A Little Slice of da Harbor...: A Magnificent Melt

Friday, April 26, 2013

A Magnificent Melt

The snow sure is melting now! This beautiful sunny and even WARMish day has exposed more ground than I have seen since early January. I am down with that. This weekend is supposed to warm up to the 50's and possibly 60's for a day. Fine with me!

Unfortunately I won't be able to chase the waterfalls for 10 whole days!

Have you noticed that Duce hasn't been in many of my posts lately? The poor pup blew his ACL, knee ligament, cruciate, whatever you what to call it. He has been limping for quite some time, and hasn't been able to go on any adventures with Aaron or me. He has sprouted many more gray hairs due to his increased anxiety and worry about why he can never go with.

Monday he is having surgery in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. Aaron's parents live near there, so I am going to stay with them for 10 days while he is in his primary recovery period. Think good thoughts for him!

Hopefully, by the time I get back, there will still be some rushing falls left for me to marvel at and capture. Finger crossed!

Two days ago, Aaron, his friend Brandon and I had an adventurous day. First we went to Porter's Island for the boys to fish. Here are some pictures I took along the way. (Sorry they are small, but they are clearer this way.)

Facing east toward the Marina dock

The opening on the South Beach

The glorious North Beach

A melting snow block

The wind picked up out there, and the fishing was no good, so we decided to go snow-kiting. (Remember the flying man in a blizzard?) I had my first experience flying one of those kites that day on Lake Medora. Holy buckets, does that thing ever pull a person around!

I have a great video of one of my attempts, but it isn't edited yet. I'll work on that on the farm. I also got some cool footage of the boys doing what is supposed to be done as they carved in the snow on snowboards. A graceful, quiet sport. Stay tuned for those shots!

Well, enjoy the sunshine. I'll catch you next time from Wisconsin!

3 comments:

RichApril 28, 2013 at 1:35 PM
I hope Duce gets all fixed up so he can be that lovable, amazing trail dog again.
Have a great time hangin' with the in-laws.
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MichaelApril 30, 2013 at 2:05 PM
Hi Amanda, I hope Aaron's surgery went well and that he recovers quickly since Keweenaw adventure is surely calling him. The snowbanks will be much smaller when you return and the call of the bell buoy will be in the air...Ding ding, da ding ding. Good luck in Wisconsin.
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Carla from The RiverMay 2, 2013 at 6:43 PM
Hi Amanda,
We read your blog and guess what? We live in Cameron, just 6 miles south of Rice Lake! And the snow followed you right in to Wisconsin.

Hope your dog is well. That is always a hard thing to do. Our friends just went through the same thing. All came out well. Hope the same for you.

If you want to go on an adventure, we would recommend the Blue Hills. Not sure how long you are in the area, but would be happy to meet you in person next time.

Have fun in snowy Wisconsin!
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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!

Friday, April 26, 2013

A Magnificent Melt

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Unofficial Overview from a Resident's Point of View

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