I really enjoy your channel. I used to live very near to the Kal Haven trail in Grand Junction. It was pretty awesome. I hear it's even better in winter with a snowmobile. Unfortunately I didn't have one, but there were actually business's that sprung up along the trail to serve the snowmobilers. I don't know if they still do this. The Kal-Haven Trail is connected to other trails in that part of Michigan and the immense infrastructure of it all is really impressive. I think its something like 6,500 miles of trails - snow mobile trails. I regret to inform; a town having a private phone company is not all that great. Almost everywhere is long distance even less than 5 miles away is considered long distance, and of course premium rates are applied. Bridgman, where I grew up, has its own phone company and to this day, it just sucks it's so expensive. Can you imagine back in the dial up internet days? It was price preventative to have it. Most of my family still live there. Last name Ott. Huge family, check out the phone book. About a 5th of the phone book are Ott's. I was watching a video yesterday about Seymour Duncan. He makes pickups for electric guitars. I think he is based out in California. His connection to the SW Michigan area was Hughes Plastics in St Joseph Michigan, who advised him on some of the plastic materials formulas that Seymour used to build those pickups. Seymour Duncan, has consequently been a high end product for decades now because of those formulas. How cool is that? I live in Huntsville, Alabama now, but I was avid outdoorsman in SW Michigan and I will always be interested in the history and geography of SW Michigan. Have you discovered the fault lines yet? Pretty cool. The fault lines are even visible in some places. There are 3, I think. And check out Grand Mere State park, and the cranberry bogs there. Very cool area. I prefer entering that park from the south side. Go Straight exiting off I-94 at exit 22 John Beers road, you'll drive right between two cranberry bogs to get into the park. Keep going left as far as you can, where there is a small parking area just steps from the dune trails. The last time I was there, there were no signs indicating it is the Grand Mere State Park. But the park is there, I can assure you. Or you can enter at the main entrance where there is a paved trail. Basically both of these entrances are at that Stevensville Exit 22, just south of the Donald C. Cook Nuclear Plant. There is one obscure entrance on the north side, but its hard to find and its a long walk to get to the good part of the park.
What you really needed, was an electric lawnchair! With swap points ala pony express, so you lawnchair for Kal2coast. :) I grew up in michican but never knew about most of the places in your videos.
My name is Mike and I lived on my family's peppermint farm for my entire life. I'm currently restoring the peppermint still and located just 10 miles south of the kal-haven trail, just south of Bangor Michigan. My great grandfather built our peppermint farm back in 1910.
My grandfather raised peppermint in the Mendon area. I’m from Lawton myself. Went to school with folks from Bangor and of course played football against them.
You both are great!. Thank you for doing these videos. As a 65 yr old Wolverine myself, I enjoy watching and learning about many things in your videos I didn't know about...
Some of the best soil on the planet there. 6:41 Usually started off as kettle lakes, remnants of ice age glaciers that melted in place. These started supporting vegetation, which, when dead, fell to the bottom and became muck. Then the lake filled up with the muck. Or rivers intersected the lakes water table and drained it away. I’ll think that will await much of Michigan’s many small lakes.
We got married in 1972 and lived along the railroad tracks west of Grand Junction. We had our first son in late 1973. I remember often the train coming through, blowing its whistle and waking him up. At that time, it seems like they only ran a couple days a week. I am guessing the trains stopped running in 1974. We now live in Bloomingdale and ride the trail with our e-bikes. It is lovely. Thank you for this video.
I grew up in Paw Paw and for a while we lived on the north shore of Lake Cora and we had a railroad track that ran right across our yard between the house and the lake. The train still ran back then (early 1970s) and I think, but don't know, that it may be the route for a wine country train tour today. I squashed quite a few pennies on that track before it got boring. Something you might want to check out.
If only YT existed years ago. I got my first decent sized sailboat in 1994 and docked it in Muskegon. And as I and my wife sailed the coast, I made videos about all the places we went. Not as history focused as yours, but with some history of all the towns as well as sort of a travelogue of good restaurants, bars, and lodging, etc. I did that for a bit over six years just for fun, but with the thought that maybe someday I could edit them together into some sort of documentary that maybe could play on public TV or something -WGVU maybe. When I discovered YT in 2010 I thought of those tapes, but in three moves and one divorce they got lost. You are living the dream buddy. My travels and investigations were limited by the fact that I had a more than full time job as an IT exec. But I did manage to stop at every port from Benton Harbor/St, Joseph to Traverse City. I had to sell my boat several years ago due to health issues or I would be doing some serious cruising today, and really taking time at each place to learn all about it and put it on YT. Thanks for what you do.
@@ronunderwood5771 Really? When I was a kid, the first color TV we had was a Heathkit that my dad built. A 25 inch TV mounted in a plywood cabinet that he built. Many years later, fresh out of college, that TV was in my brother and sister in law's living room.
The KalHaven Trail is a wonderful bike ride. It is very much shaded which is appreciated during the summer and we were able to periodically stop an pick blackberries that were growing wild along the trail. We finished up the day in South Haven, ate and slept and then cycled back to the car, packed up and headed to Grand Rapids. It's a great resource. We joined the trail in Gobels and I appreciate some of the history that we missed that day.
