Wandering Knight

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

NCT Solo Hike Part 2 08/31/2019

NCT Solo Hike Part 2 It has been 9 years since I did a solo backpacking trip. That trip was my second Great Outdoors Challenge crossing of Socttland from Mallaig to Stonehaven. While that was a solo trip I probably met people every day and hiked with them at least some of the time. This hike on the North Country Trail would not only be solo but I expected it would be solitary except at major campgrounds. In this two-part series I travel from Mackinaw City, Michigan to Petowskey, Michigan. In some ways it proves to be a great trip; in other ways not so much. In part 2 I travel from Richard’s property near Levering Road to Petoskey. I also spend some time in Petoskey proper, though I do leave a modest gap, adding a bit more to my totaly milage. All in all I probably hike another 28.5 trail miles along with a modest bit of going to and fro in Petoskey itself. In some ways this segment was less eventful than the first portion but it does have highs and lows and some just plain dull stretches. It is, in other words, prety much what one should expect from a trip: not what you expect. I hope you enjoy the conclusion to this backpacking trip through the section of trail (and a tiny bit of ). I think I am actually a bit off the NCT at this point. I went left and think the trail went right. My two-track sure looked like the proper option. I passed this small field of wildflowers as I neared Robinson Road where I popped out a bit west of the trail interesction. --August 17 2019 at 13:05:52. Harbor Springs, MI, United States Gazing out upon the river in Petowskey, Michigan (Bear River I suppose). The NCT follows bike paths and sidewalks through the heart of Petowskey. It is particularly nice in the Bear River Valley REcreation Area. --August 19 2019 at 14:19:26. Petoskey, MI, United States A bit north of mile marker 603.5 and not far from my end around marker 600. This might actually be a private path to the beach here at Little Traverse Bay but that seems like it should not be so. --August 19 2019 at 16:34:11. Petoskey, MI, United States The silo-like structure at the back right of this building is what really clued me in to the fact that this had to be Petowskey Brewing Company. I probably had the most dangerous bit of hiking right here crossing the road. --August 19 2019 at 18:20:09. Petoskey, MI, United States /episode/index/show/wanderingknight/id/11069339

NCT Summer Solo Backpacking Trip - Part 1 08/27/2019

A Visit to the Upper Peninsula - Tahquamenon Falls and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore 06/09/2019

A Visit to the Upper Peninsula - Tahquamenon Falls and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore I hope you enjoy this audio journal. You can find a video that provides a slightly different glimpse of the trip . Lower Tahquamenon Falls. Even though it is cloudy you will always be impressed when you come here. --May 23 2019 at 15:25. Paradise, MI, United States Tahquamenon Falls. The Upper Falls are shown pouring themselves over the drop. While bugs can sometimes drive you nuts at this state park (not today) it is definitely a place worth visiting. --May 23 2019 at 17:11. Newberry, MI, United States This is Clark’s first backpacking trip. We are a couple hours in to our first day having our first lunch on the trail at a spot we like. --May 24 2019 at 14:09. Munising, MI, United States Our first day on the Lakeshore Trail. Joni looks happy and ready to tackle the world. --May 24 2019 at 15:27. Munising, MI, United States I wish I could recall what this car looked like when I first saw it some 20 years ago. It’s been sitting here far longer than that. The place is an odd spot for an abandoned car as it isn’t really by any roads but maybe that is why it’s here. Photo by Andy --May 25 2019 at 18:00. Munising, MI, United States Pine Bluffs is about a half mile from Trappers Lake. We had to hustle to get here for the sunset but it was worth it. The photo doesn’t really capture the quality of the sunset colors though it does a better job with Lake Suerior which has grown rougher since the afternoon. --May 25 2019 at 21:37. Munising, MI, United States Lake Superior waves lap at the shore of this cove which is one of several. Andy is shown here and you can tell it must be a lovely day - he is down to his base layer. --May 26 2019 at 11:50. Munising, MI, United States It takes a bit of work to gett down (more to climb back up) to this cove but it sure is a pretty spot I am standing in. Phto by Clark --May 26 2019 at 11:56. Munising, MI, United States Grand Portal Arch. This year we walked through frequent mud spots that threatened to soak your feet. A prelude to what we would find the next day. --May 26 2019 at 17:07. Munising, MI, United States Not much of a castle anymore but still worth looking at even, or perhaps especially, on an overcast day such as this day. --May 27 2019 at 13:07. Munising, MI, United States /episode/index/show/wanderingknight/id/10104469

Great Lakes Hikes 2018 Gathering 11/13/2018

Great Lakes Hikes 2018 Gathering During the weekend before the 1999 firearms deer season would commence a group of people, all members of the old yahoo Groups GreatLakesHikes group, would arrive at the Birch Grove Schoolhouse for the first annual GLH Gathering. It is now 2018 and last weekend we held the 20th annual GLH/North Country Trail Gathering. While some people have gone (including sadly one death of fondly remembered Dick Bolton) others have joined the gathering. Just three people, myself, Paul, and Julie, have been able to attend all 20. This year’s event was just as enjoyable as previous ones have been. Good food and drink, enjoyable hiking, interesting weather, and always good company helped make this gathering just as good as the previous ones have been. Below you will find a handful of photos that give a sense of the event. You will also find the audio podcast I pulled together to document the event. Having two people working a bow saw makes the job of cutting go much more quickly. When you have two bow saws to use on trees, of which we had several, where two cuts were necessary was quite helpful too. --November 9, 2018 at 11:59 AM. Bitely, MI, United States I believe the creek Andy, Nancy, John, and Steve are corssing is Cole Creek. We are not too far from the start of the hike at M-20. Some people will do a shorter hike of somewhat over 3 miles stopping at 3 Mile Road. The rest of us (including me) will go a bit more than 8 miles to 6 Mile Road. --November 10, 2018 at 11:07 AM. White Cloud, MI, United States We found this horse and it improved Elwira’s and my moods. By this time we had learned that Steve was fine and waiting for us at 5 Mile Road with Jim, Linus and Eugene. Earlier Steve had bushwhacked around El and me and we did not know it. We were worried and spent time trying to track him down. --November 10, 2018 at 1:54 PM. White Cloud, MI, United States Just beyond 5 Mile Road. Steve took this photo of me. --November 10, 2018 at 2:50 PM. White Cloud, MI, United States Happy birthday Julie and Debi. --November 10, 2018 at 7:16 PM. , , Tent city at the Schoolhouse. You can see my tent, Andy and Elwira’s tent, the Haan home, and John’s tiny shelter. --November 11, 2018 at 10:48 AM. White Cloud, MI, United States Loda Lake. Those of us left after breakfast and Schoolhouse cleanup are doing a 3 mile hike around Loda Lake. --November 11, 2018 at 12:37 PM. White Cloud, MI, United States Steve has found an emergency shelter. No emgency presented itself during our break so when we left he got up and left with us. --November 11, 2018 at 1:47 PM. White Cloud, MI, United States #travel /episode/index/show/wanderingknight/id/7540535