Training Log Archive: Mr Wonderful

Took out one of the inlaws' 10.4' Viper kayaks. This sounds silly, but this was my first time on the Little Muskegon in 20 years of heading to these parts.

On arrival, we had a spirited discussion with other river users as to the expected duration of this leg. I didn't measure it on mapmyrun, but swagging it at 2.5 miles as the crow flies, even if it was 2x from zig zagging, that should be 5 miles or so, and then I can probably paddle 3 mph, so over one but under two hours.

They expected closer to 5 hours, but eventually confessed to not paddling extensively on their previous leg, and based on the contents of their boats, they were more focused on hydration.

They called for a ride, I took my chances.

Nice section!


Several heron, a pair of swans, soft-shell turtle.

C • “Focused on hydration”. Haha. 3

Full clockwise VASA trail including the Stromboli option.

Session one, two hours. I can dunk on their hoops from the 3'6" depth, but not from the 4' depth.

Also, I timed it, swimming face under with Harvey riding on my back like I am a dolphin, it takes just over 20 seconds to get from one end of his favorite pool to the other. Probably not bad to have at least brushed up on swimming prior to WT

Plus another 1:15 or so for the evening. He is progressing swimming wise, I hope that manifests itself at the next lesson

Our trip randomly coincided with a free day at Sleeping Bear - couldn't pass that up!

Not the most restful evening, with a few wake ups from Harvey.

But on the road before 6 am! I saw sunrise was 6:33, so figured a 6 am arrival would be good. I would have been okay with a 5:40 arrival I think, tons of light.

Only three cars in the lot on arrival. One would eventually leave a sticker for their Virginia gym under my wiper, highly relevant.

Subaru parked!



Nice morning!



This is as far as Harvey and I made it last year.



This time I went to the top!



I would be the first human to do the full hike this morning, based on footprint freshness, but not the first critter to roam the dunes!



I had great views, until I spent 20 minutes staring at my phone texting daughter who was not enjoying the power outage back home.



I see why people get into trouble. You get up the main dune, and then you get to sort of this spot, and it seems not that far away, but it's still quite a bit off, relatively speaking, and all soft energy-absorbing sand.



Lake Michigan!



Once I train Harvey into being a camping boy, we'll get ourselves dropped off on South Manitou island for the weekend (shown, with North Manitou visible behind it).



Would have loved to hike way up or down this coast but one eventually runs out of time.



Headed back



Car visible, more or less right on time

About 3:15 in the waterpark wrangling the boy (2:20 and 1:00 ish), which according to him was not enough! Some small walking around town earlier, which according to him was too much!

Sleeping Bear is free tomorrow, fingers crossed I am not sleepy early.

Plus three hours (2:20 + 45) of supervising a four year non swimmer in a waterpark, which while not exactly exercise is not exactly rest.

Nice paddle from Angel’s base camp in BNM’s packraft