Category Archives: Uncategorized

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: Chicago and Back Home (Part 2 of 2)

Posted on February 16, 2020 by Joe Neely

Joe Writes . . .  The stop after Albion is Battle Creek. The land adjoining the tracks is largely devoid of buildings except for the occasional strip bar or motorcycle club. As in any good detective novel, life is hard … Continue reading →

Posted in Amtrak, Chicago, Trains, travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 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 →

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

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

A Blue Heron Poem

Posted on March 16, 2019 by Joe Neely

One day after the last leaf landed, One before the first flake fell, a Slate blue Great Blue Heron flew Straight through, on his Way to his Mate who Already waded a tropical river, where Trees leave their leaves on, … 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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Our Mother Stole Relish Packets

Posted on January 9, 2019 by Joe Neely

Tom Writes . . .  More About Our Beloved Mother, Who Died  She used to steal stuff. She went through a phase, maybe twenty or fifteen years ago, when she used to grab packets of condiments from every restaurant. Packets … Continue reading →

Posted in family, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

It’s When You Don’t Expect It: a reflection on gratitude

Posted on November 20, 2018 by Joe Neely

(What better time to contemplate gratitude than the week of Thanksgiving? This was written by our sister, Amy Wisner. It was originally posted on http://www.caringbridge.org, where Amy keeps everyone informed on her husband Brian’s progress as he battles cancer. This … Continue reading →

Posted in cancer, family, health, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Speech I Meant to Give

Posted on November 3, 2018 by Joe Neely

November 3, 2018 Joe Writes . . .  Last night there was a great event – Ignite Ann Arbor 11 – at the downtown branch of the Ann Arbor District Library. My speech didn’t go as planned but I am … Continue reading →

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