Twelve club members, Lois, John, Lee, Tracie, Marlene, Marv, Barb, Mike, Kathy, Carol, Steve, and Jocelyn met to paddle an upper section of the Little Manistee River on a sunny warm late summer day. This section of the river is small (about 15 – 20 ft. wide) and shallow with exceptionally clear water. There are enough obstructions in the river that you can never just relax because you always have to plan your next move. However the river is so shallow you never are in any danger. If you get in trouble you just get out. If you dump, you just stand up and walk to the bank.
As soon as we launched at Indian Bridge, we were all amazed at the number of salmon in the shallows.
John led the way to a scenic lunch spot over-looking the river. As Tracie was making herself a
comfortable place to sit, she broke off a fern and drove a very long sliver into her thumb. Lois furnished the first aid kit, and Mike dug out the splinter with a tweezer. Not having a bullet to bite, Tracie screamed to relieve the pain. Check out the length of that sliver!
Leaving the lunch spot Carol decided she and her boat needed a bath. John emptied her kayak, as she changed clothes. As we paddled down the river, John gave Carol some lessons on back ferrying. By the end of the trip, Carol had mastered the maneuver. As usual, Jocelyn picked up an assortment of trash so we could say we left the river better than we found it.
Written by John, photos by John & Jocelyn