Michiganners July

“Just wanted to put something out here to pick up the July discussion. Is anyone still interested in Mid July, say the 20-21. Something was mentioned a while back about canoeing? Any thoughts. Also, has anyone heard from Cindylu? Is she in AZ safely yet?”

“Yep, I'd be up fer it. I think that there were a couple of suggestions, but I can't remember what they all were. I just bought a 3 person raft for last weekends trip, so river, hiking, whatever, I a wanna go.”

“I've got a family thing that weekend, and I've missed it the last two years, so that's where I'll be.”

“I went back and looked at the old thread. le Subtil suggested Manistee or Au Sable, Buddha suggests some place in Ohio, I suggested Au Sable, Muskeegon, Rifle and White rivers. The Muskeegon is still running about normal, the White is down. We all saw how the Manistee was. My friend Chris has a cabin with ten acres right in the water shed area of the Au Sable. My suggestion:

I could talk to him and see if he would be into #1 Joining us and using his cabin for the first night, or #2 just use his cabin. We really wouldn't need his cabin, per se, just his land so we could pitch on it. In early April, we set up a neat little camp are on his land, complete with fire ring. It's got a nice little two track that leads into some land that could be hiked. I will see him tonight, so I'll put the bug in his ear. We have looked at this river route before and there is camping along the river in spots all the way to the Mio damn. It's also close enough that it might not be a bad trip for everyone, execpt our out of state friends.

I have a raft that could sqeeze me, cooler and gear into. birch and Sass, if they go, don't you have a canoe? My friend Chris would have his own raft. There is places to rent canoes at.

Whadda ya think??”

“I think it's all good. I don't have a canoe, but may be able to find one of a friend - might have to invite him to get it. Do you suggest packing gear any differently. I'm thinking the AuSable is pretty mild and a garbage bag around a duffle may do the trick. Maybe this should go back to the original thread and pick that one up so everyone recognizes it?”

“dhutch, I found a great deal at Harry's army surplus on dry bags by texsport. $14.99 for one 22dX30h. The garbage bag'll work but bring spares (1 perday maybe) or just put the bag on the inside of the duffel. You may want to consider using your backpack as there are usually portages on most of the rivers mentioned. Just put the dry bag inside of it and load it up as usual.”

“Reioutlet.com has the clear drybags on sale. < $14.99
I think.”

“Contractor type garbage bags will work too. I use one for a pack cover.

BTW - My friend said he didn't know and that he'll tak to me about it in a coupe of days.”

“Birch, Sass, le Subtil and I were talking about doing a 5 day trip on the au sable. That weekend would be perfect.

If you can't do the 5 days... The, once I make the reservations, I can give you the route and we can figure out how to meet up for the weekend. How does that sound?

Thursday 7/18 through Monday 7/22

I'm making my canoe reservation through Hinchman Acres. They'll shuttle private canoes if you own one... or they rent.”

“T'bull That sounds good. Can't decide whether to take an extra day or not (I know I can't take 5). Keep us posted and I'll make my arrangements. Looking forward to it already.”

“Tarabull - How much are the canoes to rent? On a trip that long, I might want to do the canoe.”

“Q, they rent kayaks too. Check out their website:hinchman's”

“BTW, note their alcohol policy.”

“Hey, Q, I think her comment was aimed at you! LOL”

“Noooo, everyone, lol. But especially Q! =)”

“Geez....... A guy gets a little sloppy, burns his fingers on a log and he's labled the town drunk...:)”

“if the shoe fits....





.... well it does, doesn't it??

j/k!”

“....That's it! Too drunk.....Leaving TT......”

“Thanks, Q, you took the heat off of me. A guy trips on a tent peg just once...”

“All joking aside, I'm thinking about maybe just hiking along the shore to shore and meeting up with you guys at some points. The rental fee might not go over too well with my accountant, seeing as it might turn that into a triple digit weekend. Let me know what the route is and maybe I'll just hike it, or meet you guys on the last part or something a raft it down.”

“anything to help out, le Subtil!”

“Hey Q are you talking about the "shore to shore trail"? If so, let me tell you about the report from one of my trail riding friends. She told me it's really deep sand in alot of areas, that many of the campgrounds have wells that are mechanical and require a generator to opperate (NO WATER FOR YOU!). Birch and I had planned on hiking it once. I'm not interested after all the great "horse" stories she told us.”

“Ya, Sass. I am/was thinking about that trail. Seeing as you guys would be able to get down the river faster than I could walk it, I was hoping that there would be an area that wouldn't be bad and we could link up at. I've heard some parts of that trail were pretty bad also. It's just an idea. Once the route is posted, I'll be able to get a better grip on what my plans will be. Either way, I will be up there at some point.”

“Q - now double dilemma, hike or canoe. Have some new lighter ideas I wanted to test hiking but I want to get more experience with a paddle. Also, one other option. I have no paddling partner, we could split cost on a canoe. Let me know if that helps. I'll keep my eyes on the thread.”

“I've made the reservations at Hinchman.. dropping us at Wakeley Bridge on 7/18 and picking us up at Five Channles Dam on 7/22.

Check out the website... www.hinchman.com... for mileage and pricing info. Also, call the guy, he was very helpful. His name is Craig.

If you think you're gonna canoe it, let me know and we can figure out a good place to meet.

Oh yeah, if it helps at all, the 5-Day rental w/ the shuttle to the drop point and the pick-up point is $124. If you went for less days... well, you figure it out!”

“alrighty, looks like I a little bit of a problem. My wife has reminded me that we need to turn in our Saturn sometime that weekend. We have been car shopping starting yesterday. If I can't get something on line, I will not be able to go all together, if I do, I can get up there for part of the weekend at the most.
dhutch - thank you very much for the offer, but I will not be able to do the whole trip. My situation is to unstable to be counted on.

question: Do you guys have an idea of where you'll be pulling off for camp on you journey?”

“I can't say we know exactly where we'll be camping along the way... But, I'm pretty sure we'll be floatin' by the livery sometime on Friday. Which would make it easy to hook up. If you think you'll be able to make it, send me and email and we can exchange phone #s. Might make it easier for planning.”

“cool, thanks. Hopefully things will start to straighten out in the next couple of days.”

“Would be nice to see ya Q and there's plenty of room in our boat for you if you want to go the lazy way.”

“thanks for the offer! we looked at a car today and going to have it checked out tomorrow or tuesday. i don't think that i'll make it to the damn by friday, but anything is possible. i just might be the hiker with his thumb out on the side of the river. some how, i'll play catch up!”

“Q, I sure hope you make it. What about you, dhutch? No posts since Wed. I hope you make it too. We're going to have FUN.”

“Guys,
Possible glitch in my weekend planning as well. Was just informed of a softball tournament for my daughter's team. Starts Friday through Sunday. There goes my weekend outdoor plans. I'll be sitting in the bleachers. Luckily I enjoy the games.
Catch up with you on the next one.”

“I've got something in the works as far as a trip plan. put an offer on a car tonight, should be able to get up there by Saturday.”

“Packed and ready to go. Onward AuSable-looza!”

“Packed and ready to go? I wish. I feel like I'm so behind. I have everything I need in a big pile on my couch. Gotta get to organizing it and packing it up. Didn't get the drybag I ordered (I'm one bitter woman) so I'll be trying to make do w/ what I have. (ls -you still bringing your spare one, just in case?).

See ya tonight.

Q - I called you last night... check your email. I left you my cell phone number. Call anytime today.”