Category Archives: Environment

Closing in on Our Goal: Halleluiah!

Posted on August 7, 2020 by Joe Neely

Joe Writes . . .  After starting in southern Jackson County during the summer of 2016 and paddling, in fits and starts, all the way to downtown Grand Rapids it is finally reasonable to contemplate the end of our journey. … Continue reading →

Posted in canoe, Environment, family, Grand River, Great Lakes, Men, Michigan, paddling, rivers, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Two Days on the Grand in Photos

Posted on July 8, 2020 by Joe Neely

Joe Posts . . .  July 4, 2020 Your intrepid explorers, Tom (l) and Joe Neely. Click on individual photos for captions. July 5 Click on individual photos for captions. -30- We are glad you found our blog. If you … Continue reading →

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A Grand 4th of July on the Grand

Posted on July 6, 2020 by Joe Neely

Tom writes… Fourth of July, 2020 Ada to North Grand Rapids The logistics of canoe-ing are monstrous. You already know our boat, the Billie V, lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, far from our current paddling area in West Michigan. Well, … Continue reading →

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Our Quest Resumes on the 4th of July!

Posted on June 17, 2020 by Joe Neely

Just as our nation declared its independence from the tyrannical rule of George III on the 4th of July in 1776, we will declare our independence from the physical decline of advancing age – and our disdain for the despotic … Continue reading →

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The Headwaters Dam on the Grand River

Posted on May 21, 2020 by Joe Neely

Joe Writes . . .  With the news of the Edenville Dam failing on the Tittabawassee River near Midland and the resultant extensive flooding, I was motivated to take a 45-minute drive to the headwaters of the Grand River yesterday … Continue reading →

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A Northern Michigan Walk in the Woods

Posted on April 26, 2020 by Joe Neely

Joe Writes . . .  Whan that Aprille with his shoures sote The droghte of Marche hath perced to the rote, And bathed every veyne in swich licour, Of which vertu engendred is the flour; lines 1 – 4 from … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Michigan, nature, Northern Michigan, poetry, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Official Grand River Expedition Cancelled; Neely Brothers Still Hope to Complete Their Quest This Year

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Joe Neely

Joe Reports . . .  Every ten years since 1990 an organized expedition to paddle the length of the Grand River has taken place, most recently under the auspices of Middle Grand River Organization of Watersheds.  That organization has announced … Continue reading →

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River Art at U of M Cancer Center

Posted on March 18, 2020 by Joe Neely

Note: all photographs of artwork herein are copyrighted and used with the knowledge of and permission from the artist, Martina Celerin. It is prohibited to duplicate or otherwise make use of these photographs without the express written permission of the … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Environment, Michigan, nature, rivers, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

What Happened to the Perch?

Posted on March 8, 2020 by Joe Neely

Joe writes . . .  We have written about perch fishing and invasive species here on lengthofthegrand, both of which are addressed in an excellent blog post I read recently while following  ThumbWind, which reports on and celebrates life in … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Fishery, Great Lakes, Invasive Species, Michigan, Michigan Thumb, nature, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

To Dredge or Not to Dredge: What’s Best for the River?

Posted on April 18, 2019 by Joe Neely

Joe Writes . . .  Diogenes, call off your search. An honest man has been found. He’s Spring Lake Township Supervisor John Nash, who opposes a proposal to dredge a channel in the Grand River from Grand Rapids to Spring … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Michigan, rivers, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments