A Little Slice of da Harbor...: The Covered Stretch in Green

Monday, June 20, 2011

The Covered Stretch in Green

Have you ever driven down the Covered Stretch of Highway 41 in the summer? I have been fortunate to not go to the Big Town for two weeks, so I haven't seen this stretch in its summer prime until today. Man, is it green!

Tall grass lines the edges of the asphalt. Bushy ferns, saplings, berry bushes and other shrubs fill the ditches. The forest floor is covered in foliage. The trees themselves are vibrant green -- making a green tunnel. It's like driving through the rain forest (though I’ve never done that). The last time I can remember driving through so much green was on our trip out west as we drove south on the west edge of Oregon. Sooo green and lush.

And dotting the sides of 41 today were yellow buttercups, orange hawkweed and daisies. As I approached Lake Medora, I came across the thick patches of pink and purple lupines too. They are so tall and graceful.

It’s funny because the ride to Houghton takes me an hour, and I always dread “wasting” that much time in a day. But in reality, it’s a good time to sort through my thoughts and take a few deep breaths. Plus I listened to some NPR (the only station that comes in in my car) and found out some of what is happening in the world. Wow. Ignorance is bliss, I tell you. I thanked my lucky stars today that I live where I live: in peace.

Other than that, we’re still waiting for summer weather up here. I just bought some sweaters for work today. Sweaters in June! Though the air is cool, the days are long. A few nights ago, I went for a jog after I got out of work at 10 pm. A lovely little twilight run!

Tomorrow is the longest day of the year. We’ll have light on the horizon of the lake until midnight. Well, woo hoo! Happy Solstice!

2 comments:

MichaelJune 21, 2011 at 10:32 PM
Hi Amanda, despite your late start to summer the best is yet to come from my experience. Mid summer through late fall are my favorite times as you've surely seen after living up there for so long. This time of year is also so incredible with the amount of daylight hours. My only problem has been that I like to be up before dawn (my favorite time of the day) through the last of the light which is well after midnight as you've mentioned. The only way to do that for very long is to have a mid day siesta which you probably don't have the luxury to do. Also, I don't envy you on your interview with the bell buoy which is what I voted for. It's probably the hardest of the group but quite possibly the most interesting in my opinion. Thanks again for your ongoing blog. It definitely feeds my need for the Keweenaw. Thanks so much!
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AmandaJune 23, 2011 at 11:03 AM
Hey, Michael! Thank you for reading! I actually wish I could get up before the dawn because it can be the most beautiful time of the day! The bartender life doesn't promote that, however. Someday...
Glad you can enjoy da Keweenaw from my little slice!
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Unofficial Overview from a Resident's Point of View

“If you’ve never been there, you wouldn’t understand” is a quote printed above an outlined picture of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on a t-shirt sold in gift shops in the area. Some people cock their heads in bewilderment of what this could mean. Well, if you’ve never been there (to da U.P.), then you wouldn’t understand.

It’s simple really. Where are you guaranteed to see more trees than people on any drive or walk? Where can you sit in a bar in April and know everybody’s name? Where can you wear flannel and Carharts anytime of the year without a flinch from a passerby? Where can you end most of your sentence with the colloquialism eh, eh? Where can you go to truly get away from the civilized world? If you answered “da U.P.” to all of these questions, why, you must have been there.

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula makes up one third of the state’s land mass, but only 3% of its entire population. It’s no wonder the average number of people per square mile is 19.3. Nineteen people per square mile! Its lack of inhabitants combined with a plethora of wilderness, unique geographical features and an abundance of water is a big part of what makes the U.P. so unique. In fact, it was included in the Sherman Travel worldwide “Top 10 Places to Go in 2005."

And unique in itself, at the most northern tip in the Keweenaw Peninsula sits the little village of Copper Harbor. “Tops in Michigan,” “the beginning of the road” and quite frankly, the hardest place to leave once your soul has found its peace. It’s the least visited and most revisited place in America. Returning visitors make an appearance at least once a year, no matter what gas prices are. And when they’re back at home, they dream of their next visit to the end of the world.

Why would people want to return to a place where their cell phones don’t work and they can’t get a Big Mac for at least 54 miles? Once you drive through the one and only blinking stop light in town, you are 99% guaranteed not to see any authorities. The town can take care of itself for the most part, and people respect each other and each other’s property.

To the local residents and the handfuls of returning tourists (of which some have been adopted), Copper Harbor is the only place where they can be themselves -- completely and shamelessly (at least until the next morning). Fashion does not exist, but comfort is a must. Possessions mean nothing, but attitude means the world. Loitering is encouraged, and talk is ceaseless. Fresh air is plentiful, and serenity is down the block on Lake Superior’s shore. Ahhh.

Only 90 people can bear to live there year-round (good thing because the post office only has 130 mailboxes), but the population peaks around 250 in the busy summer months when people reopen their business or their summer home.

Copper Harbor and the rest of the Keweenaw Peninsula average 270 inches of snow each season. Whether it falls consistently throughout the winter or all in one dump, it’s guaranteed to fall if it isn’t drilling sideways. Only four businesses stay open through these long months because sometimes, there’s just nobody there.

U.S. Highway 41, which runs all the way to Miami, Florida, begins in Copper Harbor, and yes, it gets plowed the whole way up. A half mile north, six miles east and five miles south of this landmark puts you in magical Lake Superior. I know it’s magical because I’ve caught myself and many other people staring, mesmerized by its pure vastness, undulations and crashing waves.

When you can enjoy every breath of Lake Superior air, wear clothing soley for funtion and not mind seeing the same people day after day after day after day, then, my friend, then, you’ll understand.

A Little Slice of da Harbor...

Copper Harbor, That is!

Monday, June 20, 2011

The Covered Stretch in Green

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Unofficial Overview from a Resident's Point of View

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