I am Yooper.

This year’s sort of “midpoint” or main new place to stay for awhile, is the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, or “the UP,” where the locals pronounce themselves UP’ers, pronounced (and often spelled,) Yoopers.

I’ve never been anywhere near it before. Business trips to Detroit and I think that is the full limit of my experience with Michigan.

It is lovely, despite the struggle for a cell signal or an internet connection. In fact these absences are part of the charm. There’s no Starbucks here in Munising. No internet café of any kind (and I looked for one.) An abundance of Pasty Shops.

The folks here talk a certain way. Pasties are everywhere but don’t say it with a long A sound. And smoked fish. I tried the trout and I reckon I’ll get my hands on the more ubiquitous white fish before it’s over.

My campground is lovely, although disappointing in ways. I have certain expectations of this particular commercial chain and they are sorely lacking here. Yes, I’ll be writing a review.

Between working and laundry (where there is a good internet connection,) this week is about hiking, biking and kayaking. Also a bit of typical tourist-ing. Like the “glass-bottom” boat to view shipwrecks I took yesterday (Sunday.) There are 73 shipwrecks in this Munising Bay! We did not see all of them but a couple are in shallow water and it was fun to see them. Scuba diving in this lake would be stellar and if (when!) I return here I will bring that gear. I do have my kayak but it looks like it is more common to use the longer sea kayaks. I’ve booked a guided kayaking (in their yaks) for sunset today (Monday) and I’ll see if there are places I can launch my little rec yak.

The dogs and I have done the shorter, dog-friendly and tourist friendly common hikes. I’ve explored some mountain bike trails and plan to hit a popular one later today.

“Indian Head Rock” Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore