Up North

"Up North" are two words that have always gotten my attention. In my life, Up North means fun. For most Michiganders, it means that area beginning north of Bay City (two hours out of Detroit). It's made up of vast forests, hundreds of miles of Great Lakes shore line and thousands of small inland lakes and rivers. It's where we go to "get away from it all", enjoy the great outdoors, and recharge.

It must be noted that Up North is as much a state of mind as it is a place. As the natural beauty of Michigan can be found throughout both of its peninsulas, one can actually find that Up North spirit by going in any direction. But for me, it's straight up I-75.

My first Up North experience was going to Boy Scout camp in my pre-teen years. The camp was located at Bear Lake (the one west of Grayling, four hours north of Detroit. An interesting truth of having over 11,000 lakes in Michigan is that we ran out of names. So we have just reused many of them, leading to the need for more information if you actually want to meet people at a particular one.)

Boy Scout camp put this fabulous place called Up North in my blood, and it's been there ever since. I learned to swim in a lake (after fairly mediocre success in school pools). I learned what it's like to sleep in a tent in the rain (and the occasional thunder storm), how to make a campfire, how to handle a canoe and what plants to avoid. It was great, and nothing like my everyday life as a city kid. Don't get me wrong. I had a wonderful childhood with loving parents, friends that I know to this day, and a great variety of experiences. But Up North was different, and special.

In my teens and twenties Up North meant camping in a dozen or so of Michigan's state parks in a variety of shelters, the last of which was the big blue tent now stored about twenty feet from where I am sitting (the big blue tent, refurbished and sporting new sleeping gear, is in its 42nd year and still ready for action). I remember the camping phase of my Up North life with fondness. There were many multiple-family outings, kids of all ages, s'mores, beach fires, card games by Coleman lantern, and even the occasional puppy. There was also sleeping on the ground, rainstorms (as well as one vividly-remembered tornado), much equipment to lug-set up-take down-dry out-repack, surprise visits by unwelcome critters and getting dressed in the middle of the night to walk down to the john. But over time the brain has worked its magic, brightening the fun times and fading the inconveniences into obscurity.

As an adult Up North matured into trips to vacation homes and comfy motels with family and friends. Much time was spent in the Petoskey-Indian River area with side trips to the Traverse City wine country, the historic grandeur of Mackinaw Island and the mesmerizing sights of ocean-size vessels passing through the locks of Sault Saint Marie (known to Michiganders as "The Soo") from Lake Superior to Lake Huron. Many a brew was quaffed at the Ojibwa, The Soo's most famous watering hole which overlooks the locks. But the primary activities through this period remained swimming, boating, walking in the woods and on the beaches, and renewing memories with old and new friends.

And now in the last several years (and hopefully for many more) most of my Up North life is playing out at Wiser Times, our family cottage. Having our own cottage has allowed me to continue all of those great outdoor activities from the past, but with greater ease and a little more comfort. Hey, I've been going Up North for over 50 years. I'm entitled. And Wiser Times has enabled Nancy and I to do one of our favorite things - share good times with our closest friends.

There will be much more from this blog in the coming months on the world of Wiser Times and its activities, but I first wanted to share a little history and the legacy Wiser Times is continuing. In every way, it has become my Up North. (And for those of you who have yet to make a visit to Wiser Times, my blog graphic above is a shot of our beach here, taken by my dear friend Unmitigated Me.)


I know many of you have your own Up North sentiments and stories.  I would love hearing them.