Heading North

Hi Gang :

Well, another adventure is set to get underway.  Our annual trip to the U.P. to visit family, and hang out together as a family is set to begin.  Back when us kids were little, we would travel to Gladstone / Escanaba once or twice a year to spend a week or two with family.  Our folks, would rent a cabin in Kipling invite the family down and have a GREAT time.   Many a birthday celebration for us kids, many visits by our grandparents and many a poker party for my folks with all of our Aunt's and Uncles and a bunch of our cousins.  It was always a very memorable experience for us kids, and it still holds a special place in my heart even to this day.



One of the Cabins we spent time in as kids - and, coincidentally - where Maranda was conceived...

It's a different way of life up here.  There's no urban sprawl - Traffic is non-existent ( Except on opening morning of deer season, or when there's a twofer sale at Shopko )  And the people, are generally much nicer. 

Of course, one of the things we have to do when we go up - even if it's for only a few hours.  Is to head to " Camp " to make sure everything is in order for the upcoming deer season.  Wood has to be cut and stacked for November, things need to be checked out and of course, there's always a nature walk or some target shooting while we are there.


The Cabin at Camp.....  It's old, but - it's dry, there's water and it keeps us warm when the snow is DEEP

Here's dad gathering kindling for the woodstove.....


There's a sense of solitude when being here.  Something you can't get in the big city where we are surrounded by malls, and traffic and crime.  Up in the Yoop,  it's a simpler way of life.  Many say it's much more difficult to live up here because of the distance to everything resembling a city.  Honestly, given the chance I would trade the city life for living in the U.P. in a heartbeat.

I would much rather spend the time doing for myself, what most in the city pay others to do.  This to me, is living life to it's fullest.  Besides, you can't see this in the city !!!