Traverse Area Paddle Club

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Trip Reports

October 2 Manistee River: Baxter to Harvey

Published on 10/2/2011

So I got out of the car (everyone else had arrived before John and me) and I heard Marv say, "I have to get the ice off my cockpit cover". The sun was just peeking over the trees as we unloaded at Baxter Bridge, but there wasn't a cloud in the sky so the day warmed up nicely. Right before we put in, Marlene had a tough time getting her hatch cover on, since it was also encrusted with frost.

Everyone was well prepared, and fortunately, none of our emergency clothes or gear was ever utilized. Special thanks go to Jack, who shuttled our drivers back before we launched. Steve arrived with his harem of three women (Angie, Tracie and Jocelyn), though he was hauling only 3 boats. He was able to take Jack and his canoe back in the afternoon, and for that, we are grateful. Jocelyn paddled tandem with me, and she was awesome in the stern....and kept me in line in the bow. John used his Tampico so he could get more photo ops. Later in the day, Jocelyn and John switched boats.

We had the river pretty much to ourselves, with the exception of two young women from Kalamazoo, who were doing a camping overnight trip, covering the same stretch as we did in one day. We also heard the voices of a few folks up on the overlooks at the High Rollways. It was neat to view the river from water level, since the previous afternoon (when it was windy) we had been hiking on the North Country National Scenic Trail on the bluffs above the river.

We had had a lot of rain during the previous week, so the Manistee was moving fast! When we began, the mist on the surface of the water made the boats in front of us look like they were floating on a cloud - very cool! Lunch was a leisurely affair on a bluff of river right, and we also took a break an hour later at the Fire Lane "access". The trip ended up being shorter than we had anticipated, and we were all at the takeout at Harvey Bridge before 3:30. Not bad: a 6 hour trip, actually done in 5 1/2 hours, including breaks. No-one was particularly tired and we all agreed that the awesome fall colors were well worth the trip! Jocelyn summed it up when she said, "Why would we live anywhere else, when we can paddle in such gorgeous surroundings just 1/2 hour from home?" We all agreed!

Written by Lois

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