TenaCity to WindyCity Day 15 & 16 July 12 & August 8, 2018
July 12, 2018
August 8, 2018
TenaCity 2 WindyCity DAY 15
CLICK ON ALL PHOTOS TO ENLARGE
DAY 15 JOURNAL AND PHOTOS
Tawas Point photos from previous week.
After finishing day on Day 14 Hope and I went to Tawas Point to checkout possible landings. There is a stat park and campground there. I remember our family spending a night there in the early 80s but I never walked to the end of the point. I was pleasantly surprised by the long sand spit. The place reminded me of the intercoastal area south of Ocean City MD.
There is a lighthouse on Tawas Point which from most places can't be seen well.
The boat launch at Gateway Park located at the south end of Tawas City
Because the water was so calm I decided to paddle first and run later.
Launch from Gateway Park
Tawas Point from the water
Paddling along the point I told this beachcomber what a wonderful day it was. She agreed but not with as exuberance in her voice that I was saying and feeling
This is where I had scoped out the week before and planned to finish.
I decided to paddle further because the run out to the point from US 23 would add extra distance.
I'd be taking a chance for there were no public landings near US 23 until Oscoda.
I landed at a small resort not knowing how welcome I'd be.
I was called Woodland Park. As I was taking this photo the owner, a woman, came out of the resort's office. She yelled, "Riley McLincha!" Wow what a surprise. It was Rene Diener and former Clio resident. She and her husband Carl DeJarlais were the owners. I hadn't seen her in over 25 years. I have to say getting a hug was not the kind of reception I was expecting when I first landed.
US 23 was under reconstruction so the run back to Gateway Park was a bit of a challenge. In places it was freshly paved in others I was running in the sand bed where the blacktop would soon be laid. A construction worker told me that on the other side there was a path. It was less than a mile long but any distance on a trail always helps.
It was August 8th nearly 3 weeks had passed when I returned to Rene's cottages at Woodland park.
The water was rough. I was in no hurry to paddle. I parked my van at the DNR boat ramp at the mouth of the AuSable River in Oscoda and ran back to Renee's cottages. When back two other paddlers were there. Kate Ferris and her father Bob. They were putting together the Klipper, a folding kayak. The Klippermaniacs were back in action with me for the first time since I'd flipped Swiftee on DAY 11. It was not an easy launch. Waves kept bashing the small beach. The Klepper had a herder time than I did. Once paddling the Kleppermaniacs had a easier time than I did. Waves kept getting bigger and were worst when we arrived at Ausable Point. Bad enough for me to abort.
We hit a beach of unknown private residence not knowing exactly where we were. GPS was not cooperating much either. Our plan was to try and call Renee and take us to our vehicle. I walked to the road and got an address to give her a location. Renee was there in minutes and we were rescued.
It was lunch time so we went to Wiltse's, a brewpub in Oscoda. After we looked at the water to see if it had calmed down. It hadn't so we said goodbye. It was still early and I told Kate and Bob, I plan to get another run in. I planted a bike at an AuSable River launch at River Road, ran to the DNR launch where my van was then drove back and picked up the bike.
Before deciding to go home I thought to give the Huron another look. I drove to our abortion spot. It looked peaceful enough.
I was not sure the water would get rough again so instead of doing a 5 mile padde to the DNR launch I broke it in two paddles and 2 bike rides. No running was needed for I ran DNR to Renee's in the dawning hours.
The first short leg was from AuSable Point to Mai Tiki resort
Landing at Mai Tiki
The leg took very little time so ignored the bike and I continued to the DNR compleating the 5 mile paddle. I felt a little guilty about completing the day after telling Kate and Bob I was done. When I explained to her later she was fine with it. She totally understood, when the sun is shining you got to make hay (farmers analogy).
August 8, 2018
TenaCity 2 WindyCity DAY 15
TenaCity 2 WindyCity DAY 16
DAY 15 JOURNAL AND PHOTOS
After finishing day on Day 14 Hope and I went to Tawas Point to checkout possible landings. There is a stat park and campground there. I remember our family spending a night there in the early 80s but I never walked to the end of the point. I was pleasantly surprised by the long sand spit. The place reminded me of the intercoastal area south of Ocean City MD.
Serene and Tranquil
I decided to paddle further because the run out to the point from US 23 would add extra distance.
I'd be taking a chance for there were no public landings near US 23 until Oscoda.
US 23 was under reconstruction so the run back to Gateway Park was a bit of a challenge. In places it was freshly paved in others I was running in the sand bed where the blacktop would soon be laid. A construction worker told me that on the other side there was a path. It was less than a mile long but any distance on a trail always helps.
This is a city beach in Tawas City where I took a swim and drank a beer to unwind from the day of runyaking.
DAY 16 JOURNAL AND PHOTOSIt was August 8th nearly 3 weeks had passed when I returned to Rene's cottages at Woodland park.
The water was rough. I was in no hurry to paddle. I parked my van at the DNR boat ramp at the mouth of the AuSable River in Oscoda and ran back to Renee's cottages. When back two other paddlers were there. Kate Ferris and her father Bob. They were putting together the Klipper, a folding kayak. The Klippermaniacs were back in action with me for the first time since I'd flipped Swiftee on DAY 11. It was not an easy launch. Waves kept bashing the small beach. The Klepper had a herder time than I did. Once paddling the Kleppermaniacs had a easier time than I did. Waves kept getting bigger and were worst when we arrived at Ausable Point. Bad enough for me to abort.
It was lunch time so we went to Wiltse's, a brewpub in Oscoda. After we looked at the water to see if it had calmed down. It hadn't so we said goodbye. It was still early and I told Kate and Bob, I plan to get another run in. I planted a bike at an AuSable River launch at River Road, ran to the DNR launch where my van was then drove back and picked up the bike.
Before deciding to go home I thought to give the Huron another look. I drove to our abortion spot. It looked peaceful enough.
Landing at Mai Tiki
The leg took very little time so ignored the bike and I continued to the DNR compleating the 5 mile paddle. I felt a little guilty about completing the day after telling Kate and Bob I was done. When I explained to her later she was fine with it. She totally understood, when the sun is shining you got to make hay (farmers analogy).
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