A tale of a southern folk in Yakee lands 2003

[Swampy]

Well we wanted to start the trip a week earlier but hurricane Isabel waz in the news at 225 mph winds... not a good time to take off frum round here anywayz. Thursday night the storm had hit north of us an' we didn't have majer winds and lectricity waz still on... it waz dark and son and I put canoe ontop of the truck and started off... the rain and wind caused us to forget an important tie down.... I found it down the road and corrected it... (mamma wolf yelled,"The canoe's coming off!") I told her I waz jest trin' sumthin, that hit waz all ok now.....
Went due west to avoid the higher winds. Made it to Charlet and pointed north, figger'in we'd miss the higher winds and rains now running north along the coast. Spent first night in Whythsville,Va. Back on road and made Dundee, Michigan that night. Another night in a motel and up early to visit the Cabela's store located there. I bought my canoe rack fer $54 there ( regular $79) and a few other food stuffs, and off we headed for our lots at Baldwin, Michigan.
We camped at pere Marquette camp grounds that waz under new management / ownership. Baldwin Canoe Livery had owned it before. Very large lots at $5 per person, non-electri. Electric cost $4 more, but none were available that day. Breakfast waz quick and easy, and off to town to locate our land. On the way out the land around there is wooded with only a few farms to breakup what seems to be wilderness. Saw several flocks of turkeys and many deer. At a place called, Bowman's Bridge, we saw a bunch of fishermen standing and looking down at the river that flowed under it ( the Pere Marquette). We saw what seemed to us the largest fresh water fish we had seen up til then. We're talkin two foot and longer. Salmon were beginning to come up from Lake Mishigan for their fall spawning. Down in Dundee, I asked a fellow shopper what he used to catch salmon. He sold me on two night fishing spoons that glowed in the dark. His sucess the weekend before got me to purchase them. I waz already tasting them in the iron skelett....

 

[Floatforfish]

Where the heck is the rest of this post Swampy? This is just teasing me.

Aaron

 

[Swampy]

LOL Aaron, the phone man had just walked in and i had to GO -- Fast like....

Here is mamma Wolf at Dundee's big bear out front... note a clear morning!

One of many displays inside the store. Write me and I can send ya many more. All of them very real looking!

Moi at camp Pere Marquette near Baldwin, Michigan . Note large camp site

Baldin, Michigan is in the mid way part of the lower penisula and about 24 miles from Lake Michigan. It is country that is remote at best. I have two lots to get in shape for all of us to campout there and save the $5 per person rate at PM camp ground. Plenty of deer and turkeys abound with fish in the river!
I'll post more later
swampy

 

[Kayak Jack]

(SNIP) Here is mamma Wolf at Dundee's big bear out front... (SNIP)

Shame on you, Swampy - posting a picture of your wife with a bear behind!

 

[oldsparkey]

Jack

I have been looking and looking and looking and looking and still do not see Mammy Wolf with the bear behind... I might be looking to hard or my glasses need to be replaced with something stronger. :?

Guess I better just stay with looking at boats from now on. :roll: Less trouble and eye strain that way.

By the way Admin. (Neil) is down here on vacation ... or so he thinks, I have some work for him..... I want to add a section for the boats we have made so a person can show off there handy work in pictures with a description of the boat.

I was thinking of calling it .... Seductive & Sexy Picture's for members over 18 years of age. OK not really...... just ... Boat Bragging Board & Pictures. Any ideas?

To me boats are seductive and sexy...... That is what happens when you get older..... :lol: :lol:
Chuck.

 

[Floatforfish]

What the h@ll is that white stuff on the ground in that picture? Seems I heard of something like that before but I can't put my finger on it.

I second the bragging page. Paddlezone.org has one for paddle fishing. BTW, it's a great site for paddle fishing in north Florida.

Well, back to work on the boat. Less than 2 weeks until we leave for the glades. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Aaron

 

[Kayak Jack]

(SNIP) I want to add a section for the boats we have made so a person can show off there handy work in pictures with a description of the boat. I was thinking of calling it .... Seductive & Sexy Picture's for members over 18 years of age. OK not really...... just ... Boat Bragging Board & Pictures. Any ideas? Chuck.

I think you have a helluva good idea, Chuck. Considering the ages of the Olde Fartes on THIS net, you might have it for only over 40, just to be safe.

