East Coast Paddlers
Memorial Weekend 2012
Please join us again for a weekend of paddling, eating, fun and relaxation up here in beautiful Benzie County. Cathy and I hope you’ll come on up to enjoy the woods and lakes of our adopted area. If you can get up here on Friday May 25, you can join us for a paddle on Lake Dubonnet near Interlochen. Here’s what the visitor’s bureau has to say;
Absolute seclusion, undeveloped shoreline, thriving populations of pike, perch, bluegills and bass - Lake Dubonnet is a fisherman’s paradise. Kayakers seeking a quiet escape also can enjoy the solitude here.
A quick drive on U.S. 31 north from Beulah reveals what local anglers like to keep under wraps: a pristine 1,000-acre lake that has some of the best fishing around. To find Lake Dubonnet follow Wildwood Road deep into the trees until you pull up in front of Lake Dubonnet State Forest Campground. The lake is to your left, along with parking and a boat launch.
Stop paddling, breathe deeply and take a moment to savor the situation - yes, you pretty much have this lake to yourself. Once your canoe or kayak is floating serenely on the water, drink up the scenery made possible by Lake Dubonnet's almost entirely undeveloped shoreline.
As you drift about, notice the flooded timber, lily pads and thick clusters of weeds scattered throughout the lake - these are hot spots for fish. Northern pike, perch and muskie are a few of the species that call this lake home, as well as monster-sized hybrid bluegills in the early spring and an impressive population of largemouth bass. And don't forget to paddle past the lake's marshy, pine-dotted "wandering" island. Local lore claims it's the world's only floating island; while this may or may not be true, the drifting land mass is still worth a look-see.
A quick drive on U.S. 31 north from Beulah reveals what local anglers like to keep under wraps: a pristine 1,000-acre lake that has some of the best fishing around. To find Lake Dubonnet follow Wildwood Road deep into the trees until you pull up in front of Lake Dubonnet State Forest Campground. The lake is to your left, along with parking and a boat launch.
Stop paddling, breathe deeply and take a moment to savor the situation - yes, you pretty much have this lake to yourself. Once your canoe or kayak is floating serenely on the water, drink up the scenery made possible by Lake Dubonnet's almost entirely undeveloped shoreline.
As you drift about, notice the flooded timber, lily pads and thick clusters of weeds scattered throughout the lake - these are hot spots for fish. Northern pike, perch and muskie are a few of the species that call this lake home, as well as monster-sized hybrid bluegills in the early spring and an impressive population of largemouth bass. And don't forget to paddle past the lake's marshy, pine-dotted "wandering" island. Local lore claims it's the world's only floating island; while this may or may not be true, the drifting land mass is still worth a look-see.
Any boat that you have is appropriate for this paddle. We’ll be heading for the lake at 2:00 PM, so please join us. After the paddle we’ll enjoy dinner at The Tangled Antler, just down the road from our house. We plan on having a campfire each night. We have limited indoor sleeping bag space, but we have plenty of room for your tents, trailers and RV’s.
Depending on what looks like the best day weatherwise, we’ll head up to Old Mission Peninsula and paddle out to Power Island in Grand Traverse Bay. For this trip, you should have a boat at least 14’ long with watertight hatches. This is about a 7-8 mile round trip and we’ll have lunch on the island. There will also be time for you to do some island hiking if you wish. If you prefer a bike ride instead of paddling, Cathy will lead an 18 mile bike ride up to the lighthouse at the tip of Old Mission Peninsula. The peninsula has many orchards, vineyards and wineries and is a favorite route of riders up here. Either way, biking or paddling, bring a lunch. We’ll all start our day from the same location.
Here’s a short piece on Power Island from Traverse Magazine;
Seen from the northwest, Power Island and its tiny neighbor, Bassett Island, lie in the clear waters of West Grand Traverse Bay, beside the narrow Old Mission Peninsula. The islands are only nine miles north of the resort community of Traverse City.
A 204-acre preserve of forests, wetlands, bluffs and beaches on West Grand Traverse Bay in Michigan, its only human residents are the county park ranger and his family who stay in the summers to keep an eye on things. But for boaters and paddlers, it’s one of the most popular destinations on the bay – thanks to its sheltered location at the mouth of Bowers Harbor.
On summer weekends, in particular, the island’s tiny harbor is filled with kayakers who cluster in the shallows off its southern edge to enjoy the limpid Caribbean-clear waters and picnic on the tree-shaded beaches.
The interior of the island is a treat for hikers: miles of well-maintained trails lead through the dense beech-maple forest (home to fox, bobcats and a diverse population of songbirds) to a high ridge known as the Eagle’s Nest and along the wild western shore with its steep bluffs and rocky shoals.
To the north, there’s even another, smaller island: little 2-acre Bassett Island, which in low-water periods is linked to its larger neighbor by a causeway of sand, gravel and boulders. Here, the Grand Traverse County parks department maintains a small five-site rustic campground. It’s a strange experience to camp out on a “desert island” so close to the mainland that you can watch the lights of the homes and restaurants that line the opposite shore.
Bassett Island’s career was slightly different. For years it was known as Haunted Island because of a tale (probably apocryphal) that it was inhabited by the ghost of an Indian girl who had been marooned there for some breach of tribal etiquette. In the late 19th century it was purchased by a Civil War veteran named Dick Bassett, who built a small cabin, raised his own food, and was considered a mysterious hermit. In 1901 a steamship company bought the island and erected a two-story dance pavilion that was a major attraction for excursion boats until the early 1930s.
If the weather looks iffy, we’ll alter plans and paddle a section of the Manistee River from Hodenpyl Dam to Red Bridge. Most people think that this section is the most scenic part of the whole river. It features 150’ tall banks and wide sweeping turns. The distance is 12 miles, and the current is mostly swift. The river is wide enough so that any boat is good for this trip. Bring a lunch to enjoy.
On Monday, we’ll paddle a more intimate river, The Betsie. We’ll look over our maps and see which section we’d like to tackle this year. A shorter boat would be best for the twists and turns of the Upper Betsie.
All meals for the weekend are potluck and buffet style. Bring food to share. Cathy and I plan on making breakfast for Saturday AM, it could be pancakes again or maybe a surprise. The coffee pot is always on. We’re hoping that the young couple who made gourmet oatmeal for us the past few years will attend this year and treat us to another helping. Did I mention beef brisket?
If you have a spouse or friend who doesn’t paddle, there are plenty of other fun things to keep them busy. As in the past couple of years, we’ll rent a porta-john to help ease the septic tank load and we’d welcome a small monetary donation to help offset the cost. Please RSVP if you plan on coming up. If you have questions or need directions, email George at ggranlund622@gmail.com
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