http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/567721407KouRMx
Sunny afternoon, light winds, temps in the mid 60’s all made for a great day.
Come join us for a 7 mile paddle in northern Oakland County
along the Shiawassee River for some spectacular fall colors.
Date : Oct 5th, 2008 START = 1:00 PM
Launch : WaterWorks Park in Holly, MI
Finish : Strom Park in Fenton, MI
SHUTTLE service available
CANOE RENTAL is available thru Heavners Livery on site that day
- WaterWorks Park - 602 South Broad St, Holly, MI 48442-1674
It’s on Broad Street aka (Milford Road) in Holly
http://www.headwaterstrailsinc.org/images/ShiawasseeRiverMap.jpg
http://www.headwaterstrailsinc.org/images/SE_Michigan_ Inset_Map.jpg
There will be a short presentation in WaterWorks Park, 602 Broad Street in Holly, at 1:00 pm.
about the Top of the Shiawassee Heritage Water Trail.
Participants will start from there at 1:15 pm and be off the river by 5pm.
The route is seven scenic miles from Holly to Fenton, which takes from 2 to 4 hours
depending on paddling speed.
Heavner Canoe Rental is providing canoes and kayaks for rent on site at approximately $40 apiece.
People who want to rent should make an advance reservation by calling 248-685-2379
and find out the exact price at that time.
Headwaters Trails will be providing return transportation
from Strom Park in Fenton back to WaterWorks Park.
People who bring their own craft are asked to make a
$5 contribution to that service; for others, transport is included in the price of renting.
The river is high at this time and clear of obstacles, so passage over beaver dams
and around tight corners should be fairly easy.
The event will take place even if the day is cloudy,
so participants should dress for the weather.
In the event of thunderstorms, we will, of course, cancel as the
final mile across the open Fenton Millpond could be dangerous.
However, the crisp air and the sight of fall foliage along the way make
this one last treat before the winter season sets in.
Come join us for “Canoeing in Color.”
Headwaters Trails, Inc. is Hosting the event.
Sue Julian, President: 248-634-3513 : sjulian@provide.net
Doug Lanyk, Vice-President: 248-634-4551 : dslanyk@comcast.net
Background info
http://shiawassee-river.blogspot.com/
My how things change.
Jimmy and I Took a trip yesterday evening from
Holly’s Waterworks Park to Bush Park in Fenton.
My expectations were slightly low water and an easy paddle.
So much for my powers of precognition.
The water level at waterworks park was about 3 inches higher
than I would have thought. The recent rainfall that missed
my house must have hit somewhere else in the headwaters region.
It was a good start to the journey. The river was quiet
and the wildlife was repeatedly surprised by us quietly
gliding down the river. Numerous deer, fish, turtles,
and heron were motivated to seek further cover upon
being observed at close quarters.
There is a tree partially blocking the river just after
the 3 tubes. You can still paddle around on the the shallow side.
It’s small and will be easily removed, but beware if you try it,
it’s covered in poison ivy. The quiet paddle was just about
perfect until another downed tree just before Fish Lake Rd.
Last week Jimmy had to portage the tree. Last night we had enough
water to bump over it. Once again it was smooth sailing.
The next item of note was the water level in Haddon pond.
It was noticeably lower. The beaver created marsh following the
pond had lot’s of fresh bank showing and a bit of challenging
paddling to go around trees we are accustomed to going over.
The reason for the low water level was soon apparent.
The big beaver dam is gone! I don’t know if it had help
but the center of the old dam is now completely washed out.
No drop whatsoever. This has aesthetic ramifications.
The old dump that comes up to the river at that point
is now showing a whole lot of garbage.
Some new work near Scarbury’s Ford was noticed too.
The ford itself had low water and we had to bump our way across.
The last beaver dam before the Fenton Millpond has been beefed up.
It’s now bigger and badder than ever before.
It’s about a one foot drop that we skated over.
The millpond itself was a pungent mess. It is severely grown over.
It was a bit of work to get the boats across.
After dumping our first load of picked up garbage off at
Strom park we were rewarded for our work by finding a
blue grass band playing at the bandstand in Downtown Dibbleville.
As we portaged the dam, lot’s of curious people questioned us
about paddling on the river. It was a good opportunity for
educating more people about our efforts. Below the dam
we launched Jimmy in his canoe just before I did a seal launch
off of the rocks. It was fun when the the crowd listening to the
band brokeout in applause and cheers in the middle of a song.
From the Dam to Bush Park was a bigger challenge than the millpond.
The water had disapeared. It was very shallow for most of the rest
of the trip. Where we did the cleanup a couple of weeks ago it was
hard to tell we had been there.
The trees that were totally submerged when we cut those above are
now completely above the water. More garbage has been exposed too.
By this time it was getting dark and we were glad that my truck was
right there. A longer trip would have been less than fun.
Get outside.
Doug.
Lazy summer days, feet dangling in the still cool waters of the placid lake. That’s what Michigan living is all about. We are truly blessed to be able to experience all four seasons. Even the bitter cold of winter makes us appreciate days like today so much the more. The video that we would like to share with you today captures the simple pleasures of enjoying a nice, warm day feeding the ducks on Lake Fenton.
Lake Fenton is the premier lake in Fenton, Michigan. It’s open to the public with a pay-to-launch public access facility. A handful of years ago, due to commercial development, a popular area of the lake for people to “tie up” and have a good time that went by the nickname “Pig Beach” was closed down. Now it appears that the peninsula on the south end of the lake by the nickname of “Eagle Point” is the new hot hang out spot.
In 2007, FentonSays captured a view of a fairly busy weekend out at Eagle Point. One reader suggested we take another look at it on the 4th of July. We did exactly that (see, we read what our readers have to say, and we respond!).
NOTE: The 2007 FentonSays.com video collection is now available for purchase online! The DVD has much sharper quality of video than can be seen on YouTube or on our site. Get your commemorative thirty-five video segments in the first ever video of its kind.
Michigan is known for it’s four seasons and thus a multitude of various outdoor sports. Wake surfing is one such sport. Grab a wake board and zoom behind your nearest ski boat for some wet and wacky outdoor fun. Silver Lake is one of the premier, all-sports lakes in Fenton, MI.
Presented by the Lake Fenton Property Owners Association. Fun for the entire family!
RING OF FIRE - Friday, July 11th at 10:00 p.m.
Make Lake Fenton glow red with flares on your dock or shoreline. Flares only $2.25 each
HAWAIIAN LUAU & DANCE with BOBBY STANDALL - Saturday, July 12th from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Fenton Moose Lodge on Lake Fenton
$17.50 for tickets - adults only
FLINT MASTERS SINGERS CONCERT - Sunday, July 13th at 4:00 p.m.
North end of the lake, in front of condos. Enjoy patriotic music, show tunes and oldies.
SILVER LAKE SKI TEAM - FREE SHOW - Friday, July 18th at 5:30 p.m.
North end of the lake, come by boat, anchor or float or park at Township Hall.
DAYLIGHT BOAT PARADE - Saturday, July 19th at 7:00 p.m.
Starts in Cranes’ Cove, counter-clockwise around the lake. Any decorated boat or jet-ski can participate.
Purchase tickets and flares at Ambiance Salon at 1442 Torrey Road (north of South Long Lake Road). For more information you can call 810-714-2994 or go to www.mylakefenton.com.
Coordinates: Lat:42.827821, Lon:-83.717816
Town, Range, Section: 05N, 06E, 14
Waterbody: Lake Fenton
Surface Area (Acres): 866
Site Rules:
(1) Site Closed 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.
(2) Fee charged for use of a boating access site administered by Parks and Recreation Bureau.
(3) Site closed to all swimming, wading, and bathing.
(4) Special rules apply, such as special closing hours, rules against consumption of alcoholic beverages, or others. This designation is also used where the site rules are established by an agency other than the Department of Natural Resources.
Ramp Description:
A hard-surface ramp with sufficient water depth and lake or impoundment size to accommodate all trailerable watercraft (minimum of 2.5 - 3 feet deep at a distance of 20 feet from shore). The site is signed.
Site Administrator: Seven Lakes S.P.
Contact Number: (248) 634-7271
Total Parking Spaces: 79
Shiawassee River
Paddle Event and Race
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Start : WaterWorks Park in Holly, Michigan
End : Strom Park in Fenton, Michigan
Distance : 7 scenic miles of numerous twists and turns
Schedule :
10:00 am : On-site registration begins WaterWorks Building, Broad Street
11:30 am : Introductory Ceremony North side WaterWorks Park
11:45 am : Experienced Canoeists Start at Millpond, Broad Street
12:15 pm : Novice/Youth Canoeists Start at Millpond, Broad Street
12:45 pm : Kayak/ Single person canoeists Start on Shiawassee River, Broad Street
*1:15 pm : Leisure/fun paddle Start on Shiawassee River, Broad Street*
6:00 pm : Final river sweep completed
On-site availability of snacks and water.
Shuttle transport from 1pm – 6 pm for continuous transport of boats/ people
Trophies for First and Second Place in all three races.
For more info , maps, photos, videos visit these websites:
http://www.headwaterstrailsinc.org/
http://shiawassee-river.blogspot.com/
Registration Forms :
http://www.headwaterstrailsinc.org/RiverRaceregistrationform2008.pdf
Questions?
Call Sue Julian, 248-634-3513.
Rain or Shine!
http://shiawassee-river.blogspot.com/
Holly to Fenton
Date : October 6th
Time : Launch at 1:00 pm in the water (arrive early to set-up)
Launch : WaterWorks Park on Broad Street in Holly, Michigan
Take-Out : Strom Park in Fenton, Michigan
Contact Sue Julian - sjulian@provide.net or phone 248-634-3523
http://www.headwaterstrailsinc.org/whats_new.htm
Come out and experience a wonderful fall paddle in Oakland County along the Shiawassee River. Forget about all your troubles, relax and enjoy the wonderful colors on the trees for a few hours.
Maps - aditional info, video, weather, etc.
http://shiawassee-river.blogspot.com/
Sponsored By:
North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy
HeadWatersTrails Inc.
Catch a wave and you’re sitting on top of the world! No need to buy an expensive plane ticket to Hawaii. These surfer dudes are having fun surfing off their boat wake on Silver Lake. We wanted to share this gnarly idea with you on the tail end of the boating season so you’d have time to visualize your hangin’ ten maneuvers all winter long before attempting this next season. Spotter required, beer optional.
Click the picture a couple of times to get the video playing.
Once a year the Fenton Area Rotarians invite local seniors from various senior housing facilities to enjoy a delightful day out on Lake Fenton. On August 6th of this year, the Fenton Rotary entertained hundreds of people with a live band, delicious food and tranquil tours around one of the premier lakes in the area.
The gathering point and location of these festivities are near the north end of Lake Fenton at the Sailing Club. Tents and tables and chairs are set up to make this special day of entertainment as comfortable as possible.
Lake Fenton, one of the premier lakes in the Fenton, MI area is an all sports public lake. As such there is a public launch available to launch your boat. Found just off of Grove Park Road, the Lake Fenton pubic boat launch is a fairly convenient way for those who do not live on a lake to enjoy one of Michigan’s finest natural resources.
Here is a video of the Lake Fenton pubic boat launch from the boaters’ perspective:
Click the picture a couple of times to get the video started.
Eagle’s Point, as some have called it, is a peninsula on the south side of Lake Fenton. This area of the lake has been growing in popularity for people to tie up and enjoy all that Lake Fenton has to offer since the breaking up of “Pig Beach” on the north end of the lake. Genesee County Sheriff Robert J. Pickell and his crew have been patrolling the area this summer to help ensure boater safety and compliance with the local laws and ordinances. FentonSays.com made mention of the law enforcement coverage of Eagle’s Point over the 4th of July. We appreciate the comments of our readership base.
And now for your viewing pleasure, video footage of Eagle’s Point on Lake Fenton:
Click the picture above a couple of times to get the video started.
All looked peaceful on this 4th of July out on Lake Fenton. And the county sheriff department wanted it to stay that way. With as many as a half a dozen patrol cars and a transport van, the men in brown (not your UPS delivery guys) hung out with boaters tied up at Eagle Point, keeping the peace all day long.
Seen here on the left side of the photo under the tiki-hut bar on the far end of the peninsula near the south end of Lake Fenton, officers of the law stay cool in the shade. This area of the lake has been growing in popularity for people to tie up and enjoy all that Lake Fenton has to offer since the breaking up of “Pig Beach” on the north end of the lake.
Between the hours of 1:00 PM and 8:00 PM, police deputies arrested four women for public nudity and a man for drinking. Three others were ticketed for various offenses. “We had our van, our paddy wagon, parked on the road nearby,” Genesee County Sheriff Robert J. Pickell said about how the department handled those arrested from the boats. “Then we took them to jail.”
