A Little Slice of da Harbor...: On Top of Mountains

Thursday, August 15, 2013

On Top of Mountains

My last post was in July??? It must be August then!!!

You would be proud of me. I just sent out my last articles about Mount Bohemia Adventure Resort. Outdoorhub.com hired me to write them. For my research, I kayaked Lac La Belle, hiked to the top of Mount Bohemia (yes, I am recovered) and mountain biked Bohemia. Check out one of my live articles about it at this link!

So now that that's done, I don't have such strict deadlines. I mean, I have a few more articles to write for other publications, but I need to get out and enjoy myself a little before I delve much deeper right now. No worries, though. Life is grand.

Did I tell you about Breakfast on the Flow? Each Sunday morning from 8 - 9 am, the owners, cooks and staff from The Harbor Haus Restaurant pack up food, coffee, stoves and place settings and hike it to a spot on The Flow trail. Then they make breakfast for everyone who shows up! It's awesome! Here are some pictures from last Sunday.

Breakfast cooks in action!

Happy breakfast eaters!

Do you take your coffee with a view?

Pretty cool, hey? Do you know why they do this every Sunday through Labor Day Weekend? Because they love the trails! You can enjoy a scrumptious breakfast with friends and a great view all for a donation to the Copper Harbor Trails Club. The CHTC truly appreciates the Harbor Haus for doing this, and you for supporting it. This Sunday's menu includes gourmet omelets with fruit and tabouli salad!

Most of the berries are peaking right now. Blackberries and chokecherries have a couple weeks yet, but come on up for the rest!

Oh, I finally jumped into Lake Superior for my first time this summer. It was on Sunday after mountain biking Bohemia... and a beer because that takes some courage to jump in there. It actually wasn't too bad that day. I would do it again.

Gosh, now I have to get ready for work. You know, my other job besides writing -- bartending. I bet it will be another busy night in da Harbor!

3 comments:

Rich FAugust 17, 2013 at 5:57 PM
For a view like that, yes I would even drink coffee.
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AnonymousAugust 20, 2013 at 9:56 PM
Rich, you really need the caffeine?? ;-) We'll try getting up there for breakfast this Sunday.

Arlyn, Sandy and Gromit the trail mutt.

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RichAugust 26, 2013 at 6:52 AM
Actually I think I need more of something that starts with a T. Although I have enough to enjoy the view pictured in Amanda's story here.
Gromit, I was thinking lately that it's been a long while since I saw any news from you and those adorable humans or yours.

Rich
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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!

Thursday, August 15, 2013

On Top of Mountains

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Unofficial Overview from a Resident's Point of View

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