Category Archives: Michigan

Many Robins So Far, but no Bugs

Posted on April 27, 2020 by Joe Neely

Tom Writes . . .  Today, I met my friend Kelly, and we walked along the Grand. The fat brown part of the Grand, above the dams, just north of downtown Grand Rapids. Lovely morning, pale sunshine, not-a-cloud blue heavens, … 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

An Amtrak Travelogue: Ann Arbor to Chicago

Posted on February 9, 2020 by Joe Neely

Writing of other things until we can get out on the Grand again. Part 1 of 2 Joe Writes . . .   We arrive at the Ann Arbor train station 40 minutes before our scheduled 7:40 am departure for … Continue reading →

Posted in Michigan, rivers, Trains, travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

We’re Back . . . Kind Of

Posted on December 28, 2019 by Joe Neely

Joe Writes . . . Yes, we are still alive. No, we did not travel the Grand River in 2019. Yes, we will complete our journey in 2020. This was not a year for canoeing. I have been busy for … Continue reading →

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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 →

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Our Perfect-Sized Adventure

Posted on March 4, 2019 by Joe Neely

March 3, 2019 Joe Writes . . .  Our adventure is just about the perfect size for me. I decided this after attending the Quiet Water Symposium in East Lansing yesterday. At the symposium I met a nice couple who … Continue reading →

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New Year’s Day on the Grand

Posted on January 5, 2019 by Joe Neely

Joe Writes . . .  Tom and I began the year on the Grand River: not paddling, but hiking. Along with our spouses, we spent New Year’s Eve at our sister’s home in Ferrysburg on Grand Haven’s North Shore. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, family, Michigan, nature, rivers | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments