Weekend Canoeing in Michigan: The Rivers, The Towns, The Taverns

by Doc Fletcher, Keith Jones (Illustrator)

Twenty rivers in Michigan are featured in detail for the weekend canoeist (novice to veteran). No canoe? No problem. Doc Fletcher gives information on area canoe liveries and writes a play-by-play account of his experience in the river leaving few hazards unmentioned. The rivers selected by Doc are less popular ones but are no less beautiful to canoe or kayak.
Four of the rivers are in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and included is the Two Hearted River of Hemingway fame near Two Heart Michigan. Bonus information about nearby towns and local taverns makes this book fun to read, and the less paddled rivers exciting to explore.

175 pages, Paperback

First published June 13, 2008

About the author

Doc Fletcher was born Jeffrey Marc Fletcher in Detroit, Michigan in 1954. He moved with his family to Lambertville, Michigan in 1967, graduating in 1972 from Bedford High School. Doc is a proud Eastern Michigan University Huron, where he fell in love with his future bride before graduating from the University in 1976 with a bachelor's degree in marketing. Doc took his first canoe trip in 1978 on the Pere Marquette River and ever since then gets back into a canoe whenever possible. He enjoyed a rewarding 30-year career as an account executive with the folks at Duracell, the battery company, from 1976–2006.

Reviews

[Linda Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doc and Maggie Fletcher gave a presentation on their new book at the library, and I chose this book to take home. The new book has more Wisconsin rivers in it, which would be interesting to anyone headed that way. This is a good book for canoe renters who don't own a boat and use liveries, and for paddlers who want a good bar burger and a brew when they're shuttled back. Each river chapter has a recommended livery, soundtrack and a paddle experience level. I'd like to see maps of the sections paddled in the next books, rather than the cartoons.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read, not one you'd use as the definitive source on any river, but one that does make you want to get back out there in a canoe.

I enjoyed reading about rivers I had canoed many years ago, and even more I enjoyed reading about rivers I'd never considered trying. Makes me want to buy that kayak again.

This book also described the towns the rivers run near, and the bars and taverns along the way. Could be a fun weekend (or two or three)!