A Little Slice of da Harbor...: Representing Copper Harbor

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Representing Copper Harbor

Gosh, I should have told you that I was leaving for six days. Did you miss me?

Aaron and I went down to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the big Wheel & Sprocket Bike Expo Sale. We went to represent the Copper Harbor Trails Club's fantastic trails, and sell raffle tickets for our huge, summer long fundraiser. Here are our first and second place prizes.

The grand prize trailer and second prize bike

The first day we got there, we parked the trailer in the expo center, ate breakfast at the Pancake House and noticed it was only 10 am. What do we do until we can check in to our hotel? Luckily, we both come from da Harbor. There was only one thing to do. Find a park and a trail to hang out in the woods.

We did just that. However, hiking next to a drainage doesn't tap the same sense of awe that Lake Superior does. Oh well. At least we weren't in traffic!

For the next four days we were cooped in a no window, concrete floor, florescent light buzzing warehouse-looking building -- filled with bikes. Road bike, comfort bikes, hybrid bikes, mountain bikes. Hundreds of bikes. It was cool. I wish I took a picture of that.

We chatted with lots of people from that area who were interested in vacationing up in Copper Harbor or winning our sweet teardrop trailer. Hopefully we'll bring some first-timers up this summer because, as you well know, they always come back.

And now I am back in this quiet little town. Chilly too. And gray today. But that's okay because yesterday I went for my first mountain bike ride on the CH trails. Oh, it was just what the doctor ordered. Especially since I just blew all the leaves off of them all! Once my bike seat sitting area doesn't feel like it's bruised, I'll do it again.

Ah, it's nice to be home. Especially because I have to go to Milwaukee next weekend with three of my favorite girls, so we can dance our tushies off!

1 comment:

Denny and Carol from FLApril 11, 2012 at 12:26 PM
Yes we missed you, just worried sick!!!
I did want to thank you for cleaning the trails, we don't bike but we do walk them.
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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!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Representing Copper Harbor

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Unofficial Overview from a Resident's Point of View

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