My photo walk of 24 August 2009

24 August 2009

85 minute brisk walk.

Today I went off to deposit a check in the bank and decided to get a bit of exercise, so I walked. I had a check for $225 for taking 2nd place in the top section of the Livingston Diversity Council chess tournament in Howell, on the front lawn of the Howell Carnegie Library. I hadn't played in an over the board tournament for many years (I play mostly correspondence chess) so it was a pleasant surprise to do well in this event, and the prize money was a real shock (I never considered winning a prize a real possibility). I took less than 8 minutes to reach the bank, so a round trip would be only 15 minutes of exercise (being up over a pound this morning I was feeling in need of more). I decided to head down to the local cemetery to check out its proper name for a previous walk page on this site. I never found an identifying sign, but I did discover that the Hayhoe Riverwalk ran right along the edge of the cemetery (Maple Grove Cemetery, it turns out). I walked north on the path, which continued far beyond the confines of the cemetery. I kept walking, expecting the path to exit onto the parallel Hagadorn Road, but with all its winding back and forth it never exited onto Hagadorn. Instead it went all the way to Howell Road.

I had determined to reach the end of the path, turn around, and document the return walk. It took over 20 minutes of brisk walking to get back to the cemetery, so I wound up with a rather lengthy walk. The following photos have few comments, but they were all taken along this 20+ minute walk between Howell Road and the cemetery, except for the first photo which documents the chess tournament director (on the left) presenting me with my 2nd place prize money. Also, there are a few photos of where I entered the cemetery from Jefferson Street/Hagadorn Road.

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The chess tournament director (on left) presents me (on right) with my check for $225 for finishing in 2nd place in the Livingston Diversity Council chess tournament in Howell, Michigan on August 22, 2009. Getting this check deposited in my bank account led to this walk. I hadn't meant to take more than a brief walk, even failing to change out of my delicate socks and into my athletic shoes. Fortunately, I still took my camera kit and water bottle. After reaching the far end of the Hayhoe Riverwalk at Howell Road I documented my return trip from this northern point back to the Maple Grove Cemetery

The last photo shows one of the many drainage pipes leading into the river.

The Hayhoe Riverwalk north of the Maple Grove Cemetery cuts through some wild looking territory, with the running water never far away. There are a lot of wild flowers and berries growing everywhere.

The path runs very close to private property, with houses visible from time to time.

There was a lot of evidence of previous standing water. There were also a number of drain pipes showing along the way, directing runoff water into the stream running along the path.

The Hayhoe Riverwalk cut across the water several times. Each time an attractive bridge was provided. I encountered a jogger once and a bicyclist on another occasion. This was a very pleasant area for exercising. This bridge led into the Maple Grove Cemetery. The last picture shows the Waste Water Treatment Plant for Mason.

More photos showing the bridge leading into the Maple Grove Cemetery and another view of the Mason Waste Water Treatment Plant somewhat visible from this vantage point.

At this point I've returned to the Maple Grove Cemetery, where I had originally started my walk on the Hayhoe Riverwalk. Shown are some of the signs marking the Riverwalk through the cemetery. The middle photo shows my path for entering the cemetery from North Jefferson Street.