Last Swim in the MetroParks

Today was the last of our swimming in the MetroParks. It has been a beautiful trip in each of them. From Kensington to Oakwoods, we swam through Huron Meadows, Hudson Mills, Dexter Huron, Delhi, Lower Huron and Willow. They are treasures of the River.

Our crew today included Mike George of the MetroParks administration, who is also a first rate paddler. He and Larry, a friend of his who is also an experienced paddler took good care of me on the river. I think someone even took a photo of me slurping the last of my Gatorade which was one of Larry's job to make sure I got all my morning carbs.

We also had Donna S., Inger, Eric, and a photographer, Kohl, from The Monroe Evening News, the daily newspaper of Monroe, Michigan. Look at their website for the story tomorrow afternoon!

We aborted the swim about a mile from our destination at Rockwood due to thunderstorms and finished at the nature center at Oakwoods MetroPark. If ever you are in the area, you should see this beautiful and well done center. We saw some kids from a camp in Gibraltar having a ride in the magnificent replica of a Voyageur canoe. Mike promised that we could have a ride sometime after the swim. I'll keep him to it, too!

Just two more days till we are done. It has gone by fast and given me some important life lessons. I'll tell you what those are on the last blog! I promise!!!

In the meantime, think about coming to Zukey Lake Tavern on Monday, July 23, the Liz Swam event that will celebrate everyone's hard work and great adventure!

Swimming along the MetroParks

While swimming is forbidden at all the Huron-Clinton MetroParks, the Watershed Council did get permission for me to swim the river as it flows through the parks. Today we covered nearly 10 miles traveling from the Lower Huron MetroPark to Willow MetroPark.

The water was low, as it is all along the river during this drought, but still we found deep-enough water that allowed me to swim about 5 miles. The rest of the time I was in the water on my flotation device, kicking like crazy and enjoying a lovely fresh and strong current. I always expected to be "going with the flow" in the river's current, but in fact we have had very little of that kind of experience. Until today! It was great fun and I had time to do some river botany along the way. We saw butternut trees laden with their oblong fruit, some button bush groves, bladder nut trees, Paw Paw trees and Joe Pye Weed to name just a few. The two main birds sighted very often were the Great Blue Heron and Kingfisher. There was at least one sighting of a cedar waxwing sporting its summer colors.

This section of the swim reminded me of the 2001 swim in Lake Michigan. We moved right along but had time to have two rest stops with great food donated by Whole Foods. We sat on sand banks that have surfaced since the water is so low and in one place even provided us some downed trees on which to sit.

The crew included Inger, Donna, Ron, and Michael.

As we clambored out of the river in Willow Park, we couldn't help but wish that the MetroPark would install some permanent, safe canoe/kayak access to the river. Currently all the access spots are random and created as catch can. This is a beautiful river and deserves to be accessible to small non-motorized watercraft.

Hydro Park to French Landing

I considered wearing kayaking clothes. It had rained during the night and there were thunderstorm warnings for the area. But the optimist won out. I pulled on my swimming gear and waited for Inger. Right on time, we headed for Hydro Park. The rest of the crew were already there when we arrived. Nels and his red canoe, Carole, Bob, and the ever present, Jen Wolf of the HRWC. While cars where shuttled to the take out, Carole got the Liz Swim flags on the kayaks (with a bit of help from me...). We talked to some folks who came out to see us off.

Right on time, we all pushed off into the water and were on our way to Belleville Lake.

Around 11 am we reached the UM rowing club where we were to meet some children who were participating in a Van Buren Township summer camp. We also were met by the Channel 4 NBC crew. You may have seen Roger Weber's report on the 5 o'clock news show.

After playing questions and answers with the children, we had a little lunch and continued swimming.

We were again escorted by Mark and his trusty and beautiful white boat.

We finished about 2:30 or so. It was a great day on the lake.

The lesson continues to be learned. The people who live and play on this fabulous river really love it and know it well. They are helping me know just how important it is that we continue to improve the water quality of this an all of our rivers.

Michigan is a very special place in the world. We have access to four of the five Great Lakes, our map is filled with rivers and lakes--all fresh water. No place on earth is like it. We must remain vigilent to make our rivers the safest, cleanest, and most beautiful of all. Not only does our drinking water come from the rivers, but they also feed the Great Lakes.

