Elk Rapids Almanac - June 2020
In these cautious pandemic times, lots of us are enjoying the great outdoors more than ever, with sales of bikes, fishing poles, and other out door equipment soaring. Some Elk Rapids locals shared their good times on bikes and hikes around the neighborhoods.
June 14-What fun we had in our local community! Five grandkids and two grandma’s started from home on Mitchell. Rode bikes along Ames, walked bikes on board walk, rode on sidewalk to end of Dam Beach, walked beach and picked up trash. Rode bikes to Harbor Pavilion and had a donut picnic, best donuts from the Bakery. Rode bikes thru the library grounds over the library bridge to Memorial Park, walked the beach, kids climbed tree, picked up more trash. Got on bikes again and rode to County Sculpture Park and looked for Petoskey stones, found lots of them. Discovered a dead deer right on the edge of shore. Walked the trails there and looked at all the sculptures. We enjoyed almost three hours of outdoor fun in our small Village. At sunset time we rode bikes again to the Pavilion and played games on the picnic table and watched a spectacular sunset! What a great day we had! _ Beth Guntzviller, family and friends.
June 16- Here is one of the best kept secrets in the universe: you don’t need to travel to Europe or anywhere else to find beauty. The hiking and biking around Elk Rapids is as good as it gets anywhere in the world. Pristine lakes, rolling hills, beautiful farm lands and amazing trails take you to another place at every turn in the road or trail.
Thanks to The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, TART trails, and Green ER, there is an abundance of rich scenery to enjoy at no cost. One of our favorite activities is to ride out North Bayshore, cross 31 (ever so carefully), ride through Kewadin, turn left at the tennis courts, head up to Winters Road, turn right and pedal to Maplehurst. There are two loops available which total a little more than 3 miles. Another extension is currently being cleared. Not only do you have the open fields and the quiet woods (with lots of cairns constructed along the path), you have an incredible beautiful lake to behold at the start and finish.
In this pandemic, we are so lucky in this area to be able to take “Nature Baths” in any number of lovely locations. Take the plunge – but don’t tell anyone. _ Rick and Bobbitt Bellingham
In these cautious pandemic times, lots of us are enjoying the great outdoors more than ever, with sales of bikes, fishing poles, and other out door equipment soaring. Some Elk Rapids locals shared their good times on bikes and hikes around the neighborhoods.
June 14-What fun we had in our local community! Five grandkids and two grandma’s started from home on Mitchell. Rode bikes along Ames, walked bikes on board walk, rode on sidewalk to end of Dam Beach, walked beach and picked up trash. Rode bikes to Harbor Pavilion and had a donut picnic, best donuts from the Bakery. Rode bikes thru the library grounds over the library bridge to Memorial Park, walked the beach, kids climbed tree, picked up more trash. Got on bikes again and rode to County Sculpture Park and looked for Petoskey stones, found lots of them. Discovered a dead deer right on the edge of shore. Walked the trails there and looked at all the sculptures. We enjoyed almost three hours of outdoor fun in our small Village. At sunset time we rode bikes again to the Pavilion and played games on the picnic table and watched a spectacular sunset! What a great day we had! _ Beth Guntzviller, family and friends.
June 16- Here is one of the best kept secrets in the universe: you don’t need to travel to Europe or anywhere else to find beauty. The hiking and biking around Elk Rapids is as good as it gets anywhere in the world. Pristine lakes, rolling hills, beautiful farm lands and amazing trails take you to another place at every turn in the road or trail.
Thanks to The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, TART trails, and Green ER, there is an abundance of rich scenery to enjoy at no cost. One of our favorite activities is to ride out North Bayshore, cross 31 (ever so carefully), ride through Kewadin, turn left at the tennis courts, head up to Winters Road, turn right and pedal to Maplehurst. There are two loops available which total a little more than 3 miles. Another extension is currently being cleared. Not only do you have the open fields and the quiet woods (with lots of cairns constructed along the path), you have an incredible beautiful lake to behold at the start and finish.
In this pandemic, we are so lucky in this area to be able to take “Nature Baths” in any number of lovely locations. Take the plunge – but don’t tell anyone. _ Rick and Bobbitt Bellingham
Enjoying Elk Rapids Art Park. Photo: Beth Guntzviller
Sunset at the Pavilion. Photo: Beth Guntzviller