The Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation (TART) Trail, Inc. provides 55 miles of biking trails in the Grand Traverse Bay area.
We pick up the trail less than two miles from the RV resort and it is a 7 mile bike ride to downtown Traverse City on mostly flat paved paths which are mostly away from traffic. We have yet to see a train pass on this railroad track. I've been waiting to hear "
choo choo", but no luck yet!
We have this Bay view for a mile or so along the trail. This is East Grand Traverse Bay, and the road is the main road for driving into Traverse City from the resort.
This is the only stretch we share with motorist.
This flower is in many places along the trail.
Over the head shot. One of three wooden bridges we cross on the way to town.
Just in front of the riders ahead of us, the trail veers to the right off the road.
The Bay is so big, and we love seeing the birds floating on the water. Currently, there are 6 swans making it their home or stopover.
We are entering the downtown Bay area. We are about two blocks north of the main shopping area and restaurants in downtown
This is the only climb we make on the entire Tart trail from Acme where to begin to downtown.
Traverse Bay is to the left and across this divided highway to the right is downtown.
The Marina.
One of the beach areas. The Tart trail is for non-motorized use--biking, walking, skating.
Beyond the East Bay, is the Mission Peninsula--a peninsula of rolling hills, with
vineyards, cherry and apple orchards. Mission Peninsula has West Grand Traverse Bay on one side of it, and East Grand Traverse Bay on the other.
A look at one of the jumping paths. Fence heights ranged from 4 to 5 feet in this Jumper Competition.
Once a horse and rider enters the ring, they have 45 seconds countdown until they must start jumping.
This horse has just begun the clock countdown as it prepares to start the circuit.
The horses look so beautiful as they prepared to and recovered their jumps. In this event getting cleanly over the jumps was the goal and not jumping for style.
Coming off a jump.
Moving toward the next jump. Time is also important so they speed up to get near the jump, but must slow down for a controlled jump.
Rider and horse must move as one. The horse must not hesitate or refuse.
Sizing up the next jump.
It seems that all the horse handlers are from Mexico.
Our seating in the VIP tent. There just weren't enough VIPs to fill all the seats so we just had to sit under the shade as faux VIP. 
The man in the pink shirt is an owner from Nashville, TN and was nice enough to narrate for us telling us how points are won or lost, timing, and all else we needed to figure out what was going on.
This is our narrators horse. The horse cleared all jumps on the first round in acceptable time. Unfortunately in the final round this horse knocked down one bar losing time and points. No win today for Nashville.
This horse has a beautiful gait.
Clearing the jump.
Heading towards its final jump.
Tennessee owner with his horse after it successfully completed its qualifying round.
Beautiful landscape of Northwest Michigan.
A view of the jumping ring.
Clearing a jump.
Preparing for next jump.
Flying high.
Focusing on next jump.
Announcing the next participant.
Clearing the jump and
preparing for the next jump.
One of the highest jumps at 5 feet.
Clearing the jump and
on to next jump.
A practice ring. The landscape surrounding this complex is quite beautiful.
Posting the winners of the Jumper Event.
Handler assisting rider after the qualifying round. This horse went on to win the event.
First place with 2nd and 3rd place horses in the background. This horse won the qualifying round and then the final round.
The Winner.
Mabel's famous diner is providing the food for the event and offering Moomers Ice Cream. Moomers just won the Best Regional Ice Cream award from Good Morning America. It really is good!
While we enjoy our ice cream, we have a wonderful surround view and a view of other show rings.
In the distance, a Spa Resort building rises. Our RV Park is mid-way between this deck and that building. It is behind the distant tree line.
On the way home from the horse show. We are only 2 miles for Traverse Bay RV Resort--an easy ride.
Nice warm bed. Oops, I just launched a few applications.
