A Little Slice of da Harbor...: Tourist in my own Town

Monday, July 18, 2011

Tourist in my own Town

This past weekend my family came to visit me: Mom, Dad, Aunt and Uncle. This was the first time for latter two. So what did I get to do? Show them around, and play tourist!

Da Harbor is a wonderful place to be a tourist in. We watched the sun set up on Brockway Mountain, got ice cream from the Berry Patch, found stones and peace on the shores of Hunter's Point, watched ducks swim around from the 3rd Street Dock, had a drink up at the historical Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, ate dinner at the Harbor Haus restaurant, stopped in all the shops and (the most unique experience for me) toured the Copper Harbor Lighthouse by boat.

You are well aware that I used to live on the private road to the lighthouse. It used to be my stomping grounds. I can't even tell you how many times I've jogged or snowshoed up those concrete steps. But now I don't live out there, and the fam wanted to see the lighthouse. "Let's take the boat tour then!"

The Harbor was calm and the air was humid, so it was nice to be on the water. Nick was our captain, and he did a great job explaining things the whole time. I learned so much! Plus I actually got to go in the museum and lighthouse itself for my first time ever. I was glad we did it.

I chose this adventure to elaborate on because it was such a different feeling for me to be a tourist in what used to be my back yard. I had fun telling other visitors the things that I knew about the area. They always seem excited to meet a local, and I always do my best to represent.

It seemed like everyone had a wonderful time while they were up, and I am grateful that my understanding boss and coworker gave me the two days off to visit with my family. And now, back to the grind!

The weather has been a little eerie lately, but we just got a couple good storms, and the air is cooler today.

I've been eating a few bilberries here and there. I had one sugar plum today. Buffaloberries are ready too, but the rest are still green. I look forward to when they are ripe. But for now, I'll keep on fulfilling all my other worldly duties.

2 comments:

Dennis W. MontvilleJuly 20, 2011 at 9:34 AM
That's the best way to become really knowledgeable about the town you live in. Just act "tourist guide" and you quickly discover how much you know and how much you THOUGHT you knew about your own town. Both you and your "tourists" will gain a deeper insight into your area. Enjoy.
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MichaelJuly 21, 2011 at 10:36 PM
You always have to show the parents a good time wherever you live Amanda... and it's not too hard up in the Keweenaw! Good for you. I'm sure they enjoyed it with such an expert guide. I hope you also showed them around your place of employment for a nightcap.
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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, July 18, 2011

Tourist in my own Town

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Unofficial Overview from a Resident's Point of View

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