North Woods River Runner: November 2022

From The Top Of The Retaining Wall,
I'm Looking Down Into The Creek
That I Fell In Earlier That Morning.

What the heck had just happened? One moment I was walking towards the retaining wall and the next moment I found myself face down in the icy creek. How was I even standing there without something bleeding, busted, or worse? I had fallen 5 to 6 feet; almost twice that if you count the distance that my head had traveled.

That story began when my wife Cindy and I went to visit family in Clark Lake, Michigan a few weeks ago. We stayed with my Aunt Cherie and Uncle Bob, and throughout an extended weekend we had the opportunity to visit a couple of my cousins and their families as well.

Upon the morning of our first full day, I ran around the lake with my cousin Brad for what amounted to a little over 7 miles. Afterwards, while light snow flurries filled the air, and following a hearty breakfast, we all went into the little town of Brooklyn to watch some basketball games that my cousin Sean’s kids played in. The rest of the afternoon involved us helping to take some split firewood to a neighbor’s house and watching a little football on TV while hanging out, eating, and talking.

On the following day I met up with my cousin Brian to run a few miles. We took off down the path next to my Aunt & Uncle’s house, which after a short distance comes out next to Doyle’s Market; which used to be the small store named Robert’s Grocery.

From that end of Clark Lake we ran south on Hyde Road through gently falling snow flakes. Crossing Jefferson Road, Brian and I passed the farm house where their family used to live; nestled within the old apple orchard. After a couple hundred yards we stopped at a tributary creek to the Grand River. Looking at water of any kind, especially moving water, is in our family’s blood. Apparently someone had recently cut back the trees and brush that had grown next to the retaining wall where the creek runs under Hyde Road, and we wanted to quickly check it out.

I walked over and placed my right foot on the treated four inch plank that was on top of the wall so I could get a better perspective of the view below. I got a better perspective alright! As my shoe made contact, I immediately slipped off from some unseen black ice and I plunged headfirst into nothing but air.

I had a split second to look down into the center trough of the creek before my left knee caught the edge of that same rough hewn timber. It was that impact that sent me into a semi-somersault that caused me to dive head and (right) shoulder first into eight to ten inches of water, silt and jagged rocks.

I was instantly and completely submerged, and soaked while miraculously avoiding most of the rocks. I sort of bounced up, sloshed through the freezing cold water, and onto the bank while holding onto my left knee. It hurt! I hurt!

Brian quickly came over and asked me if I was okay. He later confessed that he had thought, “I broke Mike,” but in reality, it had all happened so darn fast that there was nothing anyone could have possibly done to prevent it from happening. I think I replied with a comment that hinted that I would need a few minutes before I could let him know.

Under shock and starting to freeze, I said that I could probably keep running. Brian said that he wished that he had brought his phone to call for a ride. He convinced me to head back to his parent’s house as opposed to continuing down Hyde Road, as water and mud poured off my shirt, dripped off the edge of my shorts, and squished out of my shoes. It was the right decision by all accounts. It was cold while we stood there trying to figure out what to do, but not as cold as running back against the North wind over the 7/10’ths of a mile back to where we had started.

I’m used to cold weather and typically thrive in it when prepared, but by the time I got to my Aunt & Uncle’s house, I was colder than I could remember being for a long, long time - yet apparently none the worse for wear!

After peeling off my wet, muddy clothes, taking a warm shower, and icing my knee, I incredibly seemed to be alright. In fact, it was a blessing that by that afternoon I was able to help split and stack wood with my cousin Brad and Uncle Bob before taking a long walk in the wooded hills of a local nature preserve.

Looking back, there really were only two possible outcomes that could have resulted from such a freak accident; either an absolute and unprecedented miracle or an outright tragedy.

While it took about two weeks for the pain in my left knee, and later in my right shoulder, to subside, I seem to have avoided having anything structurally screwed up. For that I am more than grateful. And while I can’t say that I’ve had any other outdoor adventures to write about this month, I felt that this story was definitely worth telling!

See you along The Way…