July 22, 2010 - South Branch Of the Ausable River Cleanup
13 of us met at Chase Bridge today and were soon after shuttled to and from the Smith Bridge on M72 east of Grayling with the gracious assistance of Jason from Paddle Brave Canoe Livery in Roscommon. PBCL loaned us a nice Old Town 158 Discovery canoe that John and Lois were able to use as the garbage barge.
John H, Lois G, Beth F, John M, Maxi N, John C, Marv and Marlene P, Bob F, Cindy C, Tracie L, Jocelyn T, and Norm F were there to work and have some fun.
The trip started out slowly and we found very little trash for a few miles until we started to encounter more and more trash. so that by the time we arrived at the Castle, we had 5 full bags. The DNR had graciously agreed to pick up the trash from the Castle and Smith Bridge for us. All our trash at the Castle fit into one barrel but just barely.
We had lunch and took some pictures of what we had found and then Bob came walking up the trail with his full bag to add to ours. That's why his picture is separate. Bob had found a necklace made of little dice that he wore all day.
After the Castle lunch break, we continued down river and Mother Nature decided we needed to be cooled off a bit so she added some drizzle and a little breeze to the trip. Actually, it felt good. Some of us stopped at the Fishermen's Chapel to have a look.
A lot more trash was found and more rental canoes, too. Norm rescued some folks in a tandem kayak who had hit a rock, leaned upstream, dumped and lost one of their paddles. John found a pack of franks. Norm got a luggage cart up in a tree and a duck decoy filled with water. Maxi and Beth almost took a fisherman's beer he had left on the bank while he took a break in the woods.
By Smith Bridge, we were tired and ready to be done; we had found 6 more big bags of trash. The rain had increased a bit and some kids from a camp were standing under ponchos while waiting for their ride. They helped us manage the trash and took some pictures for us. We left the trash for the DNR to retrieve.
It was a fun day with lots of memories to take home with us.
Thanks to all that helped. The S. Br is a gorgeous stretch of river, probably the most gorgeous we paddle. No wonder Mason wanted it to stay that way and so do we.
After the trip, John M and Norm F went fishing to relax.
To see some pictures of the trip, click here:
Norm Fred