Since I retired, I've been trying to ride as many rail trails in Michigan as I can. The Kal-Haven was one of my favorites. I miss a lot of the history when I'm riding so I appreciate the videos you make to fill in what I miss.
Grew up around Alamo and made many trips through Mentha in the 60's to 70's as my grandparents lived in Kendall. I remember the wonderful smell of mint, the many houses and the huge carriage barn as we passed through Mentha. My grandfather owned the Clyde Leversee and Sons feed mill which is still standing in Kendall just south of the trail.
I lived in Kalamazoo for several years as a contractor for the Palisades Nuclear plant. I rode the Kal-Haven trail often, going end to end several times. You can go from Van Buren State Park to Kalamazoo almost completely on a trail. It's a beautiful, non-technical ride and a ton of fun. Make a stop at Latitude 42 a couple of miles down 10th Street for some great food and beverages (10th and West Main to be exact). I miss that trail.....thanks for the trip down memory lane.
I've been watching your videos for years and I can't believe THE Restless Viking and Poppins visited my hometown of Bloomingdale and rode right past my house in Berlamont! Glad you had a good time! To bad the Depot Museum is closed, you would have liked it.
I drove truck making deliveries through out Michigan starting in 1970’s and somewhere through the strong smell of peppermint. Fascinating to know the history.
Not sure why the UA-cam algorithm suggested this video but glad it did. I vacationed in a rental on 20th Street just east of the street the Kal-Haven outpost is on so one morning I drove my bicycle up to the outpost and rode into South Haven then back a couple of miles east of Kibbe. I enjoyed the reminder of the trip and all the historical markers I came across along the trail when I rode it.
I’m a native Michigander, transplanted to California’s Central Valley (my wife is originally from the Bay Area, looong story) and we’re planning on moving back to Michigan in the next few years. We’ve recently gotten into riding tadpole trikes but trails are scarce where we live, so seeing you guys riding the Kal-Haven trail really lit the fire in me to get this move progressing forward. I’m from Three Rivers, so I’m no stranger to either Kalamazoo or South Haven, and we’re looking to resettle in the Kalamazoo area so I am SO looking forward to laying down some miles on the Kal-Haven Trail!!! Thank you for this video, for showing what’s out there, and for telling the history of the Mitten State! Absolutely love this channel, keep up the good work!
We take our dachshund to a pet chiropractor in the Three Rivers/Constantine area on Youngs Prairie Rd. Love the area. It took a decade for me, but I was finally able to convince my Ohio/OSU husband to move to Michigan. That was 2014 and we are still here. So long as I don’t make him go near Ann Arbor LOL. Keep the faith!
You two are great. Thanks for giving some life to the old Kal-Haven Trail and for finding so many interesting stories about Michigan to tell. Much appreciated!
What memories. I'm now 78 and I rode the trail many times 15 years ago. It was just a bike trail. None of the history boards along the trail. I was conditioning for a ride in the Rockies so more see how fast I could make the round trip. But great memories. Always enjoyed the ride and number of vivid experiences along the trail. Good job bringing the trail back to life for me.
Nope, UA-cam will do another upgrade like they did in the past. If you didn't upgrade you lost your channel and everything on it. So all those that either past away or just wasn't uploading anymore lost everything.
If I wore a younger man’s clothes I would love to take such a journey as this one. Great content, I appreciate the in-depth information of my beloved Michigan.
We live 3 miles from Bloomingdale, on a piece of property that was an oil field at one time. Had a pole barn put in and the contractor dug up some oil sands left behind. Great show.
When I was a kid in the sixties my parents and us, me and my 4 sisters, got on an old steam train in Haslett. I climbed into the caboose. They let me sit in the top. We rode all the way to Cadillac had lunch, walked around a bit and came back. It was a blast.
From a fellow Michigander!!! Thx for the beautiful insight on all the wonderful adventures and experiences that our Great State of Michigan offers to everyone that wants to enjoy our :Winter/Water/Wonderland!!!!
So glad your video showed up on my you tube feed. As a native Michigander…Where have you been all my life? Boy did I miss out not finding you guys before this. 😭 Watched video last night and my husband Jeff and I are already planning this excursion lol. It is only an hour from where we live. Michigan continues to impress. We will be binge watching the rest of your videos to do a major catch-up. 😁 Thank you for all you do to bring Michigan to life…so cool! 🎉
Your vids just keep getting better and better. I lived half my life in MI and we’re working on moving back. You both keep us connected to the land we love. Thank you ❤
Lived for 73 years in Michigan, now I have lived ten years in Virginia, so anytime I can see a bit of home I try to catch up on UA-cam channels. Thanks for the ride for all who do these programs.
