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This trip was planned on the spur of the moment at lunch following the Cherry Festival clean-up of the Boardman river on Fri 7-8 by Linda and Tracie to guide a visiting couple on a local river appropriate for their skills.
After leaving a car at the US-131 take out we headed to Rainbow Jim's for a relaxing day on the Manistee river. Linda's out of town friends Deb and Darrin joined us with their tandem sit-on-top kayak. Per their request we floated for most of the trip, soaking up the sunshine and good conversation with a little instruction on technique thrown in for good measure. Deb and Darrin were apt pupils and put their new found skills to good use later in the journey when they encountered a log in a strong bit of current. They "kissed" the log thereby saving the swimming for the authorized breaks. A leisurely swim stop was taken next to a stream entering the river where the water was very cold and refreshing. A short walk exploring the stream yielded a nice calf massage as the current was fairly strong. The first two thirds of the river found only a few groups besides ourselves but we had more company later upon reaching the section of river where the tubes are launched. It was fun visiting with the "donut" riders as we paddled by each group. There was a surprised meeting with a motorized rubber boat heading upstream around a bend but the captain slowed right down and we got a few extra waves to play in as a result. While Deb and Darrin headed back to Honor, Linda and Tracie repaired to the Hideaway in Kingsley for an evening repast. The food was good as was the time on the river had by all.
Written by Tracie
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