Last Saturday Mary and I decided to go up to Grayling Michigan to see the start of the
annual Canoe Marathon. We have wanted to go before this but we usually have company and
have never made it.
The race gun goes off at 9PM and we wanted to get a decent place to see the running start.
We got to town and found a great parking spot and headed to the river. I saw a guy and
asked him what would be a good vantage point and he told us on a bridge right at the spot
they entered the river after their running start. It was lucky for us that we asked as he
was an official of the race and the spot he sent us to was great. We had to wait for 2 and
a half hours but what the heck, there was entertainment.
This is the 61st annual Canoe Marathon and there were about 76 teams entered. They have
speed runs the day before and when each team places is where they place on the starting
line. It is about a three block run with canoes and equipment in hand to the river where
they start the grueling run down the river.
The teams, many having never paddled in the nearly 16-hour marathon before, will have to
make their way from the headwaters of the AuSable in Grayling, through meandering channels
and over six dams before coming to the finish at Mill Street Bridge.
Much of the race, which starts at 9 p.m. in Grayling at Ray
annual Canoe Marathon. We have wanted to go before this but we usually have company and
have never made it.
The race gun goes off at 9PM and we wanted to get a decent place to see the running start.
We got to town and found a great parking spot and headed to the river. I saw a guy and
asked him what would be a good vantage point and he told us on a bridge right at the spot
they entered the river after their running start. It was lucky for us that we asked as he
was an official of the race and the spot he sent us to was great. We had to wait for 2 and
a half hours but what the heck, there was entertainment.
This is the 61st annual Canoe Marathon and there were about 76 teams entered. They have
speed runs the day before and when each team places is where they place on the starting
line. It is about a three block run with canoes and equipment in hand to the river where
they start the grueling run down the river.
The teams, many having never paddled in the nearly 16-hour marathon before, will have to
make their way from the headwaters of the AuSable in Grayling, through meandering channels
and over six dams before coming to the finish at Mill Street Bridge.
Much of the race, which starts at 9 p.m. in Grayling at Ray
Very good post, Royal. Seems like you all have had a really good summer! 