Day 1 Summary

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Day #1 was a great success. A slow river and headwinds turned what was supposed to be a 4.5 hour paddle into a much longer one, but the sights and wildlife were worth it! A line of thunderstorms even split around us! @hrwc @Friedliarts #huron100 #huronriver #canoe #canoeing

A post shared by Meredith Nickerson (@100mionthehuron) on Aug 11, 2020 at 4:32pm PDT

Visiting the Headwaters

 

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Today we visited the headwaters of the Huron River at the outlet stream of Big Lake. We were amazed by the variety of plants and animals that we found! 🌿🐸🐟 #huron100 Check it out at www.facebook.com/huron100

A post shared by Meredith Nickerson (@100mionthehuron) on Aug 10, 2020 at 12:05pm PDT

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Ngah izitchigay nibi ohnjay I will do it for the water "the water is sick...and people need to really fight for that water, to speak for that water, to love that water" (Josephine Mandamin, Mother Earth Water Walk) The Water Song Brought forth by Mashkoonce Day, Wasaw Wahzhoo Banaise Dodem (Condor Clan) Performed by Dorene Day, Waubanewquay, Marten Clan Produced by Stephen Lang The story of the Nibi (Water) Song told by Beatrice Menase Kwe Jackson, Migizi Clan. This song was written by Doreen Day at the request of her grandson. She attended a conference about the water in which the internationally known speaker, Dr. Masaru Emoto said, the very least we should do every day, is to speak to the water: Water, we love you. We thank you. We respect you. So she did this. Every day on their drive to drop Mashkoonce (Little Elk) to school, they passed a body of water. And every day they said these words to the water as they drove by. They made games by saying it in different voices and then would say it as fast as they could. Then one day Mashkoonce, said, "Nokomis why can't we say this in our language?" So, Dorene asked her daughter's language teacher to write it in Ojibwemowin. Dorene had the words taped to the car visor as they learned the words. One day this grandson Mashkoonce said, "Nokomis why don't we sing the words, don't you think the water would like it to be sung?" So she thought about it and came up with the tune. They sang this song to the water every morning on their drive to school. It is sung like a lullaby and we don't use shakers or drums. Doreen and her grandson, Mashkoonce, give permission for everyone to share this song... sing it to the water every day. Ne-be Gee Zah- gay- e- goo Gee Me-gwetch -wayn ne- me -- goo Gee Zah Wayn ne- me- goo" Shared from NibiWalk.org https://youtu.be/ks5IIzYX3t8

A post shared by Meredith Nickerson (@100mionthehuron) on Aug 8, 2020 at 5:30am PDT

Wilderness Wednesdays: Favorite Faces of the Huron

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Wilderness Wednesdays: Favorite Faces! Here are a few favorite species that Mer has spotted on past paddles down the Huron. This river is full of amazing flora and fauna, and this sort of biodiversity is worth enjoying and protecting! #huron100 #biodiversity #ecology #nature

A post shared by Meredith Nickerson (@100mionthehuron) on Aug 5, 2020 at 1:09pm PDT

Gear Shakedown

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What does one pack for a 5-day canoe trip? I've started shaking down my gear, and though not fully packed, it gives a good idea of what's coming with. The majority of this gear will fit into a huge backpack-style drybag for easy portages! #huron100 #canoe #kayak #rivertrip

A post shared by Meredith Nickerson (@100mionthehuron) on Aug 4, 2020 at 12:33pm PDT

MI Paddle Stewards, Part 2

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Informative, useful, and painless! Just completed the FREE MI Paddle Stewards online training program, and it's really well done. From IDing and reporting invasives to kayak cleaning, it is full of great info for any paddler! #huron100 @michiganseagrant http://ow.ly/aSFH50AOLwO

A post shared by Meredith Nickerson (@100mionthehuron) on Aug 2, 2020 at 7:13pm PDT

MI Paddle Stewards Program

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Hey, fellow paddlers! Have you heard about the Michigan Paddle Stewards program through Michigan Sea Grant? What a great way to teach paddling enthusiasts how to monitor their favorite waterways for invasive species! #huron100 @miseagrant https://www.wlns.com/news/michigan/love-michigans-waters-online-program-lets-residents-paddle-for-a-cause/

A post shared by Meredith Nickerson (@100mionthehuron) on Aug 2, 2020 at 8:52am PDT

Pointe Mouillee

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Today we scouted out Pointe Mouillée, where the Huron River meets Lake Erie, and where we will conclude our trip. This marshy shoreline is essential for migratory birds, waterfowl, and many other species of plants and animals! #huron100 #huronriver #lakeerie

A post shared by Meredith Nickerson (@100mionthehuron) on Aug 1, 2020 at 11:04am PDT

Fundraising Fridays!

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Through our posts, we hope to highlight the strengths and struggles of our beautiful river. The one thing we do know is that this river has given so much to so many. Please consider giving back! https://www.facebook.com/donate/3075366145833596/ #huronriver #huron100 #donate #instagood

A post shared by Meredith Nickerson (@100mionthehuron) on Jul 31, 2020 at 5:25am PDT

Throwback Thursday

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#tbt Canoes and the Huron River have a long history. from indigenous tribes and French fur traders who used the Huron as a "highway" across SE Michigan to settlers who embraced the recreational opportunities on the river, canoes and this waterway are closely connected #huron100

A post shared by Meredith Nickerson (@100mionthehuron) on Jul 30, 2020 at 3:00am PDT

Wilderness Wednesdays

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Wilderness Wednesday: Rare fish of the Huron River! Did you know that the #huronriver is home to several species of rare, threatened, and even endangered fish species? Here are just a few of the more uncommon species of fish identified in a study from the @MichiganDNR #huron100

A post shared by Meredith Nickerson (@100mionthehuron) on Jul 29, 2020 at 1:03am PDT

Tots Thru Teens Tuesday

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Tots Thru Teens Tuesday: Local parents often ask, "What's the best river trip to do with my kids? Mer's favorite family-friendly stretch is from Hudson Mills Metropark to Dexter-Huron Metropark (2 hr trip) or to Delhi (4 hr trip) Map here: http://ow.ly/wM3530r1cTl #huron100

A post shared by Meredith Nickerson (@100mionthehuron) on Jul 28, 2020 at 7:23am PDT

Music & Art Mondays

Music and Art Monday! While paging through an out-of-print book about the Huron, I came across a darling ditty written by Jay Steilstra. Here is the original piece and my friend Andrew's interpretation.

Not only do I have talented friends who can write music, but I also have friends who can play music!  First, my friend and neighbor, Jessica, played the tune and chords on her piano.....

Then Alex, a former coworker and dear friend from our days at camp, was quick to play his own interpretation of this fun tune!

While not as talented as my many musical friends, I finally gave the song a shot on my ukulele.  This song is catchy, and I've found myself humming it about the house as I prep for our trip.

So many thanks to Jay Steilstra for writing such a great song about our river, and to my incredibly talented friends for bringing this song to life!

Sunday Summary

This week, I got our 15.5 ft Pelican Colorado canoe river-worthy!  Years ago, my husband (boyfriend at the time) bought this boat, barely used, from a couple on Craigslist for $125.  It was a GREAT deal and since its purchase, it has been on adventures from the Manistee to the Maumee.  

The boat originally came with a center bench, which we decided we didn't want/need as it gave us less room for gear on multi-day paddle trips.  I had the seat removed and a yoke installed, which worked for some time.  However, we soon noticed that the canoe floor would bow upwards and displace the keelson on the floor of the canoe without said seat!  When loaded down with gear, this hasn't been a huge problem, but it turns out that it's a not a good idea to mess with the structural soundness of a boat that one is about to take on a 5-day, 4 night trip that involves 11 portages!

As such, I undid the damage done by ordering a new seat and structural support.  The install was straightforward, and now our boat is ready to go!

I also decided to add some custom vinyl decals to jazz the old girl up.  She may get a few more before our trip is underway!

Enjoy the significantly sped up process below!

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Sunday Summary: Lots of gear prep this week as our trip grows closer. Our beloved vessel (15.5 ft Pelican Colorado Canoe) got a good wash, a structural upgrade with a new center bench, and a sweet new decal! She's ready for adventure! #huron100 #diy Pelican International

A post shared by Meredith Nickerson (@100mionthehuron) on Jul 26, 2020 at 7:11am PDT