The Muskegon River has many connecting and often intersecting passages between the North and South Branches. So many that older fishermen call the lower flats, The Web.
Most of these passages have enough twists and turns that they seem to have occurred naturally. A few are suspiciously straight enough to suggest human engineering. Were these maintained for the movement of labor during the lumber era? Or, later, power line installation? If any readers know, please weigh in.
Of all the branch connectors, one of the longest and loveliest is the Long Chute. Its South Branch entry is a bit upriver from Sheridan Landing; it joins the North Branch just above the US31 bridge.
The Long Chute rarely has boat traffic, which makes it a quiet and contemplative paddle. On this foggy morning, it was especially so.
After turning up the North Branch a short time later, the rising sun began to burn off the fog.
