Greetings from the President
Our 2024 Elections will take place at our Annual Business Meeting at Jimmy’s Pub in East Lansing on Tuesday October 17 at 7:00 pm. These are the people wishing to continue to serve on our Club Board:
President: Jay Hanks
Secretary: Loretta Crum
Vice President: Rich Bailey
Treasurer: Joe Lessard
Chair positions:
Recreation Committee: Loretta Crum and Tony Kuhlman
Whitewater Committee: Todd Leigh and George Stockman
Open Water Committee: Linda Savage, Rich Bailey, and Steve Lidia
Communication Committee: Kate Lederle
Middle Grand River Paddling
This past year has been the third consecutive year that I have paddled the Middle Grand from upstream of Lansing, through, and then downstream. I have put these together as progressive daytrips that began in 2021 with MGROW’s Grand River Experience. It is adjusted a little every year regarding exact put-ins and takeouts, but essentially it starts with the Hugh Heward kicking it off the last Saturday in April, and then heading upstream to paddle back down to Grand Ledge.
Most recently I have started at the Trestle Bridge launch up near Rives Junction and in segments have made it down to Grand Ledge. Some of them have been on weekdays, and some have been on Saturdays depending on the amount of time spent on the water. Folks upstream have been doing a real good job of keeping the river clear of downed trees, and although there have been a few duck-unders and squeeze-throughs, nobody has had to portage their boat.
(Photo by Jay Hanks)
Participation has been modest, but I am not looking for large crowds anyway. “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing–absolutely nothing–half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” – Kenneth Grahame
Stay safe,
– Jay Hanks
Red Cedar River Day a Successful Event
The Red Cedar River Water Trail Committee held a day of celebration and activity in Williamston on September 30, 2023. Events included paddling on selected stretches of the newly-designated water trail, a food tent, and display booths with environmental and water safety information. Rivertown Adventures was recruited for canoe and kayak rentals and shuttle duties. Scout Troop 64, based in Williamston, lent their fleet of tandem canoes to the festivities and provided shuttle and safety support. The Eastern Ingham Farmers Market provided booth shade for the exhibitors and all-around support, along with the Sunrise Rotary Club.
The organizers happily report that they put over 40 people on the water that day. Nature cooperated in spectacular fashion, with perfect early fall weather and an inch of rain two days before the event. This nearly doubled the streamflow in the Red Cedar River and made the downstream run from Williamston to Harris Nature Center a breeze. Top Notch Tree Care spent a full day on the river the day before it rained and cleaned up the deadfall from the storm the night of August 24.
LOAPC has provided support and advice for this event from the beginning, and we shared an information booth with MGROW for the day. A group of Club members made the paddle from Williamston to Van Atta Road, where shuttle vehicles and trailers were waiting to take them back upstream to their cars. Check out the photos below, with more on the Meetup page for the event. (Photo credits: George Stockman and Fred Cowles.)
– Loretta Crum
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