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Keith, that was a dusty trail, but very nice ride. Apologies for being so chatty that day!

For this specific video, I used the GoPro Hero 7. However, I use Gaia GPS that is a free app and website to log all of my tracks and plan my routes. When I experimented with telemetry data being placed on the screen, like the Craig Lake video series and the Michigan Inland Waterway series, I used the GPS data stored on the camera. But, I could have used the exported GPS files from Gaia GPS as long as they were time synced. Currently, I use the GoPro Hero 12 that does not have the GPS chip. But, GoPro has reconsidered with newer model releases and incorporated that chip and capability back in newer GoPro camera models. Both a GoPro camera (not a 12) and an Android or iOS device using Gai GPS or any other number of similar apps) will track GPS data w/o cellular signals. If you have any follow-up questions, just let me now! Thank you for the question and watching the video.

Also, I used a software tool called Telemetry Tools that you can locate at this website. It will extract the GPS data from videos or marry and independent GPS file with video nicely. Here is their website: goprotelemetryextractor.com/

I have not camped on the Au Sable yet, but plan to do so. We have paddled from Batterson Road Bridge to the Grayling City Park across M-72 from Ray's BBQ. When I spoke with some of the outfitter stores in the area, they did not recommend this section of the river. However, in mid-July, we found the paddle delightful! There was a little wading, but not much and there were no log jams. Also, we paddled the South Au Sable that emptied into the main Au Sable and exited at McMaster's Bridge. That is my extent of paddling the Au Sable. I'd like to paddle the Au Sable from where we left off at M-72 all the way to Lake Huron after I retire in 2026 or 2027. Both of the paddles on the Au Sable that I mentioned were captured on video in their entirety and are on the channel. Also, thank you for the feedback on the Pictured Rocks videos, the notes, etc. That is helpful to know in future videos.

@MyLifesReward we plan to start our paddle at Mio Dam and camp at Buttercup Campsite. Day 2, we'll continue down the river and get out just before Alcona Pond. Good luck on your future retirement and adventures. I look forward to more videos.

We are planning a ten day paddle of the Manistee River starting from Cameron Bridge near Fredric all the way to Lake Michigan and paddling Hodenpyle and Tippe Ponds as well as Lake Manistee and the canal. We will have to average 16 miles per day. That will be tough on the big water areas so we will have to do a few more miles on the river to help keep our average up. I looked at a Nova Craft canoe and I am thinking either the Prospector 14 Solo in TuffStuff or Blue Steel. That will be a retirement present to myself the year I retire. They don't give those canoes a way, pricey! A few years back, there was a lightly used Nova Craft Prospector 15 for sale on MarketPlace and I missed it by one call! That would have been a great Tandem canoe. I currently use Mad River and We-No-Nah. I don't like the We-No-Nah seat bracket, the Mad River has been awesome. Both are Royalex boats.

I purchased them off his website, awalkacrossmichigan.com. However, the link no longer works. Also, I see he had a website at www.willswartz.com/ that has been paused. Behind the block, you can see some of his products that are available privately directly from him. A photo of the cards is visible titled "Michigan Shore to Shore Trail Maps". But, since he has not maintained the subscription for this website, it does not help. I have had direct correspondence with Will Swartz at this email address: eldadio@gmail.com. Also, he sends out a periodic email with a reply to this email address: willswartz78@gmail.com. I hope this helps. If you ever want to talk about the trail or have questions, I am sure I can help fill in some of the blanks. Feel free to reach out via email at scott@mylifesreward.com. I would be happy to answer questions via email or we can speak directly. All the best on your planned walk. I have so many great memories of my 19 days on it (and some not so great when it came to having COVID the first two days and the ticks between Mio and Grayling).

@MyLifesReward thank you. I'm a novice. My first multi-day trip will be Pictured Rock from end to end, later this year. I found your video while researching for my trip. The STS trail is now on my bucket list. Maybe 2026. 🤞

Excellent. Be sure to go out on my channel and look at the Pictured Rocks Trail hike we did last year. That was 5 days, 4 nights backpacking from Grand Sable Visitor's Center to the Munising Visitor's Center. About 42 miles. Probably one of the best trails in the country. I'd be happy to answer any questions about this or the STS, just ask. Have a great 2025!

@MyLifesReward We're doing the same direction! Also, in 5 days and 4 nights. I will definitely check it out. Thank you.

I had a 23-24 pound pack. I did better than I thought I would. One of the spots is a bit tricky around a bay and swimming area where the trail goes along the edge using tree roots to step up the hill to the top.

Yes, I can answer questions and send information to help. My email is scott@mylifesreward.com. To make it easier, please consider sending your phone number to me and I can call to help with that information.