Down by the state line in Hillsdale county still lives an independent phone company The Waldron Telephone Co. Not many left anymore. Always enjoy your excursions Thanks for bringing it to all of us. I appreciate it as im disabled and it is had for me to travel. AGAIN THANKS 👍👍👍👍👍
Some neat history about the Kal-Haven Trail. I live about 5 miles south of the Grand Junction trailhead. I know the stairs going up to that small campground was a Boy Scout project. I am not sure if the campground was part of it as well, but if memory serves me correctly it was called either Eagle Point or Eagle Nest so it might have been part of the project. There is another near the Gobles area, but it might be overgrown since the DNR abandoned both campgrounds after they took over all management duties from Van Buren County. While the two campgrounds aren't officially mentioned in any literature anymore I know the Boy Scout project one still sees some occasional use. I know a few years ago I stumbled upon a blog post showing the two abandoned campgrounds were still being used, but I can't seem to find it now.
My wife and I live in Kalamazoo county. We've ridden the trail several times. Our best trip was almost 30 years ago when we rode it from 10th street where you put in to South Haven and spent the night at the Yelton Manor B&B. Rode back the next day.
Thanks for another great video. Your trip on the Kal-Haven trail brings back childhood memories. One of my best friends lived in Lakota. I spent time every summer at his house. There was a little more in Kibbie back in the 1960s. We used to ride our bikes over there from Lakota. He lived and worked in the South Haven area until he retired and moved north. It's been 8 years since I have seen him as he went north and I moved 1000 miles south.
Lived in Gobles for a couple of years. Kal-Haven trail went just south of my folks’ property (between Gobles and Bloomingdale). Thanks for the nostalgia!! ❤️
We actually did a video shoot for Old Sam, but never edited it. It was last summer I think. Great Story! Not familiar with Relentless Viking? AKA for Old Sam?
WOW! Thank you for the history lesson. I try to ride this trail at least once a year as a route to put training miles on my randonneuring legs. The information you gave me will always add interest to my rides there in the future. It is a nice route. Our network of rail trails in Michigan are a treasure chest. I have ridden many or most all across the state. My personal favorite is the portion of the Pere Marquette trail between Reed City and Clare. It is stunningly beautiful and peaceful. But, I am alarmed that I rarely see other riders on it. I am thinking: use it or lose it. If people aren't using it, maintenance and repairs may not happen in the future. Every time I ride a rail trail in Michigan, I thank Fred Meijer and the Meijer family for the donations that made so many miles possible for me to enjoy. Spearmint is my personal favorite. (I did once live north of St. Johns, but that has nothing to do with it. 😊)
Your welcome! I guess Spearmint has a lot less menthol than Peppermint. I just learned that Wintergreen isn't even a "mint", it is from the family "Gaultheria" (I don't even know what that is). So, I guess I would have to choose "spearmint" to stay in the mint family. Agreed on the trails in Michigan. I remember the abandonment of the GR&I line from Grand Rapids to Cadillac. When the planned turned to a rail trail, I was fascinated by it. It seemed like it took a long time from the early 90s. Now, we have many trails to chose from.
Wow. Thank you so much for that very educational video. As a frequent rider of the trail ( will be riding portions of it tomorrow) I learned so much. I love the new trail from Bloomingdale to south Haven. I hope they will continue the improvement to 10th Street. I ride a road bike and parts of the trail, particularly between Kendall and Bloomingdale are a bit tricky especially those nasty gopher holes that hit you unexpectedly. Thanks again!
Thanks again for another beautiful video! Living in West Michigan (GR) nearly 50 years and your videos point out areas I have yet to discover. Good on yez both for sharing the journeys.
Thanks for going on that rail trail and on trikes!!! no less. That was so great, thanks for showing the interesting history of the area. Australia is getting better at setting up rail trails aswell.
I miss all the buildings in Mentha. At least I was able to explore them before they were all torn down. It's getting harder to find abandoned places to explore nowadays.
I grew up in South Haven and played a tiny part in funding the Kal haven, both threw boy scouts and the appaloosa horse club. I still live in Covert a satellite community of South Haven
Love your channel, but have a story request for you. I saw your video on Ludington, but just found out that USAV (US Army Vessel) LT805 MG Winfield Scott was purchased by Interlake Maritime Services and is in 'Long Term Layup' in Ludington, moored just outboard of the Spartan. This ship has a fascinating history, and most people are unaware that the Army has more ships than the navy and more aircraft than the air force... I watched this class of ship report to Ft. Eustis, VA in the late eighties and early nineties, and to think they are already retired... BTW, in the Army, EVERYTHING is an acronym. Ft. EUSTIS, VA (Even Uncle Sam Thinks It Sucks = EUSTIS). I so wanted to purchase this vessel and turn it into a yacht.
That was a great video. Thank you very much for the information and the history. I learned a lot today, and I've lived in the Kalamazoo area issince 1975.
Your vids are excellent. My brother (from WI) rendezvoused with me (from Port Huron) to ride the trial in the late ‘80s. The trail has clearly been a project of ongoing improvement; my compliments to all involved (including, apparently, getting the horses off; I’m not against horses, it’s just that horses & bikes do not mix well on same trail).
This has been my favorite episode so far because I grew up in the area. Went to middle/high school in Bloomingdale. Went to church in South Haven and have faint memories of waiting for a train on Blue Star Hwy. I’m a little sad that Grand Junction didn’t make the cut. Bloomingdale’s was a class D school district except 1 year when the “House of David” cult camp in Lacota was shut down and absorbed into Bloomingdale Schools. Thank you for the wonderful trip through my childhood.
Nice video! You didn't mention Kendall or Gobles, formerly Gobleville nor Grand Junction. But I'm sure it's difficult to get everything in in reasonable time. I'm just south of Kendall. Anyhoo, well done. I did recently hear of the Out Post. Looks cool.... Be well
So much of what we have throughout the Midwest. Hemingway wrote of the railways in the Nick Adams short stories. All the former railways that snowmobiles travel on in upper Michigan. Plus where I live on NW Ohio which was once the great black swamp we still have some big ditches. When I lived in Illinois my friend and I would explore the rail to trails. There are a few things I could tell you about the railroads having help preserve an old rail station.
Love your content guys. I was just out on my own Lake Michigan coast adventure last weekend in Saugatuck, Holland, and Silver Lake Area. I told myself I should record my adventures and teach people history like Chuck and Poppins
There are so many wonderful rails to trails in Michigan. Thank you for taking us along on this wonderful adventure. I have never rode this trail but have done the one from concord to jackson, and that's a nice one. Can't wait for the next one. Tally-Ho
Hey if you're still in the area, check out south haven Michigan. Great maritime museum there that has about 6 different boats you can ride. Also next door is Captain Lous, great food right on the water looking at the draw bridge. There's also some train caboose that have been converted to a hotel room, it's a unique place to stay.
I grew up near the trail in Kendall, near Mentha. I rode my bmx bike all around the immediate area but didn’t trek down the trail itself. My grandfather was born on a dirt floor in farm labor housing on the Mentha plantation. His parents were both from Slovakia.
I really enjoy your channel.
I used to live very near to the Kal Haven trail in Grand Junction. It was pretty awesome. I hear it's even better in winter with a snowmobile. Unfortunately I didn't have one, but there were actually business's that sprung up along the trail to serve the snowmobilers. I don't know if they still do this. The Kal-Haven Trail is connected to other trails in that part of Michigan and the immense infrastructure of it all is really impressive. I think its something like 6,500 miles of trails - snow mobile trails.
I regret to inform; a town having a private phone company is not all that great. Almost everywhere is long distance even less than 5 miles away is considered long distance, and of course premium rates are applied. Bridgman, where I grew up, has its own phone company and to this day, it just sucks it's so expensive. Can you imagine back in the dial up internet days? It was price preventative to have it. Most of my family still live there. Last name Ott. Huge family, check out the phone book. About a 5th of the phone book are Ott's.
I was watching a video yesterday about Seymour Duncan. He makes pickups for electric guitars. I think he is based out in California. His connection to the SW Michigan area was Hughes Plastics in St Joseph Michigan, who advised him on some of the plastic materials formulas that Seymour used to build those pickups. Seymour Duncan, has consequently been a high end product for decades now because of those formulas. How cool is that?
I live in Huntsville, Alabama now, but I was avid outdoorsman in SW Michigan and I will always be interested in the history and geography of SW Michigan. Have you discovered the fault lines yet? Pretty cool. The fault lines are even visible in some places. There are 3, I think.
And check out Grand Mere State park, and the cranberry bogs there. Very cool area. I prefer entering that park from the south side. Go Straight exiting off I-94 at exit 22 John Beers road, you'll drive right between two cranberry bogs to get into the park. Keep going left as far as you can, where there is a small parking area just steps from the dune trails. The last time I was there, there were no signs indicating it is the Grand Mere State Park. But the park is there, I can assure you. Or you can enter at the main entrance where there is a paved trail. Basically both of these entrances are at that Stevensville Exit 22, just south of the Donald C. Cook Nuclear Plant. There is one obscure entrance on the north side, but its hard to find and its a long walk to get to the good part of the park.
What you really needed, was an electric lawnchair! With swap points ala pony express, so you lawnchair for Kal2coast. :)
I grew up in michican but never knew about most of the places in your videos.
😂
My grandfather rode this railroad a few times as a kid. He grew up in Kzoo and would go to South Haven for church picnics and other events.
My name is Mike and I lived on my family's peppermint farm for my entire life. I'm currently restoring the peppermint still and located just 10 miles south of the kal-haven trail, just south of Bangor Michigan. My great grandfather built our peppermint farm back in 1910.
My grandfather raised peppermint in the Mendon area. I’m from Lawton myself. Went to school with folks from Bangor and of course played football against them.
This must be the Matthys Farms! I knew Ron, great family!
You just added to my knowledge about my favorite state.
You both are great!. Thank you for doing these videos. As a 65 yr old Wolverine myself, I enjoy watching and learning about many things in your videos I didn't know about...
Wow you folks are rockin
Some of the best soil on the planet there. 6:41
Usually started off as kettle lakes, remnants of ice age glaciers that melted in place. These started supporting vegetation, which, when dead, fell to the bottom and became muck. Then the lake filled up with the muck. Or rivers intersected the lakes water table and drained it away. I’ll think that will await much of Michigan’s many small lakes.
It was a pleasure meeting you, Poppin, and your dad on 7/4. Michiganders are getting priceless gift with your videos. Thank you!
Hello Dan!! Thanks for saying "hello" on 7/4. It was great to meet you and your family!
Chuck and Poppins have done an incredible job of documenting their adventures all over Michigan and other Great Lakes States.
I love all the history you present about the places you travel along with the great videos. Howdy to you and Poppins from a Central Texas farm.
Thanks 👍
We got married in 1972 and lived along the railroad tracks west of Grand Junction. We had our first son in late 1973. I remember often the train coming through, blowing its whistle and waking him up. At that time, it seems like they only ran a couple days a week. I am guessing the trains stopped running in 1974. We now live in Bloomingdale and ride the trail with our e-bikes. It is lovely. Thank you for this video.
I love hearing about all these gems in Michigan! I currently live in a town Of less than 300 residents.. Fountain MI! Home of the pulling horse's!
I grew up in Paw Paw and for a while we lived on the north shore of Lake Cora and we had a railroad track that ran right across our yard between the house and the lake. The train still ran back then (early 1970s) and I think, but don't know, that it may be the route for a wine country train tour today. I squashed quite a few pennies on that track before it got boring. Something you might want to check out.
If only YT existed years ago. I got my first decent sized sailboat in 1994 and docked it in Muskegon. And as I and my wife sailed the coast, I made videos about all the places we went. Not as history focused as yours, but with some history of all the towns as well as sort of a travelogue of good restaurants, bars, and lodging, etc. I did that for a bit over six years just for fun, but with the thought that maybe someday I could edit them together into some sort of documentary that maybe could play on public TV or something -WGVU maybe. When I discovered YT in 2010 I thought of those tapes, but in three moves and one divorce they got lost. You are living the dream buddy. My travels and investigations were limited by the fact that I had a more than full time job as an IT exec. But I did manage to stop at every port from Benton Harbor/St, Joseph to Traverse City. I had to sell my boat several years ago due to health issues or I would be doing some serious cruising today, and really taking time at each place to learn all about it and put it on YT. Thanks for what you do.
Heathkits came from Benton Harbor IIRC.
@@ronunderwood5771
Really? When I was a kid, the first color TV we had was a Heathkit that my dad built. A 25 inch TV mounted in a plywood cabinet that he built. Many years later, fresh out of college, that TV was in my brother and sister in law's living room.
I absolutely love your videos. So much history of our great state of Michigan. Both of you are awesome 👍🏾. Safe travels.
Augustus Haven was my great great great grandfather!
The KalHaven Trail is a wonderful bike ride. It is very much shaded which is appreciated during the summer and we were able to periodically stop an pick blackberries that were growing wild along the trail. We finished up the day in South Haven, ate and slept and then cycled back to the car, packed up and headed to Grand Rapids. It's a great resource. We joined the trail in Gobels and I appreciate some of the history that we missed that day.
Just started watching your channel, very interesting and informative of the places you visit ,thank you
Since I retired, I've been trying to ride as many rail trails in Michigan as I can. The Kal-Haven was one of my favorites. I miss a lot of the history when I'm riding so I appreciate the videos you make to fill in what I miss.
Grew up around Alamo and made many trips through Mentha in the 60's to 70's as my grandparents lived in Kendall. I remember the wonderful smell of mint, the many houses and the huge carriage barn as we passed through Mentha. My grandfather owned the Clyde Leversee and Sons feed mill which is still standing in Kendall just south of the trail.
I lived in Kalamazoo for several years as a contractor for the Palisades Nuclear plant. I rode the Kal-Haven trail often, going end to end several times. You can go from Van Buren State Park to Kalamazoo almost completely on a trail. It's a beautiful, non-technical ride and a ton of fun. Make a stop at Latitude 42 a couple of miles down 10th Street for some great food and beverages (10th and West Main to be exact). I miss that trail.....thanks for the trip down memory lane.
I've been watching your videos for years and I can't believe THE Restless Viking and Poppins visited my hometown of Bloomingdale and rode right past my house in Berlamont! Glad you had a good time! To bad the Depot Museum is closed, you would have liked it.
Sorry we missed you!
Have you foraged for Paw Paws on the trail?
I drove truck making deliveries through out Michigan starting in 1970’s and somewhere through the strong smell of peppermint. Fascinating to know the history.
That would have been so cool to experience. You were lucky. 😁
St John's area used to grow mint
@@freetimeoffshore3157 I was thru there a lot and all of the lower P. Wherever, just remember several miles of the smell of mint.
Not sure why the UA-cam algorithm suggested this video but glad it did. I vacationed in a rental on 20th Street just east of the street the Kal-Haven outpost is on so one morning I drove my bicycle up to the outpost and rode into South Haven then back a couple of miles east of Kibbe. I enjoyed the reminder of the trip and all the historical markers I came across along the trail when I rode it.
I’m a native Michigander, transplanted to California’s Central Valley (my wife is originally from the Bay Area, looong story) and we’re planning on moving back to Michigan in the next few years. We’ve recently gotten into riding tadpole trikes but trails are scarce where we live, so seeing you guys riding the Kal-Haven trail really lit the fire in me to get this move progressing forward. I’m from Three Rivers, so I’m no stranger to either Kalamazoo or South Haven, and we’re looking to resettle in the Kalamazoo area so I am SO looking forward to laying down some miles on the Kal-Haven Trail!!! Thank you for this video, for showing what’s out there, and for telling the history of the Mitten State! Absolutely love this channel, keep up the good work!
Stay therejust stay in california
Come on home! 🏠
@@erinbierly😊
@@erinbierly😊
We take our dachshund to a pet chiropractor in the Three Rivers/Constantine area on Youngs Prairie Rd. Love the area. It took a decade for me, but I was finally able to convince my Ohio/OSU husband to move to Michigan. That was 2014 and we are still here. So long as I don’t make him go near Ann Arbor LOL. Keep the faith!
You two are great. Thanks for giving some life to the old Kal-Haven Trail and for finding so many interesting stories about Michigan to tell. Much appreciated!
What memories. I'm now 78 and I rode the trail many times 15 years ago. It was just a bike trail. None of the history boards along the trail. I was conditioning for a ride in the Rockies so more see how fast I could make the round trip. But great memories. Always enjoyed the ride and number of vivid experiences along the trail. Good job bringing the trail back to life for me.
Fantastic content. 100 years from now, historians will use these youtube videos to study what Michigan was like in the 2020's.
Wouldn't it be amazing to watch a video like this from a couple in the late 1800s!?! That is an interesting thought!
Nope, UA-cam will do another upgrade like they did in the past.
If you didn't upgrade you lost your channel and everything on it.
So all those that either past away or just wasn't uploading anymore lost everything.
😊@@RestlessViking
If I wore a younger man’s clothes I would love to take such a journey as this one. Great content, I appreciate the in-depth information of my beloved Michigan.
This was so well done. I have lived here since 1990, and did not know any of the history, much thanks to you.
Thanks!
We live 3 miles from Bloomingdale, on a piece of property that was an oil field at one time. Had a pole barn put in and the contractor dug up some oil sands left behind. Great show.
When I was a kid in the sixties my parents and us, me and my 4 sisters, got on an old steam train in Haslett.
I climbed into the caboose. They let me sit in the top. We rode all the way to Cadillac
had lunch, walked around a bit and came back. It was a blast.
Another awesome journey, we have cycled the trail from 131 to Gobles and back. Planning on a full trail some day! 👏👏👏
Its a great ride!
Ok, fine: I’m subscribing.
😂😀 We will do our best not to let you down!
That corn crib gathering place is actually to protect you from the giant mosquitoes!
Ah yes.
The summer bird of Michigan.
Love the channel. You are a regular Ken Burns documentarian on all things Michigan and beyond. You’re a great storyteller. 👍
Thanks! Ken Burns is a treasure, we're just curious and like to share. I do like to tell stories though.
From a fellow Michigander!!!
Thx for the beautiful insight on all the wonderful adventures and experiences that our Great State of Michigan offers to everyone that wants to enjoy our :Winter/Water/Wonderland!!!!
So glad your video showed up on my you tube feed. As a native Michigander…Where have you been all my life? Boy did I miss out not finding you guys before this. 😭 Watched video last night and my husband Jeff and I are already planning this excursion lol. It is only an hour from where we live. Michigan continues to impress. We will be binge watching the rest of your videos to do a major catch-up. 😁 Thank you for all you do to bring Michigan to life…so cool! 🎉
You've made our day! Thanks!
Your vids just keep getting better and better. I lived half my life in MI and we’re working on moving back. You both keep us connected to the land we love. Thank you ❤
Lived for 73 years in Michigan, now I have lived ten years in Virginia, so anytime I can see a bit of home I try to catch up on UA-cam channels. Thanks for the ride for all who do these programs.
Down by the state line in Hillsdale county still lives an independent phone company
The Waldron Telephone Co.
Not many left anymore.
Always enjoy your excursions
Thanks for bringing it to all of us. I appreciate it as im disabled and it is had for me to travel. AGAIN THANKS 👍👍👍👍👍
You're very welcome!
I grew up in South Haven, I work at Bloomingdale Communications, and I walk this trail often yet I learned new information from your video. Well done!
Some neat history about the Kal-Haven Trail. I live about 5 miles south of the Grand Junction trailhead. I know the stairs going up to that small campground was a Boy Scout project. I am not sure if the campground was part of it as well, but if memory serves me correctly it was called either Eagle Point or Eagle Nest so it might have been part of the project. There is another near the Gobles area, but it might be overgrown since the DNR abandoned both campgrounds after they took over all management duties from Van Buren County. While the two campgrounds aren't officially mentioned in any literature anymore I know the Boy Scout project one still sees some occasional use. I know a few years ago I stumbled upon a blog post showing the two abandoned campgrounds were still being used, but I can't seem to find it now.
