On the Taqhuamenon River

On my last day in Northern Michigan I crossed the straights of Mackinaw on a sojourn up to the U.P. The upper peninsula - the land of Hemingway, Hiawatha, lumberjacks, sportsmen, and the wild north. Road tripping with friends Nicole and Gardner Mike we visited the Taqhuaemenon River.

Located in the northeast of the peninsula the Taqhuaemenon takes in marshes, lakes, and thick forests draining into Lake Superior and the edge of Whitefish Bay. The river itself though is most famous for it's falls - stained brown by leaf tannins. Sometimes nicknamed the "root beer" falls.

We avoided the tourists by walking to places lazy, overweight people can't follow. Places you can't drive to. You would be amazed how much a deterrent exercise and inconvenience is to most Americans. Better for the three of us though. Padding barefoot through the forests we meandered by the river margins examining small wonders - polished stones, blue flag iris, even wild chicken-of-the woods mushrooms for the cooking pot!

Being with like-minded, introspective and creative people like Mike and Nicole was a real pleasure for me. I was struck by that beautiful river and sharing the simple goodness of the place. Rushing water, the smell of hemlocks, damselflies and mussel shells - what more do you need?