My first thought as I groggily woke up today was finding the correct map for today’s leg of the Expedition.
Then I remembered that I’m not getting back in to my kayak today, because yesterday we paddled in to Chinook Pier to finish our 226 mile journey down the navigable waters of Michigan’s longest river. And what a tremendous finish it was to 12 days in the water drawing attention to the Grand River.

How did we do? Gloria Miller is celebrating her 85^th birthday today, one day after finishing her third Grand River Expedition. Erich Ditschman has raised more than $12,000 of his $20,000 goal for the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan. He paddled every day, followed by 8 hours of dialysis every evening. Christian Miller, at age 12, finished the Expedition in his home town and was absolutely ecstatic yesterday after we got out at Chinook Pier. He’ll go back to Lakeshore Middle School a different young man this September.

We started as about 60, but at last count I believe there were just over 50 of us who finished the entire Expedition. Well over 300 people paddled at least some portion of the Expedition, including my significant other who kayaked just under 100 miles in four days on the water. Communities from Liberty to Grand Haven provided us with campsites, food, water, and moral support along the way. Expedition 2010 differed from the previous two (1990 and 2000) in this way. The grassroots nature of the event and community support for our message tells me the people of Mid and West Michigan love their Grand River.

I have much more to report on the Expedition, and our journey. Come back to this site in the coming weeks for more photos, information from the trip, and updates on the people who participated. The water trip is over, but awareness and stewardship of the Grand River Watershed continues.

The kayaks and canoes of the Expedition will depart from Ottawa County Riverside Park at 9:00 Monday morning on the last of their 12 travel days down the Grand. The Annis Water Research Institute and Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol will travel with the group on this day. The Expedition will stop for lunch at Indian Point before continuing to a gathering point near Mill Point Park. At 2:00 they will be escorted by the Coast Guard from that point down the main channel of the Grand River to the City Marina at Chinook Pier. The Expedition will be joined by the AWRI research vessel, DJ Angus, carrying local dignitaries. The anticipated arrival time at Chinook Pier is 2:45-3:00.

In addition to the arrival of the Expedition, exhibits by many organizations concerned with stewardship of the Grand River will be available from 1-4 pm Monday afternoon near Waterfront Stadium and closing ceremonies will begin at 3:30 pm on The Plaza north of The Chamber. The Expedition will be welcomed by Mayor Bergman and Rix Robinson (aka Dave Siebold) and preliminary findings from the research activities on the Grand River will be presented.

Those iinterested in paddling with the group can sign on as a day-paddler by arriving at the Grand Lady Campground near Jenison on Sunday morning by 6:30, or Monday morning at Riverside Park by 7:00. The cost for a day paddler is $10 per day to cover insurance and water bottle. Non-paddlers can meet the group on Monday afternoon in Grand Haven, or support them with signs and greetings along the river. Their final course is river right through Indian Channel to Spring Lake’s Mill Point.

Today’s program by West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC) and Grand Rapids Whitewater at Sixth Street Park was great. I do wonder why the City of Grand Rapids was missing at the event. Since moving to West Michigan I’ve wondered why they only have small warning notices upstream from the Sixth Street Dam, and no buoys marking the dam. This, plus the coffer dams, presents a dangerous situation on the Grand River going through downtown Grand Rapids. I’m happy to report we all made it through the two coffers with no one getting wet. Safe is good.

Tonight’s camp site is owned by Bill Boynton, owner of the Grand Lady steamboat. He has made us feel at home in his wonderful Grand River location near Riverview Airport, and is giving us a boat cruise this evening. This is one of the nicest camping locations we’ve had on the Expedition. I hope Bill gets this site open to the public soon – it will be a great place to camp on the Lower Grand. And special thanks to ROTC for water support.

And today we found a message in a bottle. My significant other (back for another weekend of paddling with the group and doing very well – really – I’m not lying) found it in the water going through Kent County’s Johnson Park. Of course, we had to look inside and read the letter. Apparently Mason and Alexis are very much in love, and at age 18 know they have found their lifetime love. They included a photo with their love letter, which they put in the water on their 9 month anniversary last month and apparently set afloat on the Grand. So, if you’re Mason or Alexis and want to tell us where you put it in, that would be interesting to hear. Also, if anyone has an idea of what the heck I should do with the bottle (it’s now one more thing riding in my kayak) let me know.

Only two days of paddling remaining!

As we’ve travelled down the river we’ve experienced an increase in public and press attention. The last two days we’ve had reporters at our stops, and more people coming out to the river to see us. The goal is drawing attention to the Grand River, and this is such an important way to get that word out. But much more fun for me is talking to people along the way. This afternoon was no exception – there were a lot of people taking pictures and waving at us. We try to wave and chat with people along the river as much as possible – yell out to us and we’ll come over.
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The highlight of my day was shortly after our lunch stop. One family living on the north side of the river not only welcomed us with a sign, but also offered beverages and apples. They remembered the group from 10 years ago, and wanted to come out to show their support and prop up our health. Thank you! You are wonderful.

Day paddler participation is also growing. Today we had about 80 pre-registered paddlers and another 20-25 day paddlers. So make a sign and put it out on your yard if you live on the river. Or come down to watch us go by. Better yet – join us for a day of paddling. Show up on Saturday, Sunday, or Monday morning and be part of our event.

I have been frequently asked about the dam situation in Grand Rapids. As many people know, there is both the 6^th Street dam (not navigable) and the low-head, or coffer dams between the dam and the Public Museum. Four of the coffers are evident, and Wendy Ogilvie from FTC&H tells me there’s a fifth that’s barely visible (obviously, since I don’t notice it on my trips this way). Local boaters have found the spot at river right where the coffers are broken out, and put in below the 6^th Street dam and paddle down through the coffers via the broken out sections. Others just go through them in the middle. Either approach, in my opinion, is an avoidable risk. Have I gone through them? Yes – multiple times. Have I been caught by a coffer? Yes, and it scared me enough to realize how powerful they can be.

Journalists and local whitewater groups have voiced concerns about the safety of these dams, and suggest paddlers avoid this section of the river until the City of Grand Rapids takes action. For those planning the Lower Grand River section of the Expedition, this presented a difficult situation. In the end, and with advice from other groups, a solution was reached. This Saturday (July 24) canoes and kayaks will pull out at the last option (Canal Park boat landing) and all boats will be transported by Powers Outdoors to Ah-Nab-Awen Park where we’ll put in and go over the last two dams (the smallest and most broken out from my last observation a couple of weeks ago). This will give everyone a very good urban kayaking experience, and also draw attention (isn’t that what the Expedition is about?) to the situation of the coffer dams as a safety issue and detriment to use of this wonderful natural resource in Grand Rapids. (Click on image to view larger version)

I’ve taken some heat on the Expedition over this plan. Yesterday I was told “we did it in 2000”, which we know always makes it a good thing to do. And “they’re taking away our fun” (I thought public awareness was our objective – I must have been mistaken). Some might suggest we are taking away a section of the river from the Expedition, apparently making the Grand River experience incomplete. Here’s where I come down – I would rather make your Grand River experience incomplete than watch someone drag your body out from under a coffer.

When his Grandfather asked him to come along on the Expedition, Christian took him up on the offer because he thought it would be exciting and an adventure. In the first 130 miles he’s canoed at the bow of his Grandpa’s boat, and has also borrowed kayaks from other participants for some legs of the journey. With many experienced paddlers on the Expedition, Christian has benefitted from many impromptu kayak and canoe lessons.

Christian says he likes meeting the people on the Expedition and riding around the towns of the nightly encampments on a bicycle his Grandfather brought with on the event. He also thinks he might participate in Expedition 2020. But the trip hasn’t been easy, and he admits he felt like going home at points, including the first day when the Expedition confronted many downed trees and a thunderstorm. He also dislikes the bugs and the 6:30 am wake-up. He looks forward to sleeping later in the morning when her returns home after completing the Expedition.

Christian Miller and the rest of the Grand River Expedition 2010 will paddle in to Grand Haven on July 26^th, entering the channel at the lift bridge at 2:00 and arriving at Chinook Pier by 3:00.

Now that we’re in the Lower Grand, it feels like we must be close to finishing (I’m telling myself this about 2:00 each afternoon when the sun is hot and so far it’s working). The river here is wider and not as fast, and there is the occasional headwind to deal with. We’re seeing more boats on the river (only pontoon and fishing boats to date) but still not a lot (not enough, in my opinion) of people out enjoying the Grand. But those people who do live on the river are still coming out to watch us go by which makes my day.

My fellow Expeditioners are really great people, and it has been such an honor to meet them all. The common bond is the love of the water, but beyond that we are a very diverse group. We are still all laughing and helping one another out when it’s needed. There have been a couple of injuries that go beyond the minor, and everyone has helped out when needed.

A Gloria Miller update – I paddled with her most of the day Wednesday, and she’s doing great. She was talking about going to the Boundary Waters to canoe next. She is such a remarkable woman and role model for all of us.

Erich Ditschman is also doing great. He’s paddled the back of the canoe every day, and we’ve had the opportunity to meet the volunteers who’ve paddled with him. Want to laugh for awhile at funny stories – paddle next to Erich.
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That’s right, on today’s leg of the Expedition we covered 18 miles with 4 dam portages (read that any way you want to) – Portland Dam, Webber Dam, Wager Dam, and Lyons Dam – as we traveled from Portland to Lyons. In between the dams there was a lot of slow moving water. Most of us opted to run the broken out section of Wager Dam rather than portage (making it three rather than four). In my case, it was simply inertia. The Webber Dam portage took the last ounce of my interest in hauling my kayak around another dam. (Click on image to view larger version)

Arriving in Lyons marks the end of the Middle Grand River, and our entrance to the Lower Grand River. The people of Lyons did a great job welcoming us, feeding us, and making hot water and a flush toilet available. Throughout the trip we have been guided by people who canoe and kayak their local stretches of the river. Tomorrow begins an opportunity to introduce them to the Lower Grand and its beauty. By the time we get to Eastmanville, it will be like being on a different river again. Our wonderful Grand is really like having three different rivers because of the unique characteristics of each section.

Check out our schedule and when we’re coming through your town, come down to the river to see us paddle by. We are usually spread out a bit by mid-day – so you can enjoy about an hour sitting at the river watching some beautiful canoes and kayaks go by.

And the best news of the day, 130 miles under our belts and interest in the Grand River and the Expedition grows every day.

Quotes you can use from me: Participants really enjoy meeting people along the way to bring attention to the Grand River as a great resource for Michigan. River communities have provided camping, shuttling, showers, and meals along with entertainment and hospitality. People who live along the river greet us, and some have even put up signs on the riverbank to encourage the participants, which helps us get through long days on the water.

Now, the previously promised note on hygiene. The folks in Portland treated us to a much-needed shower at the high school tonight. Most of our kayak clothes have a permanent odor that all the Fabreeze in the world is not going to get out. River shoes smell so bad that we can’t keep them in the tent at night. People are simply throwing away socks, and today one was actually used by an anonymous Expeditioner as toilet tissue for an emergency situation on the river. All pretense of dignity was lost somewhere between Eaton Rapids and Grand Ledge. Our primary toilet is fondly known as the “portable loo”. It follows us everywhere we go, including our lunch stops. It’s unpleasant, but reliable.

You do what you have to do.