A Little Slice of da Harbor...: Goodbye Buoy, Hello Snow!

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Goodbye Buoy, Hello Snow!

I'm not really sure what's going on here. Since my last post (on Saturday) it really hasn't stopped snowing. Not for long periods of time, at least. We shoveled twice today. Well, I shoveled, and Aaron blew the snow off with the Stihl BR600 Magnum leaf blower. There is nearly two inches on our porch now. If the temp wasn't predicted to rise to 50-something this weekend, I would be pumped for an early winter. Oh, Mother Nature, you are a trickster.

I must confess, I forgot to tell you something very important about da Harbor. The bell buoy has sailed south for the winter. I remember the day, sometime last week, when I noticed its absence. My first thought (besides why do I never get to watch the buoy go in or out?) was I remember the day I first heard it this spring.

It was the eve of Thursday, May 3rd. My family came up to celebrate my and Aaron's wedding on Saturday. My brother, sister and I started taking shots at dinner time. We later ended up at Zik's singing, dancing and hula hooping. It was about 3 am, and my sister and I decided to walk down Highway 41 in the almost full moon. We were close to the water treatment plant when I heard it. Ding ding, da ding ding.

I fell to my knees. Bell bouy! You're back! I shouted (not at all influenced by tequila). Katie! The bell buoy is back! I told her, as if she didn't notice me on the ground praising it already. Spring is here! Welcome back, bell buoy! I love you!

Yep, that's pretty much how it went down. The absence of the bell buoy was a much milder story. In fact, I don't remember much about it besides wondering why the heck I never know when the bell buoy is going to change positions.

But I found out how I can. I can just call the coast guard! They'll be receiving a call from this young lady at the end of April. I guess the raising and lowering process takes about four hours, but I could get some good video for you. Please remind me about this in the spring. Thanks.

Here is another one for you. I already saw a snowmobile cruising by. It was in St. Germain, Wisconsin. I had to rub my eyes. It had only been snowing for about 12 hours, but there was enough for those crazies to go for a ride. Kudos to them.

I can't wait to ski. I better get out before it melts. But this time next week, I'll be on a tropical island! Snow? What the heck is that?

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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, November 27, 2012

Goodbye Buoy, Hello Snow!

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Unofficial Overview from a Resident's Point of View

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