help_outline Skip to main content












Traverse Area Paddle Club

Remember: all TAPC outings are listed on our event calendar and are color coded using this scheme:

 

Small Inland Lakes   

Great Lakes   

Easy Rivers 

Intermediate Rivers  

Difficult Rivers 
Clean-up Trips 

Out-of-town Trips 

If you need help using the website you may call the Club Express

Help Desk at

(866) 457-2582

Monday - Friday,

8:30 AM - 7 PM Eastern Time

Trip Reports

April 24 Main AuSable

Published on 4/24/2019
The forecast for this coming weekend has the S-word in it, so we jumped on the one day that looked to be wonderful in terms of springtime weather.  It went over 60 degrees, and we had brilliant sunshine all day long!

John & I met Marv and Marlene at Shirley's in the Woods Café for a delightful lunch, and then we headed over to Penrod's in Grayling to meet Linda F.  Everything went smoothly, though John realized as we were unloading boats that his jacket was left at the restaurant (with his phone in the pocket).  They were closing shortly, so he planned to return the next morning for breakfast to retrieve the jacket and phone. 

That's how warm and sunny it was today - you didn't notice if you left a jacket behind!  Marv the shuttle guy helped us move drivers back to the beginning, and we were off!  The river was moving swiftly, the sun was out, there was just a hint of a tailwind, and a few fishermen weren't having much luck (but admitted that it was still gorgeous being outdoors).  One told us that the temperature of the water was 52, which surprised me - I thought it would be colder.

We moseyed along and took a break at Burton's Landing.  The river needs a bit of a cleanup, perhaps something to plan for the summer months.  It would be an easy river to take novices on, since it's not too deep, and many of the items are easily spotted.  I loved being in the tandem canoe again with John - we had spent a month paddling in Florida this spring, but in solo boats.  Canoeing in a tandem canoe is becoming a lost art, and I feel blessed that we learned how to do it together about 40 years ago.

We completed the trip in less than 3 hours.  Saw a lot of ducks and geese, but no turtles.