Trip Reports

July 12 Pere Marquette and Great Lakes music

On Friday, before the crowds, eight lively souls showed up for a Pere Marquette River run.  Planned by Lois, we began at Bowman Bridge and took out at Upper Branch Bridge.   Everyone was on "Lois" time, so our shuttle was completed nearly 15 minutes early.  Many thanks to Marv and Lois.

With temperatures in the seventies and low humidity, the shadows from the numerous trees kept all participants (Lois, John, Jocelyn, Tracie, Bob F., Jacqueline M., Marlene, & me) cool prior to lunch.   The river was running about normal, so there weren't too many gnarly situations.

After a quiet lunch at Sulak, we moved quickly through Rainbow Rapids, where boulders were found by a few.  Parts of the river began to show a different personality, and the sweepers and eddies became a bit more difficult.

After we successfully avoided a couple of difficult strainers, John and Lois reviewed and demonstrated an upriver and downriver ferry, in which a paddler moves their craft on a 45 degree angle upstream or downstream to move quickly across the river.  A few of us stayed back and practiced for a time.

At the take-out we realized that, but for a bit of sweat from the warming day, everyone had stayed dry and happy throughout the day.  Afterward, several paddlers went for dinner, then awaited the Lee Murdock concert, "Troubadour of the Great Lakes."  Summer in Northern Michigan doesn't get much better than this.

Trip report by Glenn
Photos by John, Glenn, & Jocelyn

Lois meets Andy for the first time.

Andy helps Bob paddle

Max watches the river go by.



















Tracie shows off the color of her new paddle



Crown Vetch and forget-me-nots by Jocelyn