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Traverse Area Paddle Club

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Trip Reports

Aug 5 - Sturgeon Totem Pole Mystery Discovered

Published on 8/7/2014

Sturgeon River Discovery

Most readers already know that the Sturgeon is one of the most delightful rivers around.  A part of a Sturgeon is the long drive up to Wolverine, but as Sara drove Jocelyn and myself, and entertained us with lively discussion; the commute almost seemed too short. 

 

At the put in Ellen, Jack, and Roxanne completed our team, engaging companions all.

 

Sara led us down it’s clear swift waters create long mild rapids and provided us with just enough challenge to keep one completely engaged.  It was a perfect day, wonderful people, weather, and water. For the club there has been a long-standing mystery about this river, one that has vexed us for years and was solved on Tuesday.

 

I refer, off course, to the amazing Totem Pole about half an hour from our usual take out.  It turns out that Roxanne Butler, a trip participant, owns the Totem Pole property. The pole was build by her husband Rick.  She was a delightful host and told us the story Rick is half Native American. He was inspired to build the Totem Pole after a trip to Alaska and patterned it after a piece of Native American artwork they brought back.  We hope to see Roxanne again on more trips.

 
Trip Report by Harold Lassers
 
 
Roxanne, Jocelyn & Harold by Sara Cockrell
River goddesses (Sara, Ellen & Jocelyn) & yellow flowers by Harold
Roxanne, queen of the totem pole by Harold
 
Queen of the totem pole & ladies in waiting, Jocelyn, Roxanne, Ellen & Sara by Harold
 
Court jesters of the totem pole, Harold & Jack, by Roxanne