My wife and I live in Kalamazoo county. We've ridden the trail several times. Our best trip was almost 30 years ago when we rode it from 10th street where you put in to South Haven and spent the night at the Yelton Manor B&B. Rode back the next day.
Thanks for another great video. Your trip on the Kal-Haven trail brings back childhood memories. One of my best friends lived in Lakota. I spent time every summer at his house. There was a little more in Kibbie back in the 1960s. We used to ride our bikes over there from Lakota. He lived and worked in the South Haven area until he retired and moved north. It's been 8 years since I have seen him as he went north and I moved 1000 miles south.
I vacation near this trail every year over the last 9 years. You did a wonderful job with this video!
Thank you very much!
Very nice never knew that was there. So glad you uncover Michigan's hidden treasures. Enjoyed the peaceful guitar chords. Thanks.
Thanks chuck and Martha wonderful job! Love you two’s way of sayin stuff, it has a way of sticking and i like that
Thanks for what your doing restless & Poppins, much appreciated !!!
Man I love your videos! I’ve lived most of my 69 years in Michigan but you two have shown me so many things about the state that I had no idea.
That is awesome! Thanks!
Thanks for a great video. I smiled for the entire thing. What a fun time for you and us viewers. Well done.
You are so kind
Ditto! ❤
Lived in Gobles for a couple of years. Kal-Haven trail went just south of my folks’ property (between Gobles and Bloomingdale). Thanks for the nostalgia!! ❤️
What a great trip. You guys make a great Duo and your videos are awesome too. Thanks , enjoyed !!!
Go to Coldwater Michigan. Look up the Relentless Viking. AKA old Sam. Buried in the old part of the cemetery.
Yes, Relentless Viking...Coldwater legend...A hero!
We actually did a video shoot for Old Sam, but never edited it. It was last summer I think. Great Story! Not familiar with Relentless Viking? AKA for Old Sam?
WOW! Thank you for the history lesson. I try to ride this trail at least once a year as a route to put training miles on my randonneuring legs. The information you gave me will always add interest to my rides there in the future. It is a nice route.
Our network of rail trails in Michigan are a treasure chest. I have ridden many or most all across the state.
My personal favorite is the portion of the Pere Marquette trail between Reed City and Clare. It is stunningly beautiful and peaceful. But, I am alarmed that I rarely see other riders on it. I am thinking: use it or lose it. If people aren't using it, maintenance and repairs may not happen in the future.
Every time I ride a rail trail in Michigan, I thank Fred Meijer and the Meijer family for the donations that made so many miles possible for me to enjoy.
Spearmint is my personal favorite. (I did once live north of St. Johns, but that has nothing to do with it. 😊)
Your welcome! I guess Spearmint has a lot less menthol than Peppermint. I just learned that Wintergreen isn't even a "mint", it is from the family "Gaultheria" (I don't even know what that is). So, I guess I would have to choose "spearmint" to stay in the mint family. Agreed on the trails in Michigan. I remember the abandonment of the GR&I line from Grand Rapids to Cadillac. When the planned turned to a rail trail, I was fascinated by it. It seemed like it took a long time from the early 90s. Now, we have many trails to chose from.
Wow. Thank you so much for that very educational video. As a frequent rider of the trail ( will be riding portions of it tomorrow) I learned so much. I love the new trail from Bloomingdale to south Haven. I hope they will continue the improvement to 10th Street. I ride a road bike and parts of the trail, particularly between Kendall and Bloomingdale are a bit tricky especially those nasty gopher holes that hit you unexpectedly. Thanks again!
You did a fantastic job on your coverage of Mentha for the time spent.
Thanks!
Well done video, thanks for showing what Michigan has hiding in historic places.
Thank you for taking us along on the RR journey.
Thanks again for another beautiful video!
Living in West Michigan (GR) nearly 50 years and your videos point out areas I have yet to discover. Good on yez both for sharing the journeys.
Thanks! We, also, have a lot to discover still!
So much interesting Michigan history! Thank you!
Thanks for going on that rail trail and on trikes!!! no less. That was so great, thanks for showing the interesting history of the area. Australia is getting better at setting up rail trails aswell.
Another great video by Restless Viking. Really enjoyed it. Thank You for all that you do.
Great video you two. Very informative, thanks.
Next timeI ride the Cal-Haven Trail, I will do it with a greater appreciation of its history.
Another awesome Journey, Thank you both
Very informative as always - I enjoy what you do.
Thank you.
Thanks for watching!
I learned something about Michigan history - thank you!
I miss all the buildings in Mentha. At least I was able to explore them before they were all torn down. It's getting harder to find abandoned places to explore nowadays.
I grew up in South Haven and played a tiny part in funding the Kal haven, both threw boy scouts and the appaloosa horse club. I still live in Covert a satellite community of South Haven
Love your channel, but have a story request for you. I saw your video on Ludington, but just found out that USAV (US Army Vessel) LT805 MG Winfield Scott was purchased by Interlake Maritime Services and is in 'Long Term Layup' in Ludington, moored just outboard of the Spartan. This ship has a fascinating history, and most people are unaware that the Army has more ships than the navy and more aircraft than the air force... I watched this class of ship report to Ft. Eustis, VA in the late eighties and early nineties, and to think they are already retired... BTW, in the Army, EVERYTHING is an acronym. Ft. EUSTIS, VA (Even Uncle Sam Thinks It Sucks = EUSTIS). I so wanted to purchase this vessel and turn it into a yacht.
