I had a week left to complete my trails challenge and only one more park to cross off my list: Lake Erie Metropark. But driving nearly two hours to take a single photo seemed like a silly use of my time. So I asked if my dad would want to meet me at the boat launch with his kayaks. Fall temperatures was starting to chill the air and unpredictable weather can always stir up the lakes and rivers. But what could have been a dodgy journey near Humbug Marsh, around Sugar Island, and through Grosse Ile turned into a beautiful autumn morning.

Before shoving off for my morning tour, I had also been invited to see Justin Verlander pitch his last game and Michigan State take play their Big 10 home opener. Certainly fun ways to enjoy a weekend afternoon. And yet – I don’t think I could have spent Saturday any better than cruising around the water ways opening into our Great Lakes. And of course – I still checked off my final trail challenge.