Get Out is Your Monthly Guide to What’s Great in the Great Outdoors.
I normally try to keep things close to home, but since we’re talking road trips in this issue (in addition to Best of the West!), let’s go on one.
Did you know you can kayak in Detroit? Not just on the Detroit River, but through the canals (yes, there are canals), into Canadian waters and around an island with a purported curse, and even over to Belle Isle.
I heard about the City’s “Little Venice,” located in the storied Jefferson-Chalmers neighborhood a while back and immediately put it on the “must” list. Last year, on Detroit River Sports’ opening day, two friends and I packed up the car and headed east to take the Historic Canal Public Tour with them.
Expert guides led us by kayak through the waters around the area and told stories about the Purple Gang’s villainous escapades, the Fox Indian Massacre, and the canals’ role not only in industry, but also as an Underground Railroad route. We also learned about birds and other wildlife along the way. The tour ended with an exciting bout on the Detroit River itself. Depending on who you talk to, this was either 100% fun, or fun once the sheer terror had passed. It was a bit windy that day!
During that trip, the Peche Isle excursion came up a few times, so we all decided to go back again this year to do that one. It was a good 15 degrees warmer that day and not quite so blustery, which boded well. My group ended up buying all the tickets for the Sunday morning public paddle, so we had a total takeover. We started out on the canals again, but quickly headed toward the river, only to have to wait a bit for a freighter to pass. Nobody wants to be in that wake!
We also shared the waters with speedboats, sailboats, fishermen, and jet skiers, which meant we had to stick together. This proved challenging for me and I often headed up the rear with a patient guide following behind to make sure I was going to live. (The Detroit River Sports staff are extremely careful and protective of their charges!)
I was relieved when we neared the shore and took a more leisurely course around the island. While Peche Isle is in Canada, since we didn’t disembark, we didn’t need an enhanced driver’s license or passport. We paused in a lagoon, though, and spotted turtles, swans, and bald eagles’ nests. I shook out my tired arms.
This spot was where we also learned about the curse put on the island by Rosalie Laforet, whose family was forced off the land to make way for whiskey baron Hiram Walker’s plans for a massive estate. True to her wishes, there were many attempts to make something of the property, but over decades, all largely failed. Without any lasting development, the land is now mostly wilderness and home to hordes of native flora and fauna. Nice!
We continued to circle the perimeter until we were facing the US side and ready to head back. I found it to be similarly strenuous, but we remained as a close-knit group and arrived on the other side intact. There was much discussion around which part of our body would hurt the most the next day. But even more about how good we felt to have achieved this difficult feat. It was about four and a half miles in all. My mild struggles considered, I’d still do it again. I might bulk up my biceps a bit first though!
But, next year, something different… The Belle Isle trip looks like a full-day adventure, but they also have a Sunset Canal Tour and Full Moon Paddle, both of which sound pretty appealing.
If you decide to go, definitely plan to dine before or after at Coriander Kitchen—a woman-owned restaurant that’s in the marina right next door to Detroit River Sports. The food is spectacular and the vibe is self-described as “drunk grandma”. I’d say that’s pretty accurate!
Get all the info at detroitriversports.com.