Format suggestions for description could include why the builder chose a particular design, material, modifications, etc. What the hopes/ expectations were for the boat, and how it seems to meet those particular dreams. What went as expected, what went better, what went worse, how the builder handled each situation, what would be done differently next time. Reactions of family to the boat.

 

[Swampy]

Jack you'd better not hope that KT see's what ya "think" iz her bear behind! Way to big.... your gonna be in over thy head when she does....
Chuck, that is a great suggestion. There would be a central section where one could see and read ( Jack's suggestions) about the boats.
swampy

 

[Swampy]

One of the many animals we found in Baldwin was the wild turkeys. Seemed everywhere we went where there was mostly woods with some open spaces, turkeys would be there.

Downtown ( actualy only a village) , Baldwin has only tourists to bring in the monies. The stores cort you up and down the street.
http://www.teamsouthbound.com/pictureprocessor/images/Baldwinstoreside.jpg[/img
Another store side along US37 in the ville.
[img]http://www.teamsouthbound.com/pictureprocessor/images/Baldwinstoreside2.jpg
The salmon were coming up the river and it was a sight to see. I found out that one doesn't "fish" for spawning salmon. It's illegal, but the ONLY way to get one is hope to snag it in the mouth. Many "fishermen" were seen along the edge and in the river. Mamma Wolf and I paddled a portion of the PM and I tossed enough lures to lose several along the course. The river is not deep but the current is swift! I 'll have pictures later when I develop that roll of film. You can ask KT if the river is cold or not. While merrily tossing out a blade lure, I turned and saw her STANDING in the canoe at the bow. She didn't stand long. SPLASH! Her pride was hurt but nothing else. I gave her my flannel shirt and she replaced hers. The sun was up then, and I was having fun watching salmon cruising up the river so I stayed comfortable. She re-afirmed the disposition that a canoe will take if un-ballanced. :lol:
I had to wlak back for the truck some miles up stream, but I did catch a ride from some local natives who didn't want to take the money I offered for the ride. I had to leave it on their console. Camp dinner that night was a Jean's special of meat and noddles with coffee. I slept great and so did mamma Wolf after she changed clothes....
After three days we packed up and headed out ( in the rain) northwards. Stopped in Jay's Sproting goods in Gaylord to make several purchases.
One was for a pair of waders. I had left mine at home... sigh
That evening we made it to the Macanac bridge. High winds with gusts over 25mph had us travel accross with an "escort". My thoughts were the escort was only to become a witness and tell just how you went over in the event you were thrown from the bridge. The bridge is at 5 miles long and the water depth in the middle is right at 300 feet deep. This caused my pucker factor to increase somewhat.

After crossing we made tracks to Paridise, Michigan where we ate in a log tavern and I had buffaloe burger with iced beer. Some deer ran across the roads traveling there. We woke up the next morning and celabrated our 36th wedding aniversery in a shop with pasties and sodas. Off to sight see at the Falls next.

 

[Swampy]

the store front that didn't come out above.
swampy

 

[Swampy]

Talquaminan Falls. An Upper set and a lower falls. Many a good time spent here some 45-50 years ago. Back then you could get right up to the falls. Not so nowadays. But their beauty has always mezmorized me with its tannic waters falling in huge noise and water sprays.
The lower falls had to be taken in two pictures because of distance between them.

the first photo.

and mamma at the lower falls.

and the Upper Falls some miles above the Lower Falls.

There is now a brewry located at the Upper Falls where we tried their home brews... a bit stout but great on this chilly day.
Then off to set up camp at Deer Park, Michigan further west and along the Big Blue Lady ( Superior).
That evening as I was seting up camp and making the fire i heard a noise... a racoon was on the table with the bread!
I yelled and he dropped it but turned around for some handouts...

The wind was high but I tried to fish some off shore from the campsite. After a bit I gave up on trying to control the canoe and landed back at camp. Mamma had the right idea...

Two nights in the rain and wind and we headed westward. We took the shore line route and it was REMOTE! But beautiful once again. The Lady was angry and would stop every now and again to watch her display her might against the shore. It is a slow route and it was getting late before we pulled into a motel so we could dry out and relax. L'anse is a small village and has wonderful places to fish... but not in high winds and heavy rains. Senery was spectacular though... and I did catch one afternoon when the sun peeked out and fished from a small damand a small place in Houlton, Michigan where the lake boats habored. These boats were about 40-50 feet long and fully enclosed. Their power was desel with the stacks coming out of the small cabins. But no fish hit my lures... sigh
img]http://www.teamsouthbound.com/pictureprocessor/images/DoeandfawnnearLanseMi.jpg[/img]
The deer were there anyways.
We took a trip up to Copper Habor where gas was $2.09.9 a gal... I got 10 gals to get be back to the motel... 8)
Pics of the trip there coming shortly
swampy

 

[Swampy]

Located at the Upper Falls is a prayer that we here on the forum want to repeat to ourselves. It says a lot.

And I do love trees and their wood..
swampy

 

[Anonymous]

Friend Swampy,

Ya done good....even if you 'n Ole Jerry Lee both partial ta young women. 36 years ago Miz Swampy musta been mitey young.


Rite off the bat I noticed yer boat wuz crooked on yer truck. Wuz that before ya spent that $54? Did ya git an ole fella rack like Sparkey wuz talkin' bout?

I went out ta shoot some targets Sat. so I loaded my Caption 'n two Yahoos on the new rack. It helt up jest fine....even up ta 70 mph.

I really liked the pichurs of yer campin' spot, even tho it wuz real neat compared to me.

I sho like REAL beer too....the homemade kind like my brother makes. Once upon a time I asked him why he didnt put it in quarts since he had ta go ta a heap a trouble to bottle it anyway. He sez "if I did, you couldnt drink one 'n drive home".

Most of all I liked the falls. I seen rite off the big one on the bottom had a river left route. The sharp drop up on top looks a heap like Dick's Creek Ledge on the Chattooga. I got ta rememberin'. Work output dropped off considerable. :cry:

I know its time fer me ta quit thinkin' like that.

Ever paddled 'er fished the upper stretches of the Chattooga? Course it dont go thru Aintree, but I think they even closed off a stretch up at the top jest fer fishin'.

regards,

bearridge

 

[Swampy]

Bar, yer rat az rain again. The Fuston rack waz gott'in at Cabela's in Dundee. I had no front rack an' th' bow sat upon the top o' th' cab. Which reminds me... I gotta go an' paint that top now...
The high winds I had stretched the stainless bolts that hold down the rails on th' bed! ( Jack will have a field day with that one...)
So I iz gonna cut a section off o' th' front part of th' rail and place a 1/4 inch angle iron fer the forward tie down.I'll seal the liner with silicon to keep Mr. Rain frum bother'in mah bed.
The Chattanoggie river.... a lot o' you'uns don't know but I waz hatched in Chattanoggie back in the days when ya could tour Lookout Mountain wit out payin anyone fer doin so. I sent two days in Cleveland jest east o' th' city whar many a family member resides. Plans iz to do sum duck huntin around those partz. Even got a cuzin interested in thiz hare forum...
Now ya'll will hare frum an actual Swampy cuz that brings in th' fish on jest about every cast. He still gitz hiz moon in th' jarz ya'll mentioned earlier. Did ya know that after that big riff back in 18 an' sumthin it waz a bit o' a challenge to drink frum somethin that had Mason on hit? But the shine waz told that hit cleared out all the bad taste tharin. An ya hit it rat once again, only one tote kept many on shore or jest bobbin' aboutz fer the day.
I'll meet ya on th' Chattanogie one day an' will try sum o' that stump water an' bring in a mess o' them Tenneesse bronze backs in' the mountainz too!
swampy

 

[Tom @ Buzzard Bluff]

Mackinac Bridge

Swampy write:
[ That evening we made it to the Macanac bridge. High winds with gusts over 25mph had us travel accross with an "escort". My thoughts were the escort was only to become a witness and tell just how you went over in the event you were thrown from the bridge. The bridge is at 5 miles long and the water depth in the middle is right at 300 feet deep. This caused my pucker factor to increase somewhat. ]
Does that *&^%$ bridge still have the perforated metal deck so it looks like you aren't being held up by anything when you're moving?
Back when I was on it ('80?) I don't think they had escorts for high wind conditions. I was driving a '71 VW Camper. They are tall, flat sided things and every time I would pass one of the support towers the VW would jump about a half lane as it came into the wind 'shadow' of the tower and then immediately back the other way as it came back into the wind. High pucker factor indeed!
I found a different route when I returned. :lol:

 

[Floatforfish]

Thank god ya got around to some pictures. I was startin' to think ya just went shopping. How is the boat coming along?

Aaron

 

[Swampy]

Tom, the bridge hasn't changed much at all. In '90 while crossing it in high winds, they put everyone in the inside lanes at 20mph, in '95 no winds both ways crossing,. Note the grading in the picture above where the plastic barrels are. I hate that lane... :lol:
Only one car went over in its history. A girl in a Yugo was blown over durring high winds. I don't know the wind speed that will cause them to shut down the traffic, but imagine ice and snow and wind???
So you went The Dell's path back! lol I tried to get KT to cross Lake Michigan at Ludington on the ferry boat. She just stared at me... so much for that idea.... They no longer have ferry boat service at the Straights which would be cool... they do still run them to the Island and back. They must be hydro boats with the large plumes spraying out. Didn't seem to take them long to move out there.
But I don't thing I would have crossed with that rig of yours back in the 80s when I crossed last month... I wouldn't have been worth squat when I did get across...
swampy

 

[Anonymous]

A girl in a Yugo was blown over durring high winds.

Friend Swampy,

First, I apologize ta any of ya'll who lost a gal in a Yugo blowd off a bridge, but I reckon that haz the makings fer a country song (Yankee style off course). Jack, I bet ya kin help? :wink:

regards,

bearridge
Bodine School of Music
songwriter, retired

 

[Kayak Jack]

Re: Mackinac Bridge

(SNIP) Does that *&^%$ bridge still have the perforated metal deck so it looks like you aren't being held up by anything when you're moving?
Back when I was on it ('80?) I don't think they had escorts for high wind conditions. I was driving a '71 VW Camper. They are tall, flat sided things and every time I would pass one of the support towers the VW would jump about a half lane as it came into the wind 'shadow' of the tower and then immediately back the other way as it came back into the wind. High pucker factor indeed! (SNIP)

The Mackinac Bridge (pronounced MACK - i - naw) is also called the Mighty Mac or just Big Mac. The perforated steel planking in the middle of the bridge benefits the bridge several ways.

First off, it is lighter than concrete. Second, it dumps part of the wind load imposed on the structure. This minimizes bridge sway in high winds. It also dumps rain and snow. It also gets the hearts of suthners restarted after the amazing beauty of the state had perhaps stopped the vital function from just pure admiration and amazement. This precludes many cases of open heart surgery that would otherwise be necessary.

In fact, one fella from Texas expired before anyone could help him. He was a big guy; so big that none of the funeral homes around had a coffin big enough to fit him. But, after an enema there wasn’t much of him left, and they could ship him back to Texas in a matchbox.

The gal in the Yugo (she had already flunked a most basic IQ test right there) drove off the bridge. Had there been skid marks, it would have appeared an accident. No skid marks indicate there had been no control input attempted. Get the picture?

 

[Tom @ Buzzard Bluff]

Re: Mackinac Bridge

[after an enema there wasn’t much of him left, and they could ship him back to Texas in a matchbox.]
Dadgummit Jack, wish you wouldn't describe me so graphically. :shock: By the time I got to t'other side of the strait I thing I woulda' fit that matchbox. I forgot to mention that in addition to the design of the VW that I had my Old Town Camper tied on top so it wa even taller with a more exaggerated profile than normal and that double-barrelled lane jump at the support towers caused muscle spasms that constipated me for @ a week. :wink:
Joking aside it really wasn't very safe with the winds that were whistling down the straits that day. Fortunately I was on the way to Canada so I picked a different route on the way home anyway in order to see more strange territory. Not that yuppers aren't strange enough but some variety is a good thing.
BTW, I don't know how many of you know what the Austin Mini-minor was, but it was the first of the practical 'econo-box' mini-cars. A tiny thing, very short overall. Somewhere back in the boonies in Ontario I took a wrong turn that terminated in someones driveway. While turning around I spied one of the funniest vehicles I've ever seen. In their backyard was a Mini-minor that they had attempted to turn into a mini-motorhome. A camper body was built from the back of the front seats to the rear of the car. Since the OA length of a Mini-minor is only @ 10' it looked like nothing so much as an outhouse on wheels. I still haven't figured out how anyone would sleep in it except standing up. On the other hand, it is Canada, so I suppose it coulda been a motorized ice-fishing shanty. If I ever stumble onto my pics from that trip I'm gonna frame that one. :lol: