The best part? Spending three hours in the evening and on the trail talking with friends about life, business, ministry, why we are doing what we do. Before leaving the trail we had a prayer over this event, the creation and the worship experience it was and the impact it will have for clean and safe water around the world.
The four cities I walked through truly reflect rural Michigan. They all came into existence about 1830-35 and were established on the Kalamazoo River. Water power was used for grist and flour mills, lumber mills, and other manufacturing needs. I walked through Ceresco that never survived as a municipality although it had a dam producing power plant for over 100 years. Each town has a fascinating history full of colorful characters. I ended this walk in Litchfield. In the middle of the town square is a historical marker to Rose Hartwick Thorpe who wrote The Curfew Must Not Ring Tonight. The memorial is all about remembering small town America.
During the logging boom of the mid to late 1800’s, timber taken from this area was transported to Manistee and Ludington on an extensive system of lakes and rivers. Lake County alone has over 200 lakes, hundreds of miles of rivers, and thousands of miles of pristine forest…and mental health. It is estimated the average distance a rural family in Africa has to walk to obtain their drinking and bathing water is one quarter of a mile and in the dry season sometimes as far as a good hour walking or 2-3 miles.
I recently came across an absolutely fascinating article. I have never felt healthier and more mentally stimulated than after reading this. So I hope you take two minutes to read it too.
Funny, how each hike somehow relates walking to access to clean and safe water both here and around the world. Will you join me next time on the trail?
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