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Showing posts from January, 2021

Donald J. Lamoreaux Park, 4585 Coit Ave NE, Grand Rapids ~ January 2021

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The first time we tried to find this park, google led us astray so the next time we were in the area we tried again, found it, and returned another day. This was the last day the sun shone here 😏  We started out on this long path that lead towards the river, and we didn't hold out much hope for this person that lost a purse back in October. There are no maps or trail markers so when we came to the first fork in the road we hung right and saved the left for the next time. There are several small paths that diverge from the main trail and we took them all. No need to worry about getting lost because all routes end up back at the main path. There are a few creeks and then the mighty Grand River makes its appearance. There's warm water running under here and emptying into the Grand River. On our next visit we smelled sewage near the park entrance - ugh. After walking for about a mile along the river, the trail turns and starts looping back around towards the parking lot. But not b

P.J. Hoffmaster State Park, 6585 Lake Harbor Rd, Norton Shores

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1/14/21 Today's visit was our third to Hoffmaster and we took the Homestead Trail, which leads, naturally, to Lake Michigan. On any trail you take here, you'll come across signs like this, along with evidence of the signs being ignored. This just may be the prettiest trail in the park with a stand of pines, and beech trees hanging on to their leaves. We wound our way through the woods and ran into three other people the entire time. Then, the inevitable and anticipated last rise of the dune. We walked the beach, which due to the soft sand, was a bit of a slog. When we saw this mansion on the hill, we turned around and made our way back into the park and to the trail. The entire state park is well-marked with trails connecting with each other at various points. And there is beauty around every bend, regardless of the season. 12-31-20 New Year's Eve day brought us back here for a winter adventure, and an adventure it was. Since we did the dune climb overlook last time, we too