19 October 2010 - Deer Lake, Boyne Falls, MI

On our trip to Michigan we stayed here for a week, at the Mountain Run at Boyne resort in Boyne Falls. The resort is popular for winter sports. About 3 miles from Boyne Falls is Deer Lake. A 10.5 mile run took me over the mountain, right round the lake and back again.






The run started off flat for the first mile and went passed the Grand Lodge. On the small lake opposite the Lodge there were some Mallards and many Canada Geese.










After passing the Lodge the route turned left along Mountain Pass Road and started the 1 mile or so climb.

Blue Jays, American Robins and Song Sparrows were seen.

From the top the final half a mile to the Lake is downhill and passes the golf course on the left-hand side.

There was a flock of Canada Geese on Deer Lake.

At the bottom of Mountain Pass Road, I turned right along Deer Lake Road to circle the lake anti-clockwise.

After about half a mile I turned left to go along the Northern edge of the Lake.

A mile along this stretch and then the road turned left again to go South down the E Jordan - Boyne City Road. Along this mile and a half stretch I saw a White-Breasted Nuthatch in a garden.

The road then turned left again onto the C48 Deer Lake Road.

From here it was a mile back to Mountain Pass Road. Along this stretch a Woodpecker was heard calling, but unfortunately not seen. There was also a roadkill skunk at the side of the road. Once I had run past it I could smell its strong musky odour.

Back at the Golf Course and ready to start the climb back up Mountain Pass Road.

At the chair lift the worst of the climb is over.






From here it's a nice downhill run back to the Lodge. Some Black-Capped Chickadees were seen in the trees.

Mountain Run at Boyne condos with the ski slope behind.

http://gb.mapometer.com/en/running/route_815748.html

11 October 2010 - Grand Rapids, MI

Our run of around 6 miles centred on Richmond Park in the NW suburbs of Grand Rapids. Setting out along Bristol Ave NW we turned into Richmond St NW passed the Washington Park Memorial Gardens then entered Richmond Park. House Sparrows and American Robins were seen along Richmond St. In Richmond Park we ran around the edge of the pond, which had many Mallards, Canada Geese and Ring-Billed Gulls.

We then turned onto Tamarack Ave and then right onto Sylvia St. This residential area became more industrial as we turned left onto Alpine Ave. Here we headed up to the railway line and turned left onto Parnell Ave just before the railway bridge. This road took us along beside the railway line into Walker township and back to Bristol Ave. More Robins were seen here as well as Mourning Doves and Blue Jays.

Turning left on Bristol Ave took us passed more industrial units then the West Catholic Central High School. As we crossed a small stream, just before the high school, a Great Blue Heron flew out. At the side of the road a bit further on was a roadkill Opossum.

Having completed the circuit we headed back down Richmond St again to the park where we headed into the woods at the edge of the park. This took us a steep hill and then back down again into the park. From here we headed home and saw a male Red Cardinal in a garden in Bristol St.