Water Wonderland was Michigan's theme many years ago. I remember it being on our '59 Ford when I was in high school in the Soo. It is still a good theme!

Hidden Treasure: Geddes Dam to Peninsular Dam

There is a beautiful river connecting Ann Arbor to Ypsilanti, and it can be seen in all its glory paddling (or swimming) from Geddes Dam to Peninsular Dam. As Gary H., said as we started out on this stretch of the river Monday morning, "You are about to see the treasure of the Huron." And, was he right! The water was clear, cool, and deep enough for swimming. Just after the wooden bridge that leads to one of the famous Ford family's home, I plunged into the water. We were the only people on that section of the river on Monday morning. It was quiet, absolutely beautiful and seemingly untouched.

We saw some beautiful houses and even the Harry Bennett boathouse. Mr. Bennett was known as Henry Ford's right hand person. It is a long and very interesting history, but not one for this blog. Perhaps someone reading this blog could suggest a source for the stories.

Anyway, we made good progress towards Ypsilanti, enjoying the scenery with every breath. The crew was led this day by Gary H. and his son, Peter, who consider this their part of the river. Gary canoes this section nearly every day when he can.

One of the few if not the only dam that people rarely see is Superior Dam. We portaged around it and soon were in the next impoundment created by Peninsular Dam. This was a special lunch stop where we all got to meet the Huron River Radicals, a group of 4 young women who recently graduated from Lincoln Consolidated High School and have been involved in several Huron River environmental projects together. They will soon part ways as they head off to their respective universities: Eva and Elly to the U of M (Art School and LS&A); Heidi to MSU's Fisheries and Wildlife program, and x to Michigan Tech to study engineering.

We were greeted also by their moms who helped them prepare a delicious lunch. If you haven't had pizza from Aubree's in Ypsilanti, you have missed a real treat. Just like home made.

We also celebrated one of the paddler's birthday--Kate even had a cake with a candle!

Kate, who works for Google here in Ann Arbor, took the day off to paddle and celebrate her birthday, not knowing that Jen would have a cake, too!

Mr. Ernst, who I saw on the way to Barton Pond a few days ago was here again and in person. It was fun to talk with him. We also were visited by the Ypsilanti City Manager, one of the councilpersons, and Helen, who is the chair of the Glacier Hills Board of Directors.

The Ypsilanti delegate to the HRWC organized the event! She was just minutes from leaving to celebrate her wedding anniversary with her whole family in Banff, but she found time to do this too! Thanks so very much.

But the trip was only half done!

We pushed on through Ypsilanti, in a stretch of the river that needs some TLC. It goes right through the city, but is very unkempt. So much junk filled the river--everything from grocery carts to bicycles and much more.

We were met in Ford Lake by its champion, Mark Clancy. He guided us through while I swam. It was a long, and at times a hard swim with gusty winds and choppy "seas". Afterwards, at his home, he told us about the problems and their solutions to Ford Lake's prime problem: blue-green algae. Luckily we made it through before it "bloomed". He believes there is a solution, but there isn't the will to spend the money to fix it. But he champions on, hoping that those who hold the governmental pursestrings will find a way to make it happen. He is hopeful that the research that Prof. Lehman is doing on Ford Lake's problems will lead to concrete solutions.

Thanks to Mark's hospitality, the great paddling of Gary, Peter, Inger, Kate, and Laura Rubin, the Director of the HRWC, we had a successful and safe journey.

Hope to see you on the river!

Barton Dam to Huron River Day at Gallup

Unlike Saturday, the Huron River Day dawned beautifully sunny and with the promise of air temperatures in the low 80s. The crew gathered at the Barton Dam putin spot about 7:30 and went into the prep drill that takes nearly an hour and a half--drop boats, shuttle cars, load boats with all the expedition stuff and shove off by 9 am. The crew this time included Nels C., Linda Z., Gary, Kirsten and Karin Elling, Tom, Margaret and Inger.

I was mindful that at least 24 residents and some staff of Glacier Hills would be expecting me to be at Gallup Park Canoe Livery by noon, at the latest. I swam as fast as I could. We got to Argo Dam in about and hour and a half, maybe a little less. Then I was in Nels' canoe through the sluice and down the river to a point past the Arb. The water was very very low. But around the area of Furstenberg Park it deepened and I swam again until I was at the Gallup Dock.

