Day 10

Day 10

Leaving Grand Rapids this morning we had a less current than we hoped but no wind. Our first scheduled stop was to be Blackberry campsite 15 miles down river. Within a few miles the homes and docks lining the rivers edge slipped away and we found ourselves alone in the wilds. The river returned to long straight stretches and  widened to about 50 feet and a depth of 8 feet. The low sandy banks on the east side grew into a series of sand bluffs towering over the river below. The bluff walls were alive with small birds who burrowed into the bluff face to build nests. The birds were in a flurry of activity as they chased insects and returned to the nests to feed their waiting young. By midday we arrived at the first campsite. We had been warned about the poor conditions at this location. The camp lacked a proper landing but soon enough we were walking the over grown trail leading up the bluff to the campsite on top. The camp was very small and littered with trash. The outhouse was nearly over flowing, and mosquitoes and ticks attacked from all angles driving us back to our boats.  Safely back in the river we decided to make the boat ramp nearby our new lunch spot.

After lunch we headed towards Swimming Bear campsite doubtful it wold be much better than the last. As we worked our way down river, many small streams joined the river and the current began to work in our favor. We floated along, paddling more than not and maintained a speed of about 3.5 mph, faster than most people can walk steadily. This area of river had many bald eagles including a few juveniles who did not have the signature white head and tail feathers. The few geese we saw only had one or two young additionally we saw several ducklings minus a parent, the eagles were eating well. Swimming Bear campsite with a new sign was soon greeted us. Again the campsite lacked a proper landing and we were forced to exit the boats into calf deep mud and crawl up a very steep bank. The trail to camp was overgrown but someone had tried to weed eat the grass. I use the word “tried” loosely because we agreed a drunk toddler with a pair of safety scissors could have done better. The camp sat atop a bluff with a great view of the river below but...You could only fit 2 small tents and one would be almost in the fire pit, Joe suggested we head 5 more miles down river to the next boat ramp.

We were all very tired by this point and our best efforts at a speedy finish were sad at best. While drifting around a corner Joe came on doe with two spotted fawns drinking from the river. He was able to get a wonderful video I will try to share here. The last few miles brought us to County Line boat ramp were it was clearly posted no camping, tired and betting no one was braving the mosquitoes we made camp. Over dinner we checked our maps and discovered we had covered 35 miles today, a new best mileage day. We were enjoying camp talk so much I passed out hot coco packets to everyone and Joe produced a bottle of Irish cream liquor. We all agreed that it was a near perfect ending to the most enjoyable river day so far.

On a side note as I lay in my tent typing this the mosquitoes are buzzing around my tent by the millions. There is bat that is coming by every few minutes, sliding along the rain tarp gathering mosquitoes by the mouthful. Nature can be crazy, fun, unpredictable place.