Hiking and Floating

Sunday night we got back from our week up north, hiking near Harrisville and Oscoda, and canoeing the Au Sable from Grayling to USFS 4001 bridge (which is a 110 mile float). As I mentioned in my field report, I did get to the Pine river one morning.



I threw nymphs and some small dries and took a number of small trout, two of which reached about 9".



I'd promised Kristine I'd be home by 10, and wouldn't you know, just as I was leaving,
a trico hatch got underway.

We hiked at the Hoist Lakes trail, Negwegon State Park, and along the Au Sable Highbanks trails near Oscoda.


A bend in the Au Sable as it enters Cooke Pond

The highlight of the trip, however, was the canoe venture. This was the first time we'd ever camped away from the car, carrying all our gear from place to place and getting by with what we had on hand. I loved being able to leave the car, and roads, behind and simply float with the river for a few days. More than most trips, I was able to tune out the busyness of the world--avoiding the news and concentrations of people helped with that, but so did the simple challenges of guiding the boat, and setting up and tending camp.




My canoeing technique is still rather improvised and haphazard (no one will call on me to write a textbook soon), but I did manage to keep the boat upright and out of the trees for the entire trip. It's a challenge I want more of. We're definitely buying a canoe as soon as we can, and we'll be tripping this way often, I hope. I'll put up some photos and stories of the voyage later this week.