Was serendipitous that a group of paddlers came along to help, but why was she standing in waist-deep water for an hour? While I’ve not paddled the AuSable, I don’t believe the current is so strong you couldn’t get to the riverbank.
Glad this ended well as the alternative would have been tragic since the temps dropped to 32F in the Grayling area last night.
https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/woman-rescued-from-river-by-group-of-kayakers
I would hazard a guess that she got into a strainer and flipped, and then found that it was all she could do just to hang onto her boat, and yet continued to hope that she could get back into it at some point and wouldn’t risk losing it. She may have been afraid to swim with it or risk losing it in deeper or faster water while heading for the bank. Also, I’ve seen a number of beginner paddlers who swim too poorly to escape from, or to even consider trying to escape from an isolated spot where they at least have the temporary security of having their feet on the ground or holding onto a downed tree, but with deeper water, and therefore uncertainty, between their location and safety. It’s not hard to imagine a person just sitting in such a spot as if stranded when a person with more swimming confidence would simply swim with their boat and find their way to shore. .
(Raising starter pistol)
LET THE SPECULATION BEGIN!
Hey, I just gave an example of something most river paddlers have probably seen, as a way of illustrating that it’s not necessarily surprising that she sat there apparently “doing nothing”. And every time I have seen this - a person seemingly being stranded - a strainer was initially to blame, but of course there could be other causes.
@Sparky961 said:
(Raising starter pistol)
LET THE SPECULATION BEGIN!BANG
Projecting my future self into this – faced with oncoming dementia, in a moment of clarity, I paddled out alone in the dropping temps and diminishing light, hoping to pass into unconsciousness and then quietly into that “long dark night.”
But, then fate and bunch of paddlers intervened.
sing
@Guideboatguy said:
Hey, I just gave an example…
My comment wasn’t directed at anyone specific. I just know that’s what often happens with these. Nothing bad, it just is.
Nothing wrong with speculation at times. Even sing’s. 
I’m a lake paddler but once in a while paddle rivers. Normally I wouldn’t carry a tow belt on a river but sounds like it might have been useful for the scenario GBG described (rope to secure the boat to something other than me).
I do know that @devilssoninlaw paddles the AuSable so maybe he knows more about what the river’s like where that happened. It doesn’t look very wide from the photos.
The only time I’ve used my tow belt in a near-emergency was on a swollen spring river at the end of a day paddle through a calm wetland.
And yes, it was a paddler pinned against a strainer. She was still in her boat but probably wouldn’t have gotten herself unstuck. On trying herself, she was at great risk of capsize directly upstream of the strainer. I had another paddler I trusted attach a line to my stern and get me close enough to attach my own short tow to her bow. Working together, me paddling backwards, we slowly swung her bow inline with the current, upstream, and away from the obstacle.
It wasn’t that dramatic, but could have turned tragic in a second.
Projecting my future self into this – faced with oncoming dementia, in a moment of clarity, I paddled out alone in the dropping temps and diminishing light, hoping to pass into unconsciousness and then quietly into that “long dark night.”
But, then fate and bunch of paddlers intervened.
sing
This is what I want to do too - if only I can remember…
Location looks more like the South Branch of the AuSable, quite possibly in the Mason tract. There are no cottages in that section and so no easy egress if you lose your boat unless you know something about the two tracks and/or the hiking trail on the west side. While there are a few deeper holes it is mostly wadable. There were a few tight spots requiring some maneuvering skills in that section when we paddled it in mid-September.
Rookie, it’s one of the best sections in Michigan to paddle. You can make a nice 2 day trip either camping out of your boat at the river level camp at the State Forest campground or base camping at the drive in section above. I’ve done it both ways.
Devil’s in the details
and Devil, he ain’t tell’n,
just what all we’re still chewin’ on
which long ago to Eve he was sell’n.
@rival51 said:
Rookie, it’s one of the best sections in Michigan to paddle. You can make a nice 2 day trip either camping out of your boat at the river level camp at the State Forest campground or base camping at the drive in section above. I’ve done it both ways.
That camping thing has been rattling around in the back of my head for a while now. Should it keep bouncing around, will create a thread this winter seeking advice.
Compared to backpacking, kayak camping is luxurious. Seriously, invest a bit of money in some well thought-out gear (or borrow) and give it a shot. It helps to go with someone knowledgeable, but if you’re a self-starter with research skills then you’ll do great.
Rookie, keep an eye out for some Lansing Oar & Paddle club (LOAPC) trips. Usually some in more clement weather up near you. They are doing a ‘Surf & Turf’ in Sleeping Bear just now. 2019 schedule should be out, at least partly, by mid-December.
Thanks for that link. Looks like the Sleeping Bear trip is hiking, no paddling. Hope the weather there was better than here (more rain).
The plan I think was to hike Friday & Saturday & paddle the Platte on Sunday. Alas, I couldn’t go as I have other commitments this weeken…
@Rookie said:
That camping thing has been rattling around in the back of my head for a while now. Should it keep bouncing around, will create a thread this winter seeking advice.
Rookie - highly recommend it, but be sure to hook up with a couple of guys in a canoe that can carry all the gear that you won’t have room for in your kayak. 
@Rookie said:
Was serendipitous that a group of paddlers came along to help, but why was she standing in waist-deep water for an hour? While I’ve not paddled the AuSable, I don’t believe the current is so strong you couldn’t get to the riverbank.
Similar thing happened on my local river the Blackstone a couple of years ago. A couple tipped over in a stainer, and rather that getting themselves off, stayed in the water and called the fire department for a rescue. Worked out fine, but they could easily have walked out.
https://www.boston25news.com/news/firefighters-rescue-2-from-blackstone-river-/517921383
I dearly love kayak and canoe camping. Do so several times year round. Used to backpack in the mountains, and now use that lightweight compact gear along with a few luxuries I would never carry on my back. Light weight cots and chairs, ax and saw, small cooler with drinks, fishing gear and cast net can all fit in my kayak along the backpacking gear with 3 gallons of water. I could carry another 3 gallons if needed. The canoe has even more carrying capacity.
