On Saturday morning at 10am, under sheets of rain, they sat waiting for the gunshot. The solo canoeists (known as C1), steadied their boats in the chop. The shot rang out, barely audible over the wind and rain meeting the lake; the racers plunged their paddles in and dug, propelling themselves forward. They paddled hard, into the wind, to round an island a half-mile off. They turned back then, paddling an additional mile in open water, to a sandy inlet atop Croton Dam. Volunteer boats were in the water; the volunteers could be seen, arms up, squinting at the racers, rain jackets covering their heads, towels wrapped around their bodies. When the occasional (and seemingly inevitable, given the conditions) canoe would flip, the boats would rush to them, and help them right their canoe before continuing forward.
When the racers reached the inlet, it was a mad dash out of the water. Grabbing the thin, streamlined canoes, and throwing them up to their shoulders or heads, the racers portaged at full running speed the quarter mile to the top of the Muskegon River before dropping in again. Working now with the current, the paddlers disappeared almost immediately into the trees, around the first bend in the river.
Exactly one hour and forty minutes and 13.5 miles from the gunshot, the first C1 boat crossed the finish line into Henning Park, powered by Mike Davis. He was met by the cheers of dripping wet, yet enthusiastic onlookers, and congratulated with beer by Newaygo Brewing. Pete Mead and Danny Medina came in quickly after, winning 2nd and 3rd, and with a time of one hour, forty six minutes, Rebecca Davis won the women’s division.
So what is this event, the one that coaxes participants, spectators, and small businesses out into the early morning rain? Brought to you by local Newaygo Nationals Association and the Michigan Canoe Racing Association (“M.C.R.A”) is Power Paddle!: an annual weekend event that has been going on for over a decade, attracting canoeists from across Michigan and beyond. The race always begins in Croton, just atop Croton Dam, and consists of 1.5 miles of open water paddling in the lake, followed by 12 miles of down-stream river paddling. Friday morning begins the C1 (solo canoe) race, and is followed by Sunday’s C2 (2 person canoe) event.
On Sunday the C2 racers made the same journey, this time with men’s, women’s, mixed, and youth divisions. The thin boats sliced through the water, the racer in back calling out directions to the front, each working in synch to turn, alter course, speed up, slow down. The weather was kinder and the rain held, but a cool breeze kept up the chop on the lake, and several boats tipped, sometimes multiple times, before crossing the finish line. Many of the racers competed in both the C1 and C2 races, and on Sunday Wes Dean and Pete Mead, with a time of one hour and thirty five minutes, took first. Rebecca Davis and her partner, Roxanne Barton, won the women’s division with a time of one hour forty-four minutes, and the mixed boat powered by Hailey Halstead and Jordan Wakeley finished in one hour forty minutes. The only competing youth, Natalie Kellogg, competed for the first time racing solo, and also crossed the finish line to the enthusiastic cheers of spectators and the racers before her.
It was a festive scene in Henning Park once the racers finished. Canoes were scattered around the boat launch, families were gathered. The racers, some with calves and back muscles seizing with fatigue, helped one another drag their boats to the launch and hobble happily into the park. Lunch was provided for the racers and their families by River Stop Cafe of downtown Newaygo, and a celebratory beer was again awarded to those racers 21 and up.
While I am not a racer myself, the neighborly and amiable support of the racing community was so apparent, it made me (almost) want to become one. Whether you are an amateur canoeist, or just a social member of the community, put Power Paddle on your calendar for next summer. You can join in the fun as a competitor, spectator, or join in the community and volunteer. We have many things to be thankful for in River Country, but the abundance of community-supported events, brought together volunteers and local businesses, certainly tops my list.
To get involved, or for more information on Power Paddle or any other events put on by Newaygo Nationals, visit newaygonationals.com
By Carmen Faulkner
It’s Dragon Season
Head to Newaygo County, Where Michigan’s Dragon Awaits Wrapped around Hardy Dam Pond, Michigan’s Dragon lies in wait of your arrival for big outdoor adventure. Imagine yourself soaring through the trees on fast and flowing trails that provide both a technically...
Spring Fishing in the Rivers of NewayGo County
River Fishing & Spring Camping Cool, crisp morning air, your first morning cup of coffee brewed by campfire, sunshine sparkling across the river, and a full day laid out in front of you reserved for fishing. Longing for the simplicity of a campsite and a few days...
