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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 an ATV ride on a portion of the East Alcona Trail, located between Michigan's Glennie & Curran on the northeast corner of the lower peninsula. The weather was pleasant.  This ride was with my sister Kelly, her husband Larry, my son Kyle, and my friend Fred who often paddles and backpacks with me. 

This video shows the second and final part of the ride from the trailhead driving west and eventually encountering some federal two track roads that were blocked by ice damaged tree falls. Our reason for being off trail for a portion of this ride was to look for Morel Mushrooms in some of our favorite locations. We were never able to get to those locations due to the road blockages.

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

00:00 - Start
00:12 - Title Page
00:17 - Map Animation
00:25 - Start of Ride & Intro
00:31 - Continuing on F-32 (Aspen Alley Road)
03:43 - Turning Left Onto Smith Road (4312)
06:38 - Continuing on F-32 (Aspen Alley Road)
09:18 - Small Road After Crossing M-65
11:49 - Turning Left onto Reaves Road
13:10 - Turning Left onto Tower Road
15:47 - Curran, MI
15:53 - Crossing M-65
15:59 - Driving on Baldwin Road
18:23 - Turning Left onto Wilson Road
23:43 - Curran, MI
24:50 - Crossing M-65
24:56 - Ann Arbor ORV Trailhead

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 a portion of the East Alcona Trail, located between Michigan's Glennie & Curran on the northeast corner of the lower peninsula. The weather was pleasant.  This ride was with my sister Kelly, her husband Larry, my son Kyle, and my friend Fred who often paddles and backpacks with me. 

This video shows the first part of the ride from the trailhead driving west and eventually encountering some federal two track roads that were blocked by ice damaged tree falls. Our reason for being off trail for a portion of this ride was to look for Morel Mushrooms in some of our favorite locations. We were never able to get to those locations due to the road blockages.

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

00:00 - Start
00:12 - Title Page
00:17 - Map Animation
00:25 - Start of Ride & Intro
00:27 - Ann Arbor ORV Trailhead
01:05 - Crossing M-65
03:30 - Crossing 4124
07:55 - Wild Turkey
25:54 - Crossing 4307
28:46 - Crossing 3967
32:55 - Two Deer on the Road
37:33 - Turning Right on Au Sable Road
44:00 - Changed to F-32 (Aspen Alley Road)
49:27 - Turning Left Onto Smith Road
51:17 - Marker 11

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 through the Evart Motorcycle Trail area, located northwest of Evart, MI. The weather was windy and chilly with no dust!  This ride was solo and I drove a 2022 Canam Outlander 650XT. 

This video shows the first half of the ride from the trailhead to the Snow Bowl area. Throughout the portion of the ride, the trails were nice and wide and the Fall colors were starting.

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 - Sugar Bowl Location
00:29 - Intro & Map Comparison of Motorcycle Trail vs My Ride
01:22 - Start of Ride
14:19 - Deer
16:26 - Top of the Loop for Me!
30:17 - Cedar Road on Right
37:11 - Closing the Loop for Me!
45:27 - 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 through the Evart Motorcycle Trail area, located northwest of Evart, MI. The weather was windy and chilly with no dust!  This ride was solo and I drove a 2022 Canam Outlander 650XT. 

This video shows the first half of the ride from the trailhead to the Snow Bowl area. Throughout the portion of the ride, the trails were nice and wide and the Fall colors were starting.

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 - Sugar Bowl Location
00:29 - Start of Ride & Intro
10:31 - Water View
35:02 - Turning Left Onto Cedar Road
35:12 - Alternative ORV Parking/Trailhead
39:48 - Turning Onto Sunrise Lake Road
46:25 - Deer Ahead
51:34 - Painted Rock
57:00 - Did We Locate the Sugar Bowl?

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 is to help anyone that is using a little bit older GoPro camera (like a 6, 7, or 8) to run a reliable external power source and record all day while keeping it waterproof. Couple that with a large microSD card like a 256 Gb or 512 Gb, and you have a combination that can stayed powered on all day long while recording in 4K! The video shows photos and references to Amazon if you want to build your own.

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

00:00 - Start of Video
00:19 - Title Page
00:24 - Narration

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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