Page 20 - 2017 LAKE ST CLAIR GUIDE
P. 20
Why is the St. Clair River
Closed Each Year for the
Annual “Float Down”?
It is not quite certain, however, 2017 which usually starts around The day started
does mark at least the 40th year of noon. We started off at the with a southwest
when the Port Huron to Marysville An- Thomas Edison Parkway Board- wind, however,
nual Float Down on the St. Clair River walk just south of the Blue Water by 2pm went to
began. Despised by some, including Bridge. There is public parking and WSW and
the freighter companies and all tran- ample boardwalk... bring some chairs. between
sient boaters who must cease all traf-
fic for eight hours, it is the one time a The second spot down the river is
year that anyone with something that downtown Port Huron, in front of the
floats can use our beautiful resource, Maritime Center. Also ample parking
the St. Clair River. and beautiful boardwalk. Here we
For those that aren’t familiar with this saw several floaters as they had
event, 1000’s (I heard 5000 last year!) planned to enter the Black River and
of brave people hop on something that could not make it. The current com-
floats and take off from Lighthouse ing down the river is very strong...
Beach in Port Huron, just north of the if you are in the middle of the riv-
Blue Water Bridge. The floaters drift er in it’s strongest current flowing
down the river, finding various exit in from Lake Huron, it was
points as far as Marysville. almost impossible
to paddle
This event is not sanctioned or encour-
aged by anyone, which means
no one is responsi- 2:30-3pm started coming from the
ble for your West and peaked at 16mph ...
safety but Continued on page 26
yourself.
The U.S.
Coast Guard
officially can-
celled the
event a number
of years ago.
However, due to
the large num-
bers of people still or kick
participating, the your feet hard
river is shut down to A L L enough. The
vessel traffic from noon - 8pm trick to exiting this
except for non-motorized flotation de- quick is to stay as
vices. close to the U.S. Aerials provided by:
dronie intheair @ Facebook
shore as possible
Kevin Warnke
There are three great places along where the current
the St. Clair River to watch this event is slowest.
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