Kayaking the Pere Marquette River

Can you hear it? There is real music coming from our paddles as they dip deep into the water. I believe that the couple that kayaks together stays together. Mike and I dearly love our excursions into area rivers to do our thing. I favor kayaks over canoes as they are more fun and easier to refresh yourself being that much closer to the water.

The Pere Marquette River has more challenges than say the Pine River because there are more obstacles within that river.  Downed tree limbs or even trees themselves bring a whole new meaning to the word “awareness”.  Mike usually takes the lead and I follow where he goes and hopefully not into a downed tree.  Our usual kayaking distance is about 15 miles and a friend drops us off and then picks us up at the prearranged location.

Kayaking is a great way to spend a summer day regardless of the river you choose.  And while you’re at it, listen to the music of the paddles!

The Bear and The Slashed Fish

On a side trip to the Pere Marquette River just south of Branch, Michigan, the kids of the Marion Boys Club swiftly took off their shoes and socks to go wading in the swift and cold current of that river.  After a time, they began splashing each other and got their clothes quite wet.  Still laughing from their time of frolicking in the water, they dried off their feet and put their socks and shoes back on.

As we walked back toward the place where I had parked the car we ran into three freshly slashed fish which one of the boys from the club wanted to take back to Big Bass Lake with us.  I suggested that we all move on as quickly as possible.  Once back at the car the kids piled in and as we drove off back toward Big Bass Lake I told the boys that mot likely we had interrupted a bear’s snack and were most fortunate that it had heard all the noise the boys were making and moved off to a safe distance. 

It could have also been a raccoon whose meal we had interrupted but that was also no small deal as those critters can also pose a problem when riled.  Steve Jones put it best when h said that we were lucky that time and he was most right.  Yet even for an event that lasted less than a minute it was a most valuable lesson learned for the boys.  By the way, the way the fish were slashed looked to me more like the work of a bear over that of a raccoon so, yes, we were most fortunate that day.

Bare Feet and the Pere Marquette River

On a long hike in a forest on a very hot day, the boys of the Marion Boys Club were very tied. Add to that their feet were literally steaming in their tennis shoes.  So, “Oh, what a relief it is” is not confined t Alka Seltzer as the boys shed their tennis shoes and socks and began wading in the Pere Marquette River with a collective, “Ooh”!

Then, nature takes over and splash wars begin so much more than their feet get cooled off and before you know it they are fully immersed.  Thus the only dry clothing they can look forward to is their aired out tennis shoes.  Kevin Hansel and Andrew Freshwater began the splash war and before there was time for anyone else to react, all were getting wet.  Jay Davis was next and then Keith Hansel and Eddie Crouch.  The lone young man who didn’t want to get very wet, James Freshwater, had little choice.

Fortunately there were towels to pass along and by the time we left the area, all the boys clothes were air-dried enough to return to our property in my car.  It was just another fun day at the Pere Marquette River!

The Longest 30 Miles Ever!

On two separate trips to Lake County, Michigan, the Marion YMCA had undertaken both a canoe trip on the Pere Marquette River plus a camping trip to our property. And, on this particular day, the two were about to meet up when originally that was not supposed to be the case.

The canoe YMCA leader has greatly underestimated the complexity of the river system of the Pere Marquette.  Having put in at Baldwin, Michigan, they had set off for what they thought was to be a 30 mile jaunt to Lake Michigan.  They were soon to find out that the Pere Marquette had some obstacles and curves they were not expecting.  Sometimes to go just one straight mile on that river covers four actual miles with all the twists and turns such as the one you see in my photograph.  That is called getting nowhere NONE TO  FAST!

My group of kids were on an off property trip to the Branch area of the Pere Marquette River both wading, fishing, and even catching a gigantic turtle.  This was on the fourth, and final day, of the other YMCA canoe trip.  Their leader had thought they would be at Lake Michigan by that time.  So to both our mutual surprise, they wound up getting to the Branch area the same time we were there which is not even the halfway point to Lake Michigan.

They were amazed as to how little they had progressed over their four days as they were almost out of food.  They docked there and I went to a phone to call their livery service to come and pick them up at the Branch location.  The 30 miles they were counting on and misjudged was the cost of the cancellation of the remainder of their trip.  They had needed to return to Marion, Indiana, at the conclusion of their four-day journey.

Two hours later they were picked up by the livery service for a return trip o Baldwin and their vehicle.  However, my boys were only at the midpoint of their trip so as they waved good-bye to their friends, their trip continued on with even more fun for the rest of that day at the Pere Marquette River.

Canoeing the Pere Marquette

I know of some folks that believe that they can get from the Baldwin, Michigan, area to Lake Michigan in no time flat along the Pere Marquette River, that is, as the crow flies. But crows don’t paddle all the twists and turns of that river so to go that distance in just a few days is not a reality.  One man, in particular, only made it about half way in the time limit that he had alloted for himself, much to his displeasure.

I’ve never taken the Pere Marquette River in any sort of speed contest as that would ruin it for me.  This river was meant to be enjoyed and part of that pleasure is to camp along its banks and get in some good fishing.  If you’re in some sort of speed contest, you’ll miss all that this river offers you.  I even enjoy a brief swim in the cool waters of the Pere Marquette. 

This river was meant to be enjoyed to its fullest and each and every time that I dip my paddle in this river, I take my time to enjoy every minute.  What’s the rush?

Float Trips Down The Pere Marquette

I love canoeing the Pere Marquette River near Branch, Michigan. There are so many twists and turns in this river and it takes skill to snake your way down this river. The water is as cold and refreshing as Lake Michigan and swift as an eagle. Under most situations my paddle largely steers as the current takes me along quite nicely.

There are several places to camp along the river if you want to make a trip of several days. If you want to get away from everything this river is for you along, of course, with the Little Manistee River. I usually take a trip with my wife’s brother Thomas cause he’s an excellent cook and that means I don’t have to mess with any of that. We both love to fish so several times we put ashore and cast our lines into the river to catch that night’s supper.

I love swimming in the Pere Marquette but Thomas thinks its too cold. Our drinking water largely comes from the river along with a few water purification pills. If you’re in the greater Ludington/Scottville/Baldwin area take a trip down this marvelous river.