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Afternoon Main AuSable River
Our trip on the AuSable will begin in Grayling and end at Stephan Bridge. The river distance is 13 miles and the paddling time should be about 3.5 hours. It's a perfect Northern Michigan river to explore, and should be a fun experience for canoeists and kayakers of all abilities. Since the area is so far inland from the Great Lakes, we should get some nice fall colors.
The Main AuSable is a wonderful place to practice your maneuvering skills. In the summertime, the AuSable is filled with rental canoes, but in late September, we probably won't see many other paddlers. We may meet some people fishing along the way, but otherwise, it should be a peaceful float, with good opportunities for wildlife sightings.
We will begin by meeting for brunch at 11 AM at Shirley's in the Woods Café, on M-72 between Kalkaska and Grayling. See address below.
Then we'll head over to Penrod's, drop off our boats and gear, and run the shuttle. See http://www.penrodscanoe.com/ for driving directions.
Each participant should have a waterproof bag with a complete change of clothing. Make sure you have appropriate footwear in case you need to step into the water when entering your boat. Don't forget to have a set of car clothes in case you want to change after the trip is over.
Address for Shirley's in the Woods Café (it's on M-72 about ten miles east of Kalkaska, on the north side of the highway): 10945 W Bear Lake Rd SE, Kalkaska, MI 49646