Daytrips in Northern Michigan: Jordan River Cruise

On Thursday I had a little adventure with a couple of old friends (and some new ones, too).  We piled into a rubber raft and cruised down the Jordan River.  I can hear you now.  What were you thinking???  Well, this is what comes of spending long months in the north country in winter.  Getting out and about in the blowing snow is the surest way to conquer the dreaded Cabin Fever.

We gathered at Jordan Valley Outfitters in East Jordan.  Scott and Kay Harper, who have operated the place for the last ten years, loaded us onto their Orange Bus and headed to the launch point at Graves Crossing. We looked pretty game decked out in bright layers of wool and tucked into our flotation vests.

We two-stepped down the snowy bank to our Bright Blue Raft and climbed in.  Nobody fell in.  So far so good.

Then we were off, gliding along downstream on Michigan’s first designated Wild and Scenic River. 

 On the left is Carol McCarus, who had the bright idea of the winter cruise to begin with.

Then there was Diane Strzelinski, who spends a lot of time watching wildlife, and helped us identify the Goldeneyes that paddled along in front of us for most of our trip. 

“The mature drake has the white cheek patch,” she said.  “That’s mama there, and the rest of them are juveniles.”  Every now and then the whole flock would take flight, wings windmilling like lawn ornaments, only to reappear around the next bend.  Whitetail deer were bedded down along the banks.  They fled, flags waving, when we drew closer.  

Scott told us where to watch for the deer, where beaver have been working on trees, and when to paddle.  He pulled treats (hot drinks and homemade cookies) out of his magic duffle.  It was my job to make sure the cookies were not wasted.

The river twists and turns.  You never know what you’ll see around the next bend.  For that matter, until you get to it and Scott says “all paddle together now, put some energy into it” you don’t even see the bend.  Shelves of ice are layered along the riverbanks, showing where the water level was a couple weeks ago.  Wild grasses bend into the current, picking up jeweled ice collars.  The water flows clear and cold over its sandy bottom.  “You should see it during the evening dinner cruise,” says Scott.  “When there’s a full moon reflected by the snow, you can practically read the newspaper.”   

Close to the takeout point, about two hours downstream from our start, we rode a nice little wave through the “left nostril” of the viaduct and whooped it up as if we’d been down the Colorado during a flood.  The Orange Bus was waiting to shuttle us back to our cars.

What were we thinking?  Can’t speak for the others, but what I was thinking was that I can’t wait to do it again.