Kayaking the Lower and Upper Platte Rivers

While John was here, we decided to try our hand at kayaking.  Several years ago, we kayaked the nearby Betsie river.  While it was nice, we were looking for something a bit bigger...and something that didn't involve leeches.  Trip Advisor told me that the Platte rivers were THE place to be in Traverse City.

So, I decided to rent local, and we found a kayak/canoe rental store in Honor, Michigan.  The lady was nice enough.  We had limited time, so we decided to tackle the Lower Platte river, a nice leisurely river with an estimated finishing time of two hours.

Thankfully, John agreed to a double kayak.  My arms aren't the strongest, and there is no doubt that I like to sit in the front of the kayak and look like I'm paddling (when I'm really just enjoying the ride that John is providing).  While it was nice to kayak, it was a bit on the boring side.  There wasn't much current, and we finished well under two hours.

I guess the upside to there being no current was that I could snap a picture anytime I wanted.  Although I kept my phone in a Ziploc baggie, I took it out so many times that it had to sit in rice for a day before the water finally emptied out of it.

The crew :-)

Glo had no fear of jumping out at anytime
to explore the shore.

And these were the kinds of critters she was finding!

Hannie likes to get out to cool off.  It was rather hot that day.

My favorite picture of the day!  It almost looks like Glo is holding up the beautiful blue sky!

So fast forward two weeks.  Ethan and Rebecca had just arrived, and the girls and I had exactly one day off, so as soon as Glo was done with her morning rehearsal, we headed back to Honor Kayak and Canoe Rental.

This time, I told the lady that we wanted to do the Upper Platte.  I had a great recommendation from my nurse friend, Kristie, that we "had" to do it.  

"It will be fun!" she said.  

"It is beautiful!" she said.  

"You can't miss it!" she said.

As I was studying the map of the river at the rental shop, I noticed two interesting facts on the side of the map:  the "tip rate", and the river "class".  Not knowing what either of these meant, I asked.  No, the tip rate of 50% does not mean that we tip the owner 50% of the bill; it means that you have a 50% chance of tipping.  No problem, I thought.  We didn't even come close to tipping last time.  The river class of 1 meant that it was a class 1 rapids.  Wondering what the scale was, the owner's friend told me it was on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the most dangerous.  Well, in my head I thought, "It's right next to ZERO which is no rapids, so we'll be fine."  The four hour estimated finishing time didn't even scare me; we'd finished in half the time last time.  

She signed us up.  Ethan and Rebecca in a double canoe, Hannah and I in another double, and Glo alone.  And it's here that I make a list of things to remember next time I decide to do this:

1.  Don't do this.  Don't even think about ever getting in a kayak again.

2.  In the event that you choose to ignore #1, remember that you probably will die if you do it.

3.  Bring nothing that you care about losing.  Don't bring a phone in a Ziploc baggie.  Don't bring your favorite $200 pair of Maui Jim sunglasses that your husband bought you as a love token.  Don't even bring shoes.  And those important things called oars?  Hog tie them to the kayak because chances are you are going to lose those too.

4.  Remember that you lost all of the above mentioned items in #3.  Or at least ruined the phone and lost everything else as you tried to save yourself.

5.  Never bring your sweet, pregnant daughter-in-law on the river, unless of course you listen to her and go tubing on the Lower Platte river.  And remember that you might lose her too.

6.  When you and your lovely daughter are in a kayak that is too big for the sharp turns and twists of the river, and your kayak goes under low hanging branches, and you are caught underneath your kayak, in water, with the current trying to push you further under and drown you, remember to stay calm and think positive thoughts.  Kind of like Tinkerbell.

7.  Remember that marathons come in handy in all walks of life.  When you pass every bend and think that the end MUST be straight ahead, remember that it's not.  Just like those pesky final five miles in a marathon.  You wish they ended in a mere five minutes but they don't.  The map said it would take four hours.  It will probably take five.  Or even six.

8.  Bring bug spray.

9.  If you forget #8, remember to stop by a grocery store on the way home and buy a lifetime supply of Benedryl.

10.  Remember to bring along a spry 15-year-old who has yet to taste of the nearness of death.  She will happily hop out at every turn and help all others involved in staying alive.

11.  Ignore the drunk couple on the side of the river who sit on the shore, watching people almost drown.  And restrain your desire to kill them as they laugh at you when you have almost lost everything, including your life.  Listen to them tell you that the rapids are actually Class 3.  Make a mental note to contact your lawyer back home in preparation for some serious litigation.

12.  Remember to laugh.  It will keep you from crying when you still have two hours to travel with only one oar and no current.  And remember to sing.  And connect with Mother River.  (It can't hurt, right?)

13.  Show off your battle scars the next day at work.  Abrasions, bruises and bites.

14.  Kill Kristie while you're at it.

15.  Ignore the following pictures. The happiness is a total lie.

Everyone was still smiling....and dry.

Glo, always waiting around for us.

Hannah, channeling her inner Aussie.

See how we still have hats, sunglasses and OARS?  Live it up, people.  Live it up.