This photo was taken last summer when the Crystal River was running around 25 cubic feet per second.  (cfs).  I floated the Crystal this past weekend and it was running around 110 or so.  Look at the photo and imagine the water level right around Maddie’s ears!  Big difference!
There were several unplanned portages above these culverts (Brammers), trees down from the storm of the century.  The National Park normally clears the
River every spring but until they do, expect a few soakers.  The Crystal is clear below Brammers to the Grist Mill and four more portages to Lake Michigan.  I recommend putting in above Brammers and finishing in Glen Arbor. 
The Boardman River is a mess above Sabin Dam, (don’t go up there) and gorgeous below all the way to West Bay. 
So lets get you out on the water!  Get outdoors and make some memories.

D.H. Day had such an impact around Glen Arbor.  He built Railroads, Docks, Inns, Mills, Barns, Golf Courses, Roads, Towns and an incredible little Campground on the shoreline of Sleeping Bear Bay.  This 88 site campground is rustic, vault toilets and no showers.  Glen Arbor is just a half hour walk down the beach or a 5 minute bike ride along the shortest state highway in Michigan, M-109.  Our livery will deliver kayaks or canoes to your site, or start at our livery at 5959 S Oak Street in Glen Arbor and paddle 4 miles down the Crystal River and another 5 across the Bay to your site.  We will pick the boats up there.  The nature trail is breaking ground this season as well, probably will be ready by the end of the summer.  So get outdoors and make some memories.

Went out with Noah from social explorations for a photo shoot/eco tour with a great family from Detroit this past weekend.  The ice was like glass, we could see the bottom, fish, etc.  Pretty cool.
Ice breaking up and kayaking and canoeing will be an option by this weekend.
Call me and lets get you out on the water.
Mike

For a two for one coupon kayaking or canoeing down the Crystal River or the Boardman next summer, name this little lake in the photo.  

And this, our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything.
William Shakespeare

noah ready to drop in

The Crystal River and the Boardman are both easily accessible year round.  The seven mile float on the Crystal is breathtaking every month of the year.  The Boardman is a little trickier, and may require a more experienced paddler.

Photo on left of stud paddler and great friend Noah on Holloween Day practicing a drop in technique in one of our Jackson Rivieras.  No stitches were required but plenty of neosporin for the scrapes he received when he hit the sidewalk.  (Too much spiked cider?)

Don’t hesitate to give us a call if you want to get out on these magnificent rivers.  We will simply set up a time and get you in your boats.

“Get outdoors and make some memories” – Mike

two very trusting fawns

I snuck out on the Crystal River last night and spent 20 or so minutes photographing these two fawns……probably motherless as they had no fear.  (I was just ten feet from them at one point) Got me thinking about our new title in Glen Arbor: “The prettiest place in the US”  Indeed, who could possibly say where this may be?  But I do know for certain, having traveled 52 countries and all but two of the United States that Glen Arbor, The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, The Glen Lakes and the Crystal River rival anywhere on the entire planet in its serenity and beauty.  We are so lucky……all of us to have access to 30 square miles of pristine wilderness, alive with fascinating biology and wildlife.  (confirmed sighting of the cougar this week)  Rilke once wrote, “All one needs is to observe nature”.  Its the truth yall…..so, get out on the Crystal River or Glen Lake, or Lake Michigan or all of the above in a kayak or canoe, and make some memories.

Oh yes, and on Labor Day we will be running a locals appreciation special:  Free Kayaking.  Call for reservations.

Coach Nykerk (Hall of famer and winningest varsity tennis coach in State of Michigan history) and I guided this top 5, division 2 Traverse City Central Tennis Team down from Brammers Culverts yesterday.  Only a couple incidents to mention:  Our number three singles player was immediately attacked by our one doubles team and ended up floating/walking his sunk kayak for over a mile before finally abandoning his vessel and hiking the shoreline back to the livery.  My paddle was stolen by half of our four doubles team and I navigated the lower two miles with my open hands.

After the paddling excursion down the Crystal River, we had a putt putt/mini golf tournament that ended with our number one singles player dominating the rest of the team and coaches  (No surprise there)  Fisher shot a three over and remains the best player to ever play the course.

It was so nice to get out on the Crystal River this summer with these kids and Coach.  Even in the busiest of times it is so important to get outdoors and make some memories.

light winds on Crystal Lake

It certainly is not all about kayaking, canoeing, tubing or stand up paddle boarding at the River in Glen Arbor, Traverse City and Interlochen.  We have access or can make available so many other activities like: Sailing. Longboarding. Skimboarding.  Biking.  Kite Boarding. Snowshoeing. Rafting.   Tennis.  Hiking.  Scuba Diving. Snorkeling. Fishing.  Water Skiing.  Manitou Island Trips. Camping.  Birding. Photography.  Juggling.  Tree climbing. Geocaching.  And, most of these activities we can also provide a guide or an instructor.  But at the very least, we can either handle it at one of our outfitters/liveries or connect you with the folks that can make it happen.  We are born and raised in Northern Michigan and can help plan just about any activity you can think of.

Stat:  The average American spends less that 10 minutes a day outdoors.

Photo on right is of daughter Maggie and little Finn racing in the Butterfly Nationals on Crystal Lake this weekend.  Amazing how if presented properly kids can fall instantly in love with a sport. Especially a sport like sailing that is so solitary.  Kids these days are so brow beaten with action that a walk in the woods or a light wind sail can seem boring.  But are they noticing the bald eagle overhead, or the newborn fawn laying in the lilac bush, or the smell of the conifers, or the distant loon call or colors of the light coming off the water? Kids need to get outdoors and many times they need to be coached on how to enjoy it.  Awareness.  Appreciation.  Patience. Inquisitiveness.  Wonder.  Can I get away with Love?   Indeed, every lesson we need to learn as humans can be found in the Great Outdoors.  So, today, get you and/or your kids outdoors and make some memories…….

Which direction is the camera facing?

For a free round of championship 18 hole miniature putt putt golf at our livery in Glen Arbor, or a free two hour bike rental at our livery at Clinch Park in Traverse City, where is this photo taken and what direction is the camera facing?  Call us or email the answer to claim your prize.

If you have not done the Boardman River this summer, I cannot tell you how much you are missing.  Get on one of our rental bikes at Clinch Park, ride the TART Trail around the East side of Boardman Lake, leave your bike at Logans Landing and the Metalie Park Bird Sanctuary, climb abourd a new Jackson Kayak and float back to Clinch Park, via the Boardman River ending up at our livery on the Beach.   Mention this blog and we will give you 5 bucks off the trip. 20 bucks for kids under 18 and 30 for adults.  Go to our website therivertraversecity.com