The Olympics Have Me Thinking, Let the Thumb Games Begin!

Living in the Thumb has given me lots of opportunities to try new sports; it has been awesome to get outside and get some exercise while having lots of fun. My hubby, Rod, and I have spent many an early morning fishing off the docks at the Holloway Reservoir or standing on the banks of the Cass River. $20 at Walmart gets casual catch and releasers like us all you need to spend some time in the peace and quiet of dawn at the water’s edge. Just don’t forget your fishing license!


Fishing near Holloway Reservoir Dam

 

If you want to be on the water kayaking is a great way to work those arm muscles and see the world from a different perspective. Kayaking is splendid on the Holloway reservoir or on Lake Huron near Port Austin. Both areas have rentals or you can get an affordable boat at Meijer or Walmart when spring arrives.

Kayaking near Port Austin

 

 

We also love to go ice skating, it is actually very romantic! With tons of inland lakes and ponds, ice fishing and ice skating are big around here. Hoyt Park in Saginaw has a huge rink that sits in one the city’s beautiful old neighborhoods, it’s free and very cool. We were having so much fun ice skating that we actually put a  rink in our backyard. A little fire pit nearby and it is so awesome to just throw on the skates and head out; only steps from the backdoor. I have found it’s a great workout and lots more fun than hanging out in the basement walking on the treadmill. A rink in your yard is actually easier than you might think. Some families build their own with a wood frame and thick plastic lining. We actually bought a kit that has a PVC pipe frame and liner. Put her together, add water and you are on your way. They come in all sizes, ours is actually almost as large as a hockey rink.

Hoyt Park in Saginaw

 

Truly my favorite sport that I have embarked on since moving to Mayville is cycling. I go every morning from spring to fall.  I just love hoping on the bike and wandering the miles of back roads near my home. The scenery is beautiful with acres of woods and farmland. It is so peaceful early in the day when the only other souls out and about are the cows, deer, turkeys and all the other critters that roam at sunrise. I ride around 20 miles a day and it never gets boring when you can find a new route each and every day. One of my favorite parts of riding near my home is the Southern Lakes Trailway. The Southern Links Trailway is a 10.2 mile trail that connects the communities of Columbiaville, Otter Lake, and Millington. This non-motorized trailway is paved with asphalt and is great for hiking and biking with a separate path for those on horseback. It is a beautiful ride with scenic views of open fields and wetlands, wooded forests and farm lands.

 

 

 

 

Just a few ideas for sporting fun in the Thumb!