The Doc says: “Paddle now, chores later!” (summary and images by Sheri Rhoads)
On May 8, the Friends of the Boyne River and the Boyne District Library hosted Michigan author Doc Fletcher as he shared his enthusiasm for canoeing and kayaking on the Pere Marquette River and the U.P.’s Big Two Hearted River. Fifty-five people attended the event.
Named after the mid-17th century French Roman Catholic missionary and explorer Father Jacques Marquette, the Pere Marquette River runs from near Lower Michigan’s historic Idlewild community (LakeCounty) west to the City of Ludington on Lake Michigan. With slides and maps, Fletcher shared local history, paddling skills needed for various river sections, and noted locations of boat liveries, lodging and eateries.
Impacted and still recovering from the 3rd largest fire in Michigan’s history in May and June 2012, the U.P.’s Two Hearted River flows 23 miles through forested wilderness in the Easter U.P. into Lake Superior 10 miles east of Deer Park (Luce County). In 1925, Earnest Hemingway named a famous short story after the river although he was actually describing the Fox River near Seney (Schoolcraft County). Nevertheless, the Big Two Hearted River is a gorgeous stream worthy of a paddle ending in Lake Superior.
Fletcher’s newest book, Michigan’s Pere Marquette River, Paddling Through Its History will be released in stores this June but is available on his website canoeingmichiganrivers.com. Also on the website are his previous books including 2012’s Paddling Michigan’s Hidden Beauty: The Rivers, The Towns, The Taverns and a link to public TV’s “Michigan Out of Doors” segment on a Sturgeon River paddle with Fletcher.
