June 3, 2015 at 3:26 p.m.
Doc Fletcher to speak at Rhinelander District Library
Doc Fletcher to speak at Rhinelander District Library
"He returns for another one of his popular presentations, sharing the joys of kayaking and canoeing, with a slide show and a lively narrative," the library said in a press release. "In this program, attendees will learn how urban paddling trips are very different from the rural/ deep-woods trips that paddlers are more familiar with, and how they can be fun and rewarding."
Fletcher will share stories from his new book, "Paddling & Pastimes: 6 Midwest Cities - The Rivers that Made Them, the Baseball Teams that Entertained Them." Filled with urban paddling adventures, Fletcher shows how Midwest cities with great rivers and great baseball teams are positively impacted by both.
"Pittsburgh ... Minneapolis ... Chicago ... Milwaukee ... Cleveland ... Detroit ... One landmark each city has in common is a major league ballpark either along or near the river," the library press release states. "The birth of our national pastime of baseball coincided with the 1800s industrial development of these six Midwest cities. The grand old game of baseball offered an escape from our country's often painful and turbulent shift from a society of primarily family farmers to Industrial Revolution factory workers. The beauty of the hit-and-run, the green grass of a sun-lit field, a ballpark frank and a cold beer, brought the same smile and serenity in the 1800s as they do today... a timeless happiness, much like paddling down a river."
Fletcher will also include a traditional rural paddling trip, with information and photos from his July 2014 trip down the Kickapoo River in southwest Wisconsin, which he describes as "the most beautiful river we have ever been on."
There will be a large display of informative brochures and maps from canoe/kayak liveries in Wisconsin and Michigan to assist attendees in planning river trips. "You don't have to be a paddling enthusiast to enjoy the program, but you may become one by the time the afternoon ends," the library notes. "Baseball fans are encouraged to attend."
Fletcher is a life-long Michigan resident. He took his first canoe trip in 1978 on the Pere Marquette River and gets back into a canoe as often as possible. He worked for 30 years for Duracell. Now, Fletcher writes about the special joy of paddling in his six books, and enjoys speaking to audiences about "the rivers, the towns, the taverns" that he encounters on his canoeing adventures. His books will be available for purchase and signing. This event is funded by Northern Arts Council. Please call the library at (715) 365-1070 with any questions.
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