On July 28, 2023, from Chase Bridge to Smith Bridge, it was 10.3 miles, the paddling time was 2 hours and 36 minutes, our average speed was 3.1 mph, moving speed was 4.0 mph, and our max speed 5.1 mph. On July 29, 2023, from Smith Bridge to McMasters Bridge, it was 10.7 miles, the paddling time was 2 hours and 39 minutes, our average speed was 3.2 mph, moving speed was 4.0 mph, and our max speed 6.3 mph. Enjoy the paddle, the Chase Bridge to Smith Bridge was awesome. From Smith Bridge to McMasters Bridge, it was really good until we entered the main Au Sable. Too many people in the main portion of the river! Also, i was slower going in the main river. The South moved things along better. Happy paddling!

Thank you for the question. On September 1, 2023 when I did this section of the paddle, it took 4.5 hours of actual paddling/moving time to navigate the 13.7 miles from Dagget Road Bridge to the Croton Launch. With the breaks and a few log jams, total time was 5.5 hours.

You are welcome! Thank you for stopping by the channel and watching this video. Drummond Island is an experience unlike anything else in Michigan when it comes to SxS's, ATV's, or full size vehicles. It can sometimes make you check your shorts! :) Thank you for the kind words and happy riding in 2025!

The first day of the ride represented in this video was 36.4 miles. To help with this video and any past or future video, the animated map has an overlay that slides in during the animation. In that overlay shows the miles and lots of other information about the ride. Thank you for the question and watching this video.

So it is true, oh no!!!! Thank you for sharing the news about it. Also, thank you for your engagement with the DNR and trying to make a difference. Thank you for the well wishes. Wishing you a happy holiday season as well. I hope you have some great riding in 2025 and the years to come!

Agreed! Riding 37 miles on nice wide groomed trails is easy. But, you need your wits, awareness, and focus on the 50" trails to account for trees, stump gators, and oncoming traffic for sure! I am glad you tried the northern loop. It is one of my favorite loops to ride. Thank you for the comment and watching this video.

Most of the trails are for full size vehicles, SxS, and ATV's. There are lots of trails clearly marked for 50" or less. But the wider trails are attached to the 50" and more prominent. The 50" trails have lots of tight turns and many times rocky. The twists and obstacles make for some slow riding, but lots of fun. Wider SxS would have great difficulty passing through some of the 50" trails. Thank you for the question and watching this video.

If you can manage to get your boat up through the mouth of the river (shallow area), there is enough depth to run a motor a few miles up the river. When we paddled it on the last leg, there was a motorized boat with two gentlemen fishing. They did not seem to have any difficulties when we could see them. I am not aware of motor restrictions on this river. Further upstream, there are several log jams and lots of very shallow water. Thank you for the question and watching this video.

It was a stellar ride that day for sure! Thank you Keith!

Lucky you!!!! The Kalkaska trails are awesome! Thank you for watching.

It can be barrow in some parts. Most of it is generous, but I did rub in some sections where the trees were close together. Thank you for watching the video and taking the time to comment.

That is awesome you were able to do the North Loop! When we did that ride in the spring of this year, we had a great time on the bottom and east portion of the loop. It sounds like you were able to do those portions going counterclockwise. You can't go wrong on the North, Mid, or South Loops. Thank you for watching and visiting the channel.

Thank you for watching the video and taking the time to comment. It is very much appreciated!

Awesome comment Keith! The St. Helen ride was tons of fun with our largest group to date. It was a nice trail to experience. I'm anxious to get back riding again next year. In the meantime, I have some maintenance to do on my Polaris. Along with the fluid changes, it needs bearings, bushings, and brake pads. I have asked a few people without ATV's to ride next year and I want to make sure the Polaris is up to par and safe for them. Happy holidays to you and your family and here is looking to 2025!

@MyLifesReward Happy Holidays all as well. If Kyle makes it up to BR we should meet at CC for a pizza. Having a second ATV for guests is a goal for me also. Take care.

Crusted Creations, yes! Let's plan to do that in early 2025 sometime before his schedule fills up with wedding, house hunting, etc.! I'll talk with him for a few dates to see what might work and get back to you.

You are welcome! Riding this area sure is fun. Lots of sand, hills, and specialty challenges. Thank you for watching and commenting.

Thank you for watching the video and taking the time to comment. Yes, these are some of the best rides of the year to have. People do get busy with the hunting seasons approaching and with the cooler weather, we don't see a ton of traffic out on the trail during the Fall. Great time of the year to ride for sure!

Thank you for stopping by the channel and watching this video. Also, thank you for the kind words and encouragement!

I am so glad that you were able to fix your Canam! The next time I need to get at the fuse box, I am going to try to do it w/o removing the display! Not sure it will work, but I saw someone else on video just pop the housing off with display and all!

