This trip was a last minute posting by Kati & Tracie, concocted the night before so Kati could get in another paddle before starting her work week. We ran a reverse shuttle and were launched and paddling by 10:30 am. We were surprised to find the river was so quiet, no birds singing at all, then around a bend we spied an owl flying over a meadow and into the trees, maybe he had been hunting the area causing all the creatures to be silent. Shortly after the birds began to sing and we soon saw Cedar Waxwings darting over the river catching bugs. We stopped for a rest break at the saddle camp where we found that the Michigan Trail Riders Association were in residence for the start of their "Family Week" ride on the Shore to Shore Trail from Scheck's camp to Goose Creek camp near Grayling. We enjoyed seeing the horses and talking with their riders while stretching our legs on a walk through the camp. We moseyed on down the river, once again noting the changes occurring throughout the Brown Bridge Quiet area as the native vegetation continues to grow and fill in around the stumps. The big resident snapping turtle laid sunning itself on the bank and gave us no mind as we eddied out to admire its girth. We wondered if this was truly the same turtle or if there are several "cousins" inhabiting this section of the river. At Brown Bridge landing we beached river right and found a perch on top of some large boulders to eat our lunch and be entertained by other paddlers exiting their craft at the platform on river right. The show really began when a man brought his German Shorthaired Pointer puppy to the river. He began by throwing a retrieving float, the dog looked at him and watched the float.....well....float off down the river. The guy had to chase it down himself while the puppy looked on as if to say, "I'm an upland game dog dude, not a retriever, let's go find some grouse or partridge." But with a little encouragement from his master the pup was soon swimming the river after subsequent throws of the float. He still needs practice on his "bring to hand and hold" but at least was getting the idea. After immensely enjoying our lunch time entertainment, on we went, through the tubes, under the bridges, by the huge American flag, under some more bridges, around a few bends, under the weeping willow branches to arrive at the Shumsky take out around 3:45pm. There we found both the parking lot and port-a-potty clean even though the place was hoppin' with late afternoon kayakers and tubers. Another nice full day on the beautiful Boardman in the books!
Written by Tracie
Photos by Kati