We are currently working on getting some time with Interlake MS. We'll see what we can do.
That was a great video. Thank you very much for the information and the history. I learned a lot today, and I've lived in the Kalamazoo area issince 1975.
Your vids are excellent. My brother (from WI) rendezvoused with me (from Port Huron) to ride the trial in the late ‘80s. The trail has clearly been a project of ongoing improvement; my compliments to all involved (including, apparently, getting the horses off; I’m not against horses, it’s just that horses & bikes do not mix well on same trail).
A wonderful posting. Thank you for the great history of "our" trail. I've biked it a few times, but your trip and commentary is so helpful!
This has been my favorite episode so far because I grew up in the area. Went to middle/high school in Bloomingdale. Went to church in South Haven and have faint memories of waiting for a train on Blue Star Hwy.
I’m a little sad that Grand Junction didn’t make the cut. Bloomingdale’s was a class D school district except 1 year when the “House of David” cult camp in Lacota was shut down and absorbed into Bloomingdale Schools.
Thank you for the wonderful trip through my childhood.
I really enjoy all of your videos, but as a Michigan rail nerd this one has got all of the goods. Thank you!
Another interesting video, I grew up outside side of Kalamazoo. I didn’t know about the peppermint farm.
excellent video. Thank you for sharing! The Mentha history is an almost unknown portion of Michigan history.
I really enjoy your channel. I grew up in Michigan and have two history degrees from Michigan Universities. Keep up the good work.
Thanks! Keep in mind. . . I'm just a hobbyist, nothing near a historian! 😬
Nice video! You didn't mention Kendall or Gobles, formerly Gobleville nor Grand Junction. But I'm sure it's difficult to get everything in in reasonable time. I'm just south of Kendall. Anyhoo, well done. I did recently hear of the Out Post. Looks cool.... Be well
I've lived in Kalamazoo since 1977 and never knew the history of the trail. Very interesting!
All your videos are great--this was one of the greatest! Thank you!
So much of what we have throughout the Midwest. Hemingway wrote of the railways in the Nick Adams short stories. All the former railways that snowmobiles travel on in upper Michigan. Plus where I live on NW Ohio which was once the great black swamp we still have some big ditches. When I lived in Illinois my friend and I would explore the rail to trails. There are a few things I could tell you about the railroads having help preserve an old rail station.
Love your content guys. I was just out on my own Lake Michigan coast adventure last weekend in Saugatuck, Holland, and Silver Lake Area. I told myself I should record my adventures and teach people history like Chuck and Poppins
That is awesome! 😀
Been on the trail in Grand Junction. Great video again, you guys!!! We appreciate all that you do!!!
VERY VERY VERY WELL DONE! MOST DELIGHTFUL VIDEO EVER!
Another great show! Thank you, I had no idea that this existed.
Love it! THANK YOU
I believe the old Todd Farm barn from Mentha was possibly moved to the Gilmore Car Museum.
Interesting. I did not know that.
Love your adventures! A gal like Poppins is a rarity today! 👍
She has been always a rarity! I'm a very lucky guy and I still don't know what she sees in me!
Aww. Shucks. Thank you.
Great video! I've ridden on the trail a number of times and knew a lot of the history, but I learned even more!
There are so many wonderful rails to trails in Michigan. Thank you for taking us along on this wonderful adventure. I have never rode this trail but have done the one from concord to jackson, and that's a nice one. Can't wait for the next one. Tally-Ho
Thank you for a great video keep up the great work.
Thanks, will do!
Was the double-distilling process the inspiration for Wrigley's "double-mint" gum?
It was!
Hey if you're still in the area, check out south haven Michigan. Great maritime museum there that has about 6 different boats you can ride. Also next door is Captain Lous, great food right on the water looking at the draw bridge. There's also some train caboose that have been converted to a hotel room, it's a unique place to stay.
I work at the Museum on the Friends Goodwill! And we get our break food at Capt Lou's!
@@RestlessViking wow! I love that ship. The river boat and the chris craft are really great rides too. Also the new museum looks great 👍
@@EricAdventures. They have done an amazing job there! It is a terrific place!
Ok…adding South Haven to the bucket list. 😊
@@erinbierly 😃
Thanks for this video. I did not know this trail existed at all. I'll be riding it soon.
I biked this whole trail when I was at Western, definitely miss it.
Another enjoyable adventure!
Thank you, Remotorcycle guy!
I grew up near the trail in Kendall, near Mentha. I rode my bmx bike all around the immediate area but didn’t trek down the trail itself. My grandfather was born on a dirt floor in farm labor housing on the Mentha plantation. His parents were both from Slovakia.
You guy do what I've always wanted to do. Thanks
Thanks for watching!