Thank you for helping with that question lingering for me for awhile. I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my question on the video. Very much appreciated!

Yes, this was an awesome day of riding! Thank you for the comment.

Welcome! Thank you for subscribing. To answer your question, yes, I have three videos on my channel related to the GPS system I am using. They are titled "Gaia GPS on a Web Browser", "Gaia GPS on an iPad", and one that shows how I trip plan using this GPS system, "Trip Planning Using Gaia GPS". These videos are from 2021 and 2022 and could use some updating since the Gaia GPS system has change slightly. But, it gives you what you would need to start using it. If you have any questions or would like some help, please just ask. Thank you!

Thank you for commenting. So far, I have enjoyed my time on both. Your confidence is reassuring, thank you! Enjoy your upcoming rides!

I hope to see you on the trail as well! Thank you for the compliment as it helps when I do these videos. Those locations are all great rides for sure!

It was a glorious paddle that we all enjoyed! Thank you for watching the video and your nice comment.

Gaia GPS and the best part, it is free! The paid for version adds additional map overlays and off-line map capabilities. It has never let me down since I have the paid for version, with off-line maps. No matter how remote I am on some of these rivers or ATV rides, I always know where I am with my phone. No cell signal needed since it uses the built in functions of GPS on iPhone or Android. I have tried AllTrails and OnX and I always come back to Gaia GPS. The main reason Gaia GPS works the best for me is for planning routes and being able to edit those routes. I trip plan on the web browser creating routes and waypoints and then sync my account with my iPhone and iPad. I use the iPhone or iPad to track my route and navigate when I am on the actual trip. When you return from the trip, resync the device with the SAAS Gaia GPS database and its available anywhere and on anything you use. It just works!

The data at the top of the app allow for distance, ascent/descent, average speed, current speed, max speed, moving speed, pace, moving time, stopped time, elevation, coordinates, accuracy, course, and sunrise/sunset. On an iPhone 13 pro in landscape, seven of these can be displayed though it tracks all of trip related metrics. On the same phone, in portrait, three can be displayed. My iPad can display many more at once due to the screen size difference.

@@MyLifesReward Thanks for the reply. This app looks epic! I am definitely going to get it. I am even ok paying for the paid app also. I am planning to thru paddle the manistee this summer, which is actually how I found this video. I thru paddled the Au sable last year. That video is under my other channel- Motive Adventures. Anyway, thanks again for the info. This looks like exactly what I'm looking for.

@@motivemachineworks6890 You are welcome. The AuSable and Manistee Rivers are hard to beat. You may want to consider adding the Muskegon on a future paddle. I paddled it from Houghton Lake to Muskegon. I started the paddle about 2-3 days too early before Memorial Day Weekend and as a result, had to portage or lift over about 30 or more blockages. But, once I past the M-115 bridge, it was clear sailing all of the way to Veteran's Park in between the dual lanes of M-120. A paddle to remember for sure. I plan to do it again after I retire in a few years. As for the Manistee, from Hodenpyle Dam to Red Bridge parallels the Manistee trail and makes for an epic paddle. The entire Manistee and AuSable are great rivers to paddle for sure. I am currently planning paddles of the Little Manistee River, the Chippewa River, the Boardman River, & the Black River in the lower P. All for 2025. The Boardman will be with a partner in a tandem canoe and the other three will be solo with my dog. If you want to see how I use Gaia GPS, I'd be happy to share the ones I have done so far. Enjoy the Manistee River, an absolute treasure other than man's messing of nature with the dams.

We purchased three day permits at the Wayne National Forest Headquarters & Welcome Center. The address is 13700 US-33, Nelsonville, OH 45764. The phone # is 740-753-0101. What was more useful then the map was the Gaia GPS website tool and app using the Gaia Topo and Trailforks MTB layers. Enjoy your ride next year. It is a fun place to adventure!

Thank you for sharing your story. I stayed at the Fox River Motel with my wife back in 2018ish. At that time, the owner, a Ferris State University graduate out of the Plastics/Elastomer program happily checked us into our room. We shared stories of Big Rapids and Ferris State. I'm not sure he is still the current owner, but our interaction with him made it feel like home. The U.P. is a magical place that is loved by many that visit it. Your adventure of a spur of the moment trip from such a long distance is telling and just amazing. Thanks again for posting and paying respects to the veterans of this great country. If you are a veteran, thank you so much for your service.

Thanks so much for the awesome feedback! We appreciate it!

This is awesome I live up my Gaylord Michigan & me & my girl friend just did this loop September 29th 20024 beautiful ride ,,, we did this ride with 2 Kodiak 700 ,,,

The colors must have been amazing! About this same time, I rode what I call the Kalkaska central loop solo. The colors were awesome! The elevation changes on the east side of that loop are intense! Thank you for posting to the channel.

