Jackie (and Bella), Tracie, Allen, Anne, Marcy, John G., Lois, and John H joined our first trip down the AuSable this season. We met at Penrod’s in Grayling at 9:30 AM, ran the shuttle at 9:50, and were on the river by 10:30. To our surprise, the river didn’t have a lot of people. There were a few families in rental canoes, and a few fisherman between Burton’s Landing and Stephan Bridge, but they were never in our way. We had our lunch spot at Canoe Camp to ourselves. We saw lots of marsh marigolds in bloom, a couple of muskrats, and of course the usual ducks and geese. It was a very pleasant day on the river. We finished in plenty of time for a stop at Dawson & Stevens to fuel up on ice cream. (Bella had to wait in the car, poor thing!)