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A career indoors to finally live outdoors

Read more about the article ATV Riding the Kalkaska Middle Loop – Cameron Bridge Rd NE to Pickerel Lake

ATV Riding the Kalkaska Middle Loop – Cameron Bridge Rd NE to Pickerel Lake

  • Post author:Scott M. Thede
  • Post published:June 3, 2025
  • Post category:ATV

This video is a day of solo ATV riding on the Kalkaska Mid Loop via a starting point at Pickerel Lake. The fall colors were spectacular and the animals were…

Continue ReadingATV Riding the Kalkaska Middle Loop – Cameron Bridge Rd NE to Pickerel Lake
Read more about the article ATV Riding the Kalkaska Middle Loop – N Forest Trail Rd to Cameron Bridge Rd NE

ATV Riding the Kalkaska Middle Loop – N Forest Trail Rd to Cameron Bridge Rd NE

  • Post author:Scott M. Thede
  • Post published:June 2, 2025
  • Post category:ATV

This video is a day of solo ATV riding on the Kalkaska Mid Loop via a starting point at Pickerel Lake. The fall colors were spectacular and the animals were…

Continue ReadingATV Riding the Kalkaska Middle Loop – N Forest Trail Rd to Cameron Bridge Rd NE
Read more about the article ATV Riding the Kalkaska Middle Loop – Junction Near Blue Lake Rd NE to N Forest Trail Rd

ATV Riding the Kalkaska Middle Loop – Junction Near Blue Lake Rd NE to N Forest Trail Rd

  • Post author:Scott M. Thede
  • Post published:April 25, 2025
  • Post category:ATV

This video is a day of solo ATV riding on the Kalkaska Mid Loop via a starting point at Pickerel Lake. The fall colors were spectacular and the animals were…

Continue ReadingATV Riding the Kalkaska Middle Loop – Junction Near Blue Lake Rd NE to N Forest Trail Rd
Read more about the article ATV Riding the Kalkaska Middle Loop – Pickerel Lake to Junction Near Blue Lake Rd NE

ATV Riding the Kalkaska Middle Loop – Pickerel Lake to Junction Near Blue Lake Rd NE

  • Post author:Scott M. Thede
  • Post published:April 14, 2025
  • Post category:ATV

This video is a day of solo ATV riding on the Kalkaska Mid Loop via a starting point at Pickerel Lake. The fall colors were spectacular and the animals were…

Continue ReadingATV Riding the Kalkaska Middle Loop – Pickerel Lake to Junction Near Blue Lake Rd NE
Read more about the article Paddling the Pigeon River – Day 2

Paddling the Pigeon River – Day 2

  • Post author:Scott M. Thede
  • Post published:January 3, 2025
  • Post category:Boating/Multi-Day River Trip/Paddling/River

This video is paddling the Pigeon River from the Tin Bridge Road to M-68. This paddle is in the lower peninsula of Michigan. The river was clear, but low due…

Continue ReadingPaddling the Pigeon River – Day 2
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My Life's Reward

Paddling, ATV riding, backpacking, Jeeping, and some fishing along with other outdoor activities possibly accompanied by a Golden Retriever named Pixie and/or Irish Setter named Brynleigh. Follow the first part of the journey working towards retirement in 2026 and afterwards, spending even more time in the outdoors. Maybe we can even dabble into some remote property and a cabin build!

Good day, I am Scott Thede. I love spending time with friends and family in the outdoors. I also cherish the peace and solitude when doing activities solo that often includes my Golden Retriever, Pixie. It is time I cherish to reflect and reset.

As retirement approaches, I plan to have a cabin somewhere in northern Michigan. Join me and my pups in our adventures.

Please SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss any. Thanks for watching!

My Life's Reward
This video captures portions of a ride of the Manistee National Forest and surrounding areas. The Manistee National Forest is located in the Western Michigan Lower Peninsula. The weather was pleasant and the ride was with a YouTube subscriber named Gary. 

Below is a chapter listing that can help if you are looking for something specific.

00:00 - Start of Video
00:12 - Title Page
00:17 - Start of Ride & Intro
03:14 - Paintball Combat Zone!
03:49 - One of Many Beaver Ponds
08:58 - Eastern Hog-Nosed Snake
11:17 - Hungerford Lake
12:17 - Muskegon River
12:24 - 131 Bridge Public Launch
12:43 - US-131 Bridges Overhead
13:20 - Outro

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MyLifesReward
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MyLifesReward1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-thede-my-life-s-reward-82ba53232/
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/my-lifes-reward
This video captures the third of three days paddling the Boardman River that empties into Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City, MI USA. The Boardman River has clear and pristine water with many miles of it going through state forest areas. The weather was pleasant and the paddle was with my friend Jim as part of our annual paddling trips. 