Harvest Fest Returns to Fremont!
The Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the schedule of events for the 16th Annual Fremont Harvest Festival, slated to be Thursday September 22nd, Friday September 23rd and Saturday 24th. The Fremont Harvest Festival celebrates the rich farming...
White River Adventure
Early in the morning I left Lowell and arrived to drop my canoe and gear at Flowing Wells Park west of White Cloud. A short drive to the end of Bingham Road provided a great parking spot and marked the start of my bike ride back to the canoe. Having paddled...
White Cloud- Trail Town Hidden Gems
If you venture a few yards off M-37, you will find some amazing hidden gems within White Cloud city limits that most travelers don’t know exist. Hidden Gem #1 If you're heading North into town, Rotary Park is the first stop you’ll make. Taking a right on James Street...
Take me Down to the River: High Rollway Adventures
High Rollway is a roadside park located in Brooks Township off M-82, less than ten minutes from Downtown Newaygo. From the road, the park looks like an ordinary grassy area to park and stretch your legs after a long car ride. However, this park is a hidden gem just...
Exploring Challenge: An 8 year old’s adventure
Having a mom that is involved in a million things has its perks every now and then. As Newaygo County Tourism Council President, I had the opportunity to share the new Newaygo County Exploring Challenge with my kids as soon as it was approved. Over the past few...
Newaygo County Parks: 2021 Updates
As kids embark on summer vacation & families look for ways to enjoy our beautiful Michigan Summer, we caught up with Nick Smith, Newaygo County Parks Director, to see what's new and exciting in the parks this season! Newaygo County has 4 campgrounds, 1 marina, 2...
Farmer’s Market: Friday Fun!
The Newaygo Famers Market is focused on working with local farmers to ensure the residents and visitors to Newaygo County have the opportunity to purchase fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables. At the Newaygo Farmers Market you will find a plethora of local ...
Schindy’s Place
As the weather warms, the trails are calling. Rev the engine & take to the county and seasonal roads and ORV/ATV trails of Newaygo County, and you are bound to end up near Diamond Lake. A 171 acre all-sports lake, surrounded by cottages, national forest & a...
Spring Break Day Trips – Outdoors & On The Cheap
Pretty much every year around this time, my wife and I scramble to find exciting, enriching things to do with our kids during spring break. Although she’s fully vaccinated and I’m currently half vacc’d, we are still a bit reluctant to head to the typical spring break...
Winter Hiking – Questions From a Newbie
Excited to throw 2020 behind me & crush all the goals in 2021, I signed up for the North Country Trail Hike 100 Challenge. Ambitious, as I’ve only hiked a handful of times in my life, but why not make 2021 my year? I embarked on my first hike in the first few...
Snowshoe Adventure On The Dragon
Being an avid runner from a young age and now a personal trainer, I have spent a lot of time running and hiking over the years. In more recent years, due to my work schedule, I found myself stuck to the convenience of the gym equipment. During the 2020 Quarantine...
Deer Hunter’s Must-Do in Newaygo County
The trees are bare, the air is crisp and the calendar has just flipped to November… In Northern Michigan, that means deer hunters are headed to the woods! If you haven’t tried your luck in the deer woods of Newaygo County, we recommend checking it out. With...
Sandy Beach Camping
My favorite part of the camping, is waking up early in the morning. When the campground is quiet. I usually get up before the sunrise, to take a quiet stroll around the park.
Newaygo’s Riverfront Park – A Great Place to Walk Your Dogs!
We have 14 acres and some nice trails on our property that our dogs get walked on regularly, but we try to get them out for a ride in the truck and a walk “elsewhere” as often as we can too. They really like walks in the woods but sometimes, especially after work, we...
DISCOVERING NEWAYGO COUNTY 4
The waves lapping on the shoreline. The babbling of a nearby creek. The sounds of water bond us with memories of the past, and dreams of the future. Life is sometimes muddy, and turbulent, but water washes away the stress of everyday life. As I discover the County...
Fresh From the Farm
Agriculture has long been a staple of the NewayGo County economy. One reason why Gerber Baby Food put the area on the map was because of its relationship with local farmers. You’ll see the same focus on agriculture and locally produced fruits and vegetables at...