Kayaking the Big Manistee, Thornapple
& Owashtanong Rivers
Each April for the past 30 years or so, my
brother, the Fish, Carpo and I pack up and head to the
Atop the big moraine coming
into camp, the river below.
Note beaver damage in foreground.
Thru my tent window at
Chippewa Landing.
Headed downstream from
Cedar swamp in spring sun.
Four big pines & one
leaner, cedars on the right.
Railroad bridge
with kayakers below on the
Sunset over the river.
Young pines below & the river itself in
its dream.
Great Blue Heron over the
Thornapple.
Photo by Charlie Cope
Baby herons on the Thornapple in Spring. Photo by Charlie Cope.
Thornapple River October, upstream from
where I grew up.
My brother Charlie,
scattering rose petals over the site where we scattered my mother’s ashes the
year before. This is just below the old raccoon trail on
the banks above, and a little upriver from my mother’s
window.
Owashtanong (Grand) River
near the