This video shows day 3 of the paddle from Shumsky's Canoe Launch to the YMCA Canoe/Kayak Launch. This paddle was in July 2025.

Below is a chapter listing that can help if you are looking for something specific.

00:00 - Start of Video
00:12 - Title Page
00:16 - Animated Map
00:26 - Start of Paddle & Intro
00:28 - Shumsky's Canoe Launch
01:46 - 8x Speed
08:36 - Beitner Road Bridge & Canoe Launch
13:47 - Outro
13:58 - YMCA Canoe/Kayak Launch

Other social media presences to consider:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MyLifesReward
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MyLifesReward1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-thede-my-life-s-reward-82ba53232/
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/my-lifes-reward
This video captures the second of three days paddling the Boardman River that empties into Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City, MI USA. The Boardman River has clear and pristine water with many miles of it going through state forest areas. The weather was pleasant and the paddle was with my friend Jim as part of our annual paddling trips. 

This video shows day 2 of the paddle from the Sheck's Place State Forest Campground to Shumsky's Canoe Launch. This paddle was in July 2025.

Below is a chapter listing that can help if you are looking for something specific.

00:00 - Start of Video
00:12 - Title Page
00:16 - Animated Map
00:27 - Start of Video & Intro
00:36 - Sheck's Place State Forest Campground Launch
01:51 - Brown Bridge Road Bridge
02:08 - 8x Speed
10:45 - Part of the Brown Bridge Quiet Area
11:16 - Brown Bridge Road Bridge
12:01 - South Garfield Road Bridge
15:08 - East River Road Bridge
17:12 - East River Road Bridge
23:11 - Outro
24:01 - Shumsky's Canoe Launch

Other social media presences to consider:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MyLifesReward
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MyLifesReward1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-thede-my-life-s-reward-82ba53232/
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/my-lifes-reward
This video captures the first of three days paddling the Boardman River that empties into Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City, MI USA. The Boardman River has clear and pristine water with many miles of it going through state forest areas. The weather was pleasant and the paddle was with my friend Jim as part of our annual paddling trips. 

This video shows day 1 of the paddle from the Forks Canoe Launch back to our campground at Sheck's Place State Forest Campground. This paddle was in July 2025.

Below is a chapter listing that can help if you are looking for something specific.

00:00 - Start of Video
00:12 - Title Page
00:16 - Animated Map
00:24 - Start of Video & intro
00:44 - Forks Canoe Launch
02:05 - Forks State Forest Campground on Left
11:00 - Ranch Rudolph Bridge Crossing
11:42 - Ranch Rudolph on Right
12:32 - Brown Bridge Road Bridge
14:10 - Sheck's Place Trail Camp on Right
15:48 - Sheck's Place State Forest Campground Launch on Right
16:00 - Outro

Other social media presences to consider:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MyLifesReward
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MyLifesReward1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-thede-my-life-s-reward-82ba53232/
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/my-lifes-reward
This video captures an ATV ride on our Day 2 of the Black Lake area near Cheboygan, MI USA. Black Lake is in the northeast lower peninsula near the Mackinaw Bridge. The weather was pleasant.  This ride was with my son Kyle and my friend Keith. Jim, who was with us for the previous two days volunteered to help clear trails.

This video shows day 2 of the ride from our airbnb. This ride was in June 2025 that followed the massive ice storms in Michigan earlier in the year. As a result of the ice storms, many northern areas of Michigan's lower peninsula were devastated with tree falls. The trails did not fair any better. In the Black Lake area at this time, most of the 50" trails and routes were impacted severely by the storm and were mostly impassable.

Below is a chapter listing that can help if you are looking for something specific.

00:00 - Start of Video
00:12 - Title Page
00:17 - Map Animation
00:25 - Start of Ride & Intro
00:29 - Leaving the Airbnb
00:36 - Driving on 489
00:51 - Black Lake
01:53 - Bridge for Cold Creek & Rainy River
12:44 - Continuing on County Line
14:59 - Driving on Twin Lakes Road
15:36 - Back on Twin Lakes Road
18:34 - Outro
18:41 - Potential Tower Trail to Top
18:57 - A Snowmobile Track Cleat?

Other social media presences to consider:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MyLifesReward
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MyLifesReward1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-thede-my-life-s-reward-82ba53232/
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/my-lifes-reward
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