bajalinda - 9-3-2014 at 12:35 PM
Thanks for the photos, Don Jorge. Love northern Michigan too!!
Martyman - 9-3-2014 at 01:57 PM
Nice area. I've got a place in Sault Ste. Marie on the Canadian side. Love the tie dye kayak!
David K - 9-3-2014 at 05:14 PM
Nice... Graham and Bonni spend time up there often, as well!
woody with a view - 9-3-2014 at 05:17 PM
nice! I got one of them Amish cooling units in my SOB trailer.
encanto - 10-23-2014 at 01:15 PM
I spent all of September into October in the Eastern UP and wanted to post some affirmations regarding Don Jorge's wonderful trip report. It did not
seem good timing though with all the Baja hurricane posts taking priority. He could have even kayaked past my cousin's home north of Grayling on the
Au Sable River. By the way, Michigan's official state motto is "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you."
The UP has a lot in common with Baja--a peninsula of incredible geographic beauty and fabulous shorelines, bounded by great inland seas--Lakes
Michigan, Superior and Huron. The kayaking, sailing and yachting opportunities are fabulous. Those were really great photos of Pictured Rocks Don
Jorge! Many scenic islands are associated with the UP as are around Baja.
The Jesuit history of missionizing Indians parallels Baja's own, only it was earlier, in 1668 that French Father Jacques Marquette founded the first
European settlement and mission in the region at Sault Ste. Marie. Though it's a reach, I am even struck that if a UP map is rotated right 90 degrees,
the town of St. Ignace (where the Mackinac Bridge connects the peninsulas) is not too far off the relative position of Baja's San Ignacio.
The whole UP has only one area code and it is relatively sparsely populated. "Soo," Michigan (second largerst city in the UP) has just over 14,000
residents while sister Soo, Ontario has closer to 80,000--the Eastern UP is very binational as northern Baja is. Regarding the "yoopers" at least at
the eastern end, most of their families are deeply rooted for generations and are often interconnected as in Baja. They are friendly folks as you
would encounter down there, too.
Like Baja, lots of people from elsewhere have vacation homes and along the shoreline cottages of the western UP you only spot Green Bay flags. The UP
also has legendary copper mining history along with Baja. The wonderful architecture and heritage of the bygone mining industry is preserved as
Keweenaw National Historical Park.
We're EUP summer residents since 1976, and I'm thrilled my kids hope to keep the place lit up into the future--they love all of Nature's offerings in
the UP and northern Ontario. Being such a huge booster and thankful for Don Jorge's opening of this thread, I would encourage anyone to make the
effort to visit if you are in the area--it is in a severe economic state and they could use the business--plus, homes are going for a song!
Graham will be adding some UP photos of our recent time there when he gets back from Baja next week!
Pompano - 10-23-2014 at 02:11 PM
Another vote for a beautiful region...UP of Michigan and indeed all of that portion of the Great Lakes. So rich in history and scenic wonders.
My folks took my brothers and sister on many a camping trip to that area in the 50's. We looked forward each summer with the greatest anticipation.
I've been back a couple times in the not so distant past and still found it to be one of my favorite destinations. Just too much to do in one or two
trips.
The only negative thing I can remember about it was the time I planted the sharp blade of a double-edge axe thru my shoe and into part of my ankle
...right after a wood-chopping lesson...duh.
A good lesson about paying attention. The scar is now old, but still shows. Been super careful with sharp instruments ever since.
güéribo - 10-23-2014 at 07:45 PM
Just discovered the beauty of the UP this summer. My family went to find my great-grandmother's grave in Calumet. What a lovely place. And a
culture all its own. I had a lovely little pasty (meat pie) for lunch. The remote feeling of the place and the history appeal to me in the same way
Baja does.
DianaT - 10-23-2014 at 08:00 PM
A friend of ours from Michigan warned us that the drivers in the Michigan were fast and a bit crazy, and we found that to be quite true! Less so,
however, in the Upper Peninsula. :-) We loved our visit to that area.
Your photos are really great. My favorite is the fifth one. Thanks for sharing these --- beautiful and they bring back some good memories.
[Edited on 10-24-2014 by DianaT]
Justbozo - 10-23-2014 at 11:49 PM
Living in Michigan , where you spend the winter planning your summer and spend your summer getting ready for winter.
Vacationing in Michigan, enjoying the things the locals don't have time for .
Off the treadmill and into Baja!
(First hand knowledge )
TMW - 10-24-2014 at 08:58 AM
So beautiful, thanks
Skipjack Joe - 10-24-2014 at 10:54 AM
I've so much about the Au Sable river. It was considered one of the top 10 trout rivers when I was growing up. Thanks for sharing that picture.