I love where I live

[Spirit Deer]

This morning I was sitting in a lawn chair inside my garage with the door open, contemplating a project I'm about to start working on.  I heard a bird crying, and suddenly it swooped down, gliding about fifteen feet off the ground, maybe twenty-five feet from me.  It was a bald eagle.  It made a banking turn and headed for the lake with a raven in hot pursuit.

I just never get tired of that.

[yooperguy]

It's great to be able to say that Spirit Deer.  I feel the same way about the U.P.  I grew up here and like most young adults, I left to get an education and start a career.  BUT - my heart was always in the U.P.  It took many years (15 to be exact) for me to get back and honestly, I thought I never would.  The primary reason for my return was to be able to witness the type of scene you described and to take my family camping in and around all of it.  I rarely drive more than an hour - two at the most - for my camping.  Of course there are many MANY places that I want to camp that are far away.  Never the less, I marvel at the number of people camping where I do that have traveled hundreds or more miles just to be there too.

I love the North country too!

[Spirit Deer]

Yup, we're lucky people! 

We used to camp with friends who, whenever they heard a loon, would pause and raise their hands as a sign to be quiet.  It was so unique for them, and so ordinary for us.

No doubt there are places we could live where we'd make more money, but there are some things we think are more important than money.

[yooperguy]

The call of the Loon is fairly common but I never tire of it.  Maybe it's the time I spent away in the city or maybe it's a recollection of a comment or post from someone at some point in the past that it's the call of the Loon that lets them know they've reached God's Country.

I most recently camped at Brevoort Lake NFCG (on of my favorite places) and each morning and each evening we were treated to the "song of the north."

For some reason - it also reminds me of On Golden Pond.  LOL - I saw it so long ago that I don't even remember if there was Loon song in it!  Loony isn't it??   

[Spirit Deer]

Loony indeed! 

We don't get tired of hearing them either.  The lake seems so empty in the fall when they leave.  Then we know winter is really on the way.  And it's always a big deal when I hear the first one in the spring.  They're so darn beautiful, too.

The common loon is our state bird.  I think Minnesota has more loons than any other state.  In the summer at least.  (Not counting tourists.  J/K.  Sorta.  ) 

[dbrodbeck]

I love the fact that we can hitch up and be in the middle of freaking nowhere in a Provincial Park in like 30 min.  Oh, I can see the UP from my backyard BTW.....

[yooperguy]

SNIP

I think Minnesota has more loons than any other state.  In the summer at least.  (Not counting tourists.  J/K.  Sorta.  ) 

Heh, heh, heh...  I hear ya!  Of course there are plenty of "native loons" here year 'round!  AKA strange rangers!   

I love the fact that we can hitch up and be in the middle of freaking nowhere in a Provincial Park in like 30 min.  Oh, I can see the UP from my backyard BTW.....

Cool!  While I cannot see Canada from my backyard, we are very close.  My youngest daughter never fails to let us know when she can see Ontario.  Welcome to PUX and happy camping!

[MrBigDog2U]

A few years ago, I was between jobs after my workplace closed the local office. It was during the summer so I was spending my days outside working on various random tasks. I was standing in the back yard thinking about how to proceed on my next task when all of a sudden, it struck me how quiet it was. The sun was shining and there was just a hint of a breeze. I just stood there for several minutes enjoying the peacefulness, lost in thought about how pleasant it was.

I love that, within a few hours drive, we have the beach, the mountains, a temperate rain forest, a high desert, or any number of lakes or rivers at our disposal.

[Spirit Deer]

You're truly spoiled, Bill. 

[dadmomh]

Tennessee has all the same treasures to offer - minus the Loons (birds, not people), but we never knew the real beauty of that area until our trip north last summer.  You have it all.  If the budget will just hold together and no one gets sick or hurt, MAYBE we can make a return to catch some of the things we missed the first trip.  Next July will be our 50th anniversary and we can't think of anywhere we'd rather be to celebrate.  Enjoy!

[yooperguy]

dadmomh - I went on a motorcycle camping (high speed backpacking) to the Smokies when I was in my 20's.  I thought Tennessee was just beautiful.  It was really hot out but once we got into the mountains it was very comfortable.  I loved the emerald green forests and the mountain streams.

To me, in addition to the scenery that is bliss to the eye of the beholder, a place is as much about the feel as it is about anything else.  The north has a feel and Tennessee had a feel too.  I appreciated it.  It's just too dang HOT for me down there tho!   

[Spirit Deer]

We haven't made it to Tennessee yet but it's on the short list.  Maybe this fall, not sure yet.

[Camping Queen]

Being able to see and hear loons (the avian variety) is on my bucket list.

[Spirit Deer]

Loons are beautiful.  And bigger than you expect.

It really winds them up when float planes take off across the lake.  They don't like it at all.

[dadmomh]

If you do make it to TN, please PM us and make a swing to the West TN area.  We'd love to show you our favorite CG on a very wooded bluff above the TN River and maybe share a couple of cold ones.  TN is beautiful, and we love it, but your north has a different appeal.  I could deal with the "chill in the air" up there, but DH would be unbearable to live with.  Of course, this warm spell we've had this year has not helped anyone's mood.  Suggest visiting TN by June or wait until September.  July and August are pretty uncomfortable.  Hope to see your north next year.