June 18 Upper Pine
Lois Goldstein | Published on 6/18/2023
Our hearty group of eight included John and Lois, Jocelyn, Sara, Jack K, Wayne, Brad, and new member Richard R. Special thanks go to Wayne and Jack, who graciously offered to facilitate the shuttle between Briarpatch and Silver Creek Campground.
While the drivers were performing the shuttle, the remaining people decided it might save time if they launched, so that half of the group was already on the river by the time drivers got back.
One problem with that idea was that Jocelyn was paddling a green canoe, as were Sara, Jack, and Wayne. Jocelyn was sitting in her canoe just across from the launch area. Mischief, the 1-year-old black lab retriever, decided that she would rather ride with Jocelyn for the day. Mischief dove into the water, swam over to Jocelyn, and proceeded to climb into her canoe. We were all amazed that Jocelyn could manage to keep her canoe upright with a 60 pound lab leaning on one gunwale.
We are writing this trip report in the car going home, and Richard has some words to add.
As a new member of the club, I couldn't be more happy with the guidance, professionalism and camaraderie of people of like interest as myself and my wife Barbara. Unfortunately she was not able to make this trip, but will be taking many future trips with the club. It was also nice to ride along with John and Lois, since finding Briarpatch could have been a challenge. The weather was perfect, and it seems that summer has arrived. No bugs except a few pesky gnats at the put-in and the takeout at Mark Miltner's house.
And then there was our lunch break. Jack and Jocelyn had gone ahead, while Sara stayed back for photo ops, and then the rest of us were gathered together. When we got to our normal location for our lunch break, namely the Upper Skookum access, Jack and Jocelyn were nowhere to be found. Apparently they missed the front door, the back door, and the downstream Skookum access. When they saw the signs for NeBoShone, they figured out that they might need to stop at a sandbar to have lunch. The rest of us had a delightful time lounging at our normal lunch area. Several members were in awe of Brad's new collapsible stool.
The water level was fairly low, namely 200 CFS, and because of that, we were all glad that we had brought plastic boats. Sometimes it was impossible to avoid gravel bars during the first half of the trip. Fortunately, after lunch the depth increased, and it was a smooth glide all the way to the end.
Note from the trip leader: We have made it to summer! It was my first day in Michigan paddling in sandals, not boots!
Report by John, Richard and Lois
Photos by Sara, Jocelyn, Brad & Richard
The put-in
John starting to enter his kayak
Lois watches Jocelyn deal with Mischief
Where we parked our cars
Richard
Jocelyn
Wayne with Mischief
Jack
Jocelyn's trash haul
I think this is a bit too big for Jocelyn
Lunch
Emptying our kayaks
After a hard day of helping Wayne paddle, Mischief takes a well deserved rest
