• Friday-What'sUP July 29 - 08:17 am

Bob Gilreath and family, recently spent some "down time" exploring the Sylvania Wilderness, which is located in the Ottawa National Forest, near the Michigan/Wisconsin border. Bob said they kayaked 7 lakes, in 7 hours, with 6 portages to get the kayaks from one lake to another and all in 97° temperatures. Even with that extreme heat, they enjoyed the water travel, with two of the 7 lakes being pictured here in Bob's photos...Crooked Lake and High Lake. They found plenty of greenery, with lily pads and weeds growing along the shores. In Bob's last photo, he mentioned that it was Wild Rice Channel, so of course that makes me wonder if the light green growth on the edge of the water is indeed, wild rice? Anyone out there know the answer to that one?

I'd really like to kayak, but just don't know if I'm strong enough to do all that paddling. It looks like such a relaxing thing to do. AND it's something you can do in the summer!

Great pictures!!

The photo of the water lillies is beautiful! Sounds like they were very busy on that trip. Didn't realize there were different kinds of kayaks ... glad to see there are some that you can sit in with your knees bent ... maybe I could do this after all. :-)

Love that place! So peaceful and noise-free with no motors allowed. I also recommend the Forest Service nature center in Watersmeet with a splendid collection of 'stuffed' animals. Well worth the trip.

Without much detail to the photo, it's tough to say for certain, but I suspect it is wild rice along the banks of the channel. Having paddled through miles of it myself... Rice is better than horsetails though!

If I were to do it, it would have to be an open bow, don't want my legs trapped when I tip over, and I can guarantee it would be comical seeing my fat butt in a kayak. Oh and Norma would have to go too so I could ram into her and send her in the drink! lol

Good lookin pics.

U.C....you also want that two-up kayak so that your better-half can do all the paddling, while you just sit back and enjoy the ride. Just like the guy in the second photo with the bird-eat’n grin.

I love the clear water in the first photo. Definitely UP.

Anybody can kayak, they have open kayaks so your legs aren't trapped in a position that is uncomfortable. Paddling is pretty effortless and they glide easy. It's very peaceful and gives a great perspective you don't get from shore. I tend to paddle along the shoreline of Lake Superior on calm days of course. Nothing big or fancy or far. Just nice to get on the water.

Scenic.