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8 • GAYLORD NOW • August ‘08 A Gaylord Herald Times publication AuSable River Canoe Marathon Tradition The AuSable River Canoe Marathon, billed as the longest nonstop canoe race in North America and the World’s Toughest Spectator Race, this year celebrates its 61st year. Teams start in Grayling at 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 26 and finish on Sunday, 120 miles later in Oscoda after a night of paddling. Dozens of racers from all over the world compete for some of the $50,000 in prize money. Competitors paddle an average of fifty paddle strokes per minute to finish this grueling race. Photo courtesy of Mark Biale The Course The Competitors The Spectators Hundreds of spectators follow the racers downstream throughout the night encouraging and cheering them on from the banks of the river and from bridges along the way. Marathon caps week of River Festival events GRAYLING — Not all of the action will be found on the river at this year’s 61st Weyerhaeuser AuSable River Canoe Marathon. rayling is gearing up for its AuSble River Festival July 19-27 in nticipation of the Lemans-style tart which will kick off the marathon race July 26 at 9 p.m. Spectators to this year’s 120- mile canoe race will have plenty of non spectator activities to choose from leading up to the big event. Art exhibits, chicken barbecues, ice cream socials and a pre marathon program, are just a few of the events on tap to choose from. Event organizers plan to kick things off with a vintage baseball game July 19, at 1 p.m. at Hartwick Pines State Park and something called “Woodshaving Days”, also at the state park. Time trials for the big race are scheduled for July 24 from 4-8 p.m. at Penrod’s Canoe Livery and again on July 25 from 2-5:45 p.m. The 33rd Annual AuSable River Festival Arts and Crafts Show will be held at the Grayling City Park July 25 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and July 26 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Both dates will also feature a quilt show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Icehouse Quilt Shop and a beer tent hosted by the Grayling Eagles Club beginning at 11 a.m. to closing July 25 and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 26. Prior to the start of the big race on July 26 the “Celebrate Grayling” Parade along Michigan Avenue will begin at 3 p.m. A compete calendar of events can be found in this year’s 61st Weyerhaeuser AuSable River Canoe Marathon booklet. For official race information go to www.ausablecanoemarathon.org
Fishing Hope for Pigeon River restoration after silt spill Austin Alexander Editor’s note: Austin Alexander is a 14-year-old Howell resident who for the past several years has been flyfishing the Pigeon River with John Walters, a family friend and president of the Headwaters Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Walters received this letter and forwarded it to the Herald Times on behalf of Alexander, who was “shocked” to hear of the sediment release and fish kill on the river the night of June 22. By Austin Alexander Guest Commentary My name is Austin Alexander. I am 14 years old and have been fly fishing for three years. When I was 11, I was fortunate to be sponsored by the Headwaters Chapter of Trout Unlimited to attend Youth Conservation and Fly Fishing School. This was a four-day long program held at the Ram Center on Higgins Lake. After learning about conservation and learning to fly fish, John and Sue Walters took me in to stay at their home for the rest of that week. I fell immediately in love with the sport, but John and Sue made it my passion. They taught me many things; one of the most important that I practice is catch and release when trout fishing. Since then, they have allowed me to stay with them for a week each summer to fish with them. I have successfully fished the North Branch and Main Branch of the AuSable, Black and Manistee rivers; but my favorite is the Pigeon River. This year when I was at their home, we fished every day on the Pigeon River (no joke). I caught a number of trout including all three species: brookies, browns and rainbows. SOME of them that I will always remember were a 13-inch and an 11-inch brookie and a 20-inch brown. All of the fish we caught were very large and healthy. While fishing, John and I saw a total of seven fawns; one of them was actually in the river. We helped it to a shallow spot, it stood up in the grass, we took a picture of it and it escaped what could have been a horrible fate. This fawn was less than a week old. Every year I have gone fishing with John and Sue I have left with lifelong memories and new stories to tell, especially this year. UNFORTUNATELY, I recently received bad news of the Pigeon River where we had fished the week before. There is a private dam upstream from where we fish called Song of the Morning Ranch dam. I was told there was a discharge of tons and tons of sediment that killed lots of fish and destroyed excellent trout habitat needed for survival. All of the fish I caught are <strong>now</strong> believed to be dead. I can no longer look forward to what the fishing will be like for quite some time and adding to the lifelong memories I have had on the Pigeon River. The only hope I have is for restoration and a successful return of the river in years to come. I believe this dam should no longer be in use and able to ever cause such devastating damage to the Pigeon River, that I have come to k<strong>now</strong> and love, again. Maybe with years of hard work our river can become as amazingly beautiful and bountiful as in years past. Professional Massage Tisha Murdoch ~ Pene Murdoch ~ Karen Fackler Beth Woods ~ Nicole Pratt ~ Cindy Bone Relaxation • Deep Tissue • Manual Manipulation Pre-Natal • Facial Massage • Raindrop Aromatherapy Thai Massage • Myofascial Release • Hot Stone Treatment By appointment Monday - Saturday • Gift Certificates 1419 S. Otsego Ave. Gaylord, Michigan (989) 732-6936 Open Daily at 8am Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Specials. Cocktails Authentic American - Italian Cuisine 2583 South Old 27, Just off I-75 - Exit 279 Gaylord (989) 732-4431 or 732-7171 Steak Dinner $850 Includes Side Dish • Homemade Bread Combination Dinner $1575 Any two combinations of Steak, Ribs, Shrimp or Chicken Includes Side Dish • Homemade Bread All-You-Can-Eat Pasta $995 (Thursday ONLY) Three Types of Pasta & Sauces A Gaylord Herald Times publication August ‘08 • GAYLORD NOW • 9
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