September 7 and 8, 2018 – Saranac to Ada, Michigan
Tom Writes . . .
Two lovely days on the Grand River. Recent rains have given us a strong current, in our direction. The Lords of the Winds have helped us, with winds at our backs, swift passages.
We are deep within West Michigan now. We are in Kent County, and beyond Kent County, we only have one more county to paddle through. That will be Ottawa County. Ottawa County will take us to our goal: The mouth of the Grand River, Lake Michigan, Grand Haven, our family home.
Before this, we already have paddled through nine different counties. We found joy in all nine (Please read back in our blog), but our real joy will be in our goal, when we get home.
Joe already has posted great photos of mighty eagles from this stretch of our trip. I must tell you about a tiny eagle. It landed on my right elbow. A handsome dragonfly, black with large green eyes and light green decorations on its body and tail. It stayed on my elbow for about five minutes, even while I paddled. Then it flew away, fine and free.
Fly fine and free, all my friends!
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In its own world, I’m sure the dragonfly is as mighty as the eagle. When the mosquitos are bad in late-spring, and the dragonflies finally helicopter onto the scene, I find myself thinking — and sometimes saying aloud — “The troops are here!” Congratulations on your paddling achievements! The colors must be changing now in your neck of the woods! Autumn is probably just around the next bend in the river.
Nice hitchhiker. Pretty cool when that happens.