Pere Marquette is great for canoeing but a bit rough usually for tubing.  The Pine is also a bit rough but if you’re looking for a good tubing river the Besty Rive is great!

 As to the ‘squitos, it doesn’t matter how slathered I am with bug repellant they seem to know that I am a tasty treat!  I tend to stay away from the out doors a little before dusk until morning.

Read that article in the GR Press about that!  We’ve never done the Big Muskegon, I think we’ll have to take the plunge after your recommendation!

Wow, James, what memories. We had a cottage on the Muskeogon River. My grandpa used to tie me to a tree while he wadded in and cast about. I can still remember inching my bottom down as far as possible to get my feet in the water, and the feeling of the swift current pulling my legs with it, and Grandpa "catching" me every single time with a "uh, no you don’t darlin’ - this isn’t the place for you to swim - I’ll take you over to Chippewa later … (where our families had another cottage).

Have you tried sunscreen for the ‘skitos?’ They stay away from drafts, so keep the air moving, and drink vinegar with the Mother in it, too. We have them bad here, now, too and it was 106 yesterday when I came out of swimming (indoors). My driver (handicap transit) pulled right up before I knew the temperature, and shouted, "get in here, it’s over 105 - I’ve been under that tree (throwing his arm over his head bakassward) waiting for you - I see you have your hat on though …" I couldn’t believe it was that hot. Once home, my house had maintained itself at 78 F, thanks to having brought up the insulation in 2002 to R82; however, I upped the thermostat to relieve the AC, and made some fresh ice tea with the mint leaves I pulled entering my front door - the chocolate mint is wonderful on days like today.

Today, it’s 105 - UNBELIEVABLE. Like Phoenix was May 14th. I fear we have a lot more of this heat coming to our world - if we’d only have cleaned up our waterways better.

Yes, I’ve tubed the Big Muskeogon from BR many times (as you may have guess by now). My dermatologists are well aware of the dangers of Michigan summers to red-heads. Never did I ‘notice’ the sun, but had at least 2 "sun-strokes" a year - would awaken wrapped in wet sheets after having slepta few days. Sheesh - ignorance is bliss.

Incidentally, I found out as a "kid" that aspirin stops the burning pain of sunburns, systemically. ;-))