firearms deer hunting season opens when the Great Lakes Hikes hiking group plus a few friends from outside of the group, who are always welcome to come, hold our annual Schoolhouse Gathering. This year would be our tenth such gathering at the Western Michigan Chapter Schoolhouse. /episode/index/show/1cfcd6e1576b23fcbae0edcacc549487/id/504351

#9: Wheatland Music Festival, 2008 11/14/2008

#9: Wheatland Music Festival, 2008 On the second weekend of September for the past 35 years their has been a music festival held near the town of Remus, Michigan. The Wheatland Music Festival is an exciting varied event that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. I've been a couple of times, still a newbie compared to some people I know who have been dozens of times. I've plenty to still see and learn but that will have to wait for the 36th festival next September. /episode/index/show/1cfcd6e1576b23fcbae0edcacc549487/id/504352

#8: An Autumn Clasic-Corn Maze Visit 11/02/2008

#8: An Autumn Clasic-Corn Maze Visit Our group is out this blustery late October day celebrating a birthday of a friend. He's passing a prime number, the last one before he turns 40 a few years from now. He came up with the idea to visit the corn maze at Talladay Farms and a handful of his friends including myself were able to come out and join the fun. /episode/index/show/1cfcd6e1576b23fcbae0edcacc549487/id/504353

#7: North Manitou Island, August 2008, Part 2 10/28/2008

#7: North Manitou Island, August 2008, Part 2 North Manitou island is approximate 7-3/4 miles long and 4-1/4 miles wide. The highest point on the island is 1,001 feet above sea level and therefore 428 feet above Lake Michigan. That high point is somewhere on the northwest corner of the island and we would not visit it this trip we probably were not that far from the high point on the first day on our walk along the trail to the Pot Holes. The group would divide a couple times the first day with some heading straight to the campsite we had agreed upon near Swenson's Barn, the rest hiking along the Pot Holes trail to the overlook on the norhtern shore where we gazed down upon Lake Michigan and then divided once more with some retracing their steps and a group consisting of myself, Doug, and Andy scurrying down to the warm sandy beach and walking the 3-1/2 to 4 miles of beach to reach the campsite. We would have several hours to laze around camp, swim in the cool but not frigid, waters of Lake Michigan, relax, and just have fun. With the setting of the sun the bugs grew a bit more annoying but unbearable. We would spend some time watching the stars peak out as we sat on the cool sand listening to the waves of Lake Michigan lap against the beach. The last of us, Andy and I, would settle down for bed a little after 11:00PMâpretty late for a backpacking trip especially when you consider we hadn't slept much the night before. /episode/index/show/1cfcd6e1576b23fcbae0edcacc549487/id/504354

#6: North Manitou Island, August 2008, Part 1 10/21/2008

#6: North Manitou Island, August 2008, Part 1 North Manitou Island, the larger of the two islands, is a designated wilderness area. The only real way to reach it if you are not a serious paddler yourself, and the paddle from the mainland to the island should not be under-estimated as Lake Michigan is a serious body of water worthy of considerable respect, is via the Manitou Island Transit Ferry. Today the very full ferry made the hour long crossing on fairly smooth seas, but for some the ride was not quite smooth enough and I am sure they felt an even greater sense of joy upon reaching the dock at the old village remains, the one small bit on non-wilderness designated area, on North Manitou Island. The real trip would begin at this point, just around noon, on a glorious summer day. /episode/index/show/1cfcd6e1576b23fcbae0edcacc549487/id/504356

#5: TGO Challenge 2008 Part 5: Tarfside to Dunnottar Castle 10/06/2008

#5: TGO Challenge 2008 Part 5: Tarfside to Dunnottar Castle Part 5 of my journey across Scotland. From Tarfside to the coast and then Dunnottar Casle required me to walk about 53 kilometers. While the journey can certainly be done in two days I stretched it out to 2 and a half days. In some ways this bit of hiking was the most challenging and most frustrating of any I would do. My meandering travels especially in the vicinity ending not far west of Burn of Badymicks (starting west of grid refernce NO557 812) slowed me down to a crawl. The three deer fences did me no favors either costing me considerable time finding secure spots to climb over them. What should have been an easy 16 or so kilometers ended up comsuming the better part of the day. The kilometers I would cover after my afternoon tea at Charr Bothy themselves were no bull of cherries seeing me go the wrong way more than once especially when I went the wrong way around a fence into a farm field trying to figure out how to cross the Water of Dye. /episode/index/show/1cfcd6e1576b23fcbae0edcacc549487/id/504357

#4: TGO Challenge 2008 Part 4: Braemar to Tarfside 10/01/2008

#4: TGO Challenge 2008 Part 4: Braemar to Tarfside Part 4 of my journey across Scotland. This section would prove, in some ways, my most difficult. The walk out of Braemar was the long way around on the highway to Invercould Bridge but at least I got to share much of it with another Challenger which livened things up. Even my navigation error wasn't a really awful thing in retrospect as it just sent me along a more northern route than I'd planned. But my troubles along the narrow, barely a hunter trail, path just after Gelder Shiel really bummed me out. Falling into the stream wasn't even the worst of that. It was upsetting but I felt more irked by my meandering around the holiday homes a couple miles west of Spital of Glenmuick. /episode/index/show/1cfcd6e1576b23fcbae0edcacc549487/id/504358

#3: TGO Challenge 2008 Part 3: Kingussie to Braemar 09/26/2008

#3: TGO Challenge 2008 Part 3: Kingussie to Braemar Part 3 of my journey across Scotland. After a lively night in Kingussie where I would eat way too much and not drink enough I would drag myself back to hiking around 10:00AM. I should have splurged and bought some eggs and made an omelet for myself in the hostel's kitchen. Live and learn. Over the next 3 days I would hike about 52 kilometers to reach the town of Braemar. The Bulk of that hiking would be on the second day and if it hadn't been for that day the hike itself would have been rather dull. Should I hike between these two town again I hope I can find a nicer route to the western edge of River Feshie. /episode/index/show/1cfcd6e1576b23fcbae0edcacc549487/id/504359

#2: TGO Challenge Part 2: Fort Augustus to Kingussie 09/22/2008

#2: TGO Challenge Part 2: Fort Augustus to Kingussie Part 2 of my journey across Scotland. From Fort Augustus my original plan was to do an overnight hike across Corryairack Pass and then along the paved roads to Kingussie. That's a trek of about 58 kilometers with the major ascent and descent coming the first day with the climb and descent of the pass. Instead I decided to take a more relaxed approach and do the segment over two nights. This would make for hiking days about approximately 21, 12, and 18 kilometers respectively. This would yield wonderful benefits in the amount of time I was able to spend immersing myself in some of the more social aspects of the Challenge. /episode/index/show/1cfcd6e1576b23fcbae0edcacc549487/id/504360

#1: TGO Challenge Part 1: Dornie to Fort Augustus 09/16/2008

#1: TGO Challenge Part 1: Dornie to Fort Augustus Part 1 of my journey across Scotland. From Dornie I will travel 3 days across about 76 kilometers to reach Fort Augustus. My introduction to the Scottish Highlands would not start out as smoothly as one would hope for but as time went on things would fall into place and the adventure would really begin. /episode/index/show/1cfcd6e1576b23fcbae0edcacc549487/id/504361

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