@@MyLifesReward maybe one day we will see you on a trail ,,

@@LeonCope-p2w I hope to see you out there as well!

I love doing the ATV overlands! Pack a duffel and just ride and see some awesome things in Michigan. With my newer ATV, I need to get back to doing some overlands. My 2018 Polaris has about 5,000 miles and though it has been mostly reliable, I did not want to be left stranded hundreds of miles away.

Thank you! I have ridden with two subscribers now. One, four different places and the other, two different places. I am an introvert, but I must admit that I have enjoyed the common ground and the shared passion of these riders. Thank you for the awesome support!

Thank you for sharing your ride selection story. I turned 60 this year and it has been the most difficult birthday so far. 40 and 50 were much easier. I guess I am in my head too much about the whole thing. Hopefully two more years to retirement! Thank you and I will be on the lookout for you!

Thanks for the info. I've never been there. Gonna put it on the list for next year

Thank you for the recommendation. I have a few videos on this channel showing the complete Alcona Trail, both the East and West trails. There is another that shows the nearby Bull Gap Hill. I love that area and spent a lot of time there in my younger years at the family cabin in Curran. With the nearby Au Sable and the chance to see a Black Bear, it makes the area even more awesome! so, there is a video on the channel showing the Ambrose Trail loop as well. That was a great experience with the nearby lake and campground. I agree with your assessments, thank you!

You may want to make some time for the Bull Gap area as well. That is a great area to ride, too.

I sure would like to ride in the U.P. again. Other than Drummond, I did not make it anywhere else to the west. Let’s plan on it in 2025.

@ sounds great next year we will have to make a plan. 🤓

@@garykarnes6514 Sounds great, can't wait to visit the U.P.!

@@river_keith The trails sell themselves if you have the right ride. The ride we did earlier this week at Leota was awesome! Thanks for riding with me. I think that four great rides together now. I’m sure more when we can. Enjoy the family.

It sure is great to hear from you! Thank you for the feedback. Maybe in 2025 we can ride together. The last month, it seems I have been all over Michigan's lower riding Drummond, Frederic, Kalkaska, St. Helen, Leota, and north of Cadillac on the Missaukee Trail. The colors have been awesome, Pure Michigan baby!

@@MyLifesReward Heck Yea, that’s some great riding!

Thank you for the compliment on the boat and motor! Also, I appreciate the DIY recommendation. Your comments have always been so helpful and that is such a help to me. Thanks again!

Thank you for the heads up. I am destined for being left stranded unless I do a pre-emptive replacement is what I am hearing. This is the second recommendation for a Quantum pump. Thank you!

Wow, thank you for the heads up! Lots of good information here in the reply. I appreciate you sharing this information. There have been two comments on this video with both recommending the Quantum pump. Thank you for that, I appreciate the help.

@@MyLifesReward The quantum fuel pumps are definitely legit. If you only purchase the fuel pump itself and not the whole sending unit I believe it was $89 and they ship very fast.

@@weswallace3388 Thank you for this information. I appreciate it.

When it comes to service, unless someone is doing something over and above the transaction like waiting a table and bring things and taking dishes away or going above and beyond what is expected, I do not tip. Many places have changed their billing systems such as Subway and Qdoba and where we never tipped before, now there is a tip option. I believe this expectation was generated during the COVID timeline and now we are stuck with it. I likely have offended someone with this comment and if so, my apologies. I believe the wage should represent the work in these situations and income should not have to rely on tipping. For Farmer's Dog, the cost is already around $3K per year per dog. Isn't that already enough money from the consumer for the company that they can pay a fair wage to their employees?

@@MyLifesReward This is the delivery company giving the option to tip, not TFD. Maybe tip if delivering to a 3rd floor apartment. But I agree that TFD should not use a company that gives a tip option. Really off-putting.

@@debbiew263 Thank you for the clarity! Like UPS, USPS, and FedEx, a delivery company has a fee to deliver a package from point A to point B. That is the fee. So no tip. The USPS will deliver a letter to your next door neighbor for the cost of a stamp or Alaska for the same amount, no tip! Great dialogue, thank you so much for the conversation.

Love your UA-cam id! I am a Chevy Chase fan and love the Vacation and Fletch movies. Thank you for checking out the video and the nice feedback on the new ride! I appreciate it!

Thank you for stopping by the channel and watching this video. I am glad you enjoyed it and thank you for the feedback!

Thank you for the question. We use the Cardo Packtalk Bold. These radio systems are always being updated. When we purchased, the Bold was in play. That is no longer available, and models like the Edge are in play. They all talk with another fine. Any questions, please let me know.