I made it in time to hug and kiss all the Glacier Hillians who had been there for about an hour and a half, munching on muffins, having coffee and enjoying a beautiful day on the river.

After they left for lunch I talked to a lots more of people including Trudy, Allison, Nancy, the crew, Heidi, Joe, Jean, Nella, Britton, Austen, Kurt, and Otto. It was a lovely afternoon.

But after a bite of lunch it was off to the new Hydro Park Dock and refurbishments in Ypsilanti Township where I swam a hundred yards to dedicate their new fishing dock. I had the pleasure of meeting a great group of people who were enjoying a summer day on the river. They even contributed to the Watershed Council.

Tomorrow is another day and I need to get some sleep to be ready for it.

Dexter Huron MetroPark to Barton Dam

Today we added the "flotation device" concept to our arsenal of ways to circumnavigate the major problem of low water patterns in the Huron River during the current drought. We considered a boogie board, but the only one I ever had, I left in California--Really!! It lives with the Materkas when they are in Laguna. And I could not find a replacement in Ann Arbor. so I bought a plastic blow up decorative 'tube. The water was low all the way to Tubbs Road bridge, so I laid in the flotation device and held on to Linda's canoe and kicked my flippers. Too much fun!

Along the way, we portaged at Delhi Rapids and were met by Dick S. and his grand-daughter, Danielle. That was a welcome surprise. We took the portage as an opportunity to eat lunch, but did it quickly, because the sky was getting quite gray and the air was cool.

Luckily, we were soon at Tubbs Road and then I could stay warm swimming.

It was fairly quiet on the river, but there was one person keeping us company from the bridges and other take out spaces--my friend Sally G. who lives near the river and was very enthusiastic from the beginning about the swim. Bless her for coming out to cheer us on our way!

The crew was fantastic. Chris G., who grew up on the river and paddles it nearly everyday now; Inger S., who is on the river every day with us and is planning our swim in the English Lakes in 2009; Linda Z., in her wonderful one-woman canoe who watched over me when I was in the water; Paul Girard, who is a whirling dervish in the water in his whitewater kayak; and Mark Z., who did a fabulous job as well as sharing his gorp with me.

Another wonderful day for the books.

We finished up near Barton Pond and promised to stay in touch! Chris did a great job scoping out the river in advance so we could get as much deep water as possible!

The Ann Arbor News photographer and reporter did a great job. Must have been a slow news day, but I am glad they are letting their readers know about the HRWC swim.

Hudson Mills to Dexter Huron MetroPark

We had another wonderful crew for the swim from Hudson Mills to Dexter Huron. They were led by Chris and included Karin, Inger, Ruth, Michael and Joan Martin (Joan is the HRWC staffer who convinced me to do this swim once she saw that I had done the Leelanau Swim in 2001).
Our trip was a quick one, leaving at 9 ish and arriving around noon. I swam some, but after many in and out trips from the canoe, we settled down and recognized that the river was really too shallow to swim safely. This swim project is not just about swimming--it is also about heeding safety rules, giving all the paddlers as well as me, the best experience possible.

After we got all the gear and watercraft back in our cars, we sat down to a wonderful lunch provided by Whole Foods, which has agreed to provide food for each day's expedition. One of our volunteers at Glacier Hills who works at Whole Foods contacted the Watershed Council's Development Director, Margaret Smith, to put this generous donation in place. We are all reaping the benefit of their good work. Peter made the deal with Whole Foods and Margaret picks up the food every evening before the next section of the swim.

I am having a day off today from the swim, so I have time to water some of my very dry shrubs and flowers. I even soaked the Sweet Gum tree on the easement. I love that tree and would hate to see it die. It always reminds me of Prof. Jean Paul Slusser, who introduced me to so many wonderful things in the world, including Sweet Gum trees.

On my agenda today is to go to lunch at Glacier Hills. I really miss my colleagues and the residents. I'm also going shopping for a Boogie Board that will allow me to be in the water more than I am now.

Take care and see you on the River--especially Huron River Day at Gallup Park on Sunday, Noon!!