Where’s this “up north” we all escape to in Michigan?
A slim majority (28 percent) of the nearly 500 people who took this week’s Heller Poll said it begins in Cadillac in Wexford County. Sixty two percent of those polled, however, chose, well, just about everywhere else in the state, including Bay City (12 percent), Clare (20), Grayling (15), the Straits of Mackinac (9 percent).
All of these people are wrong, of course, because it’s my poll and I say so. I contend that “up north” begins wherever I escape the feeling that I’m downstate. Usually that’s wherever I’m at when I notice the smell of pine in the air and the soil turns sandy.
So, OK, let’s say Grayling.
Although I must say that Cal makes a persuasive argument for Clare. Cal says: “You can see the exact line on the Michigan soil type map just north of Clare. The more northern (boreal) biome begins on the hillside north of Clare. McKays large cattle ranch in the valley, and pines starting to appear among the hardwoods on the hillside where the northbound highway starts to climb the side of the moraine.”
He had me at “biome.”
OldUgly was similarly persuasive: “Clare! No doubt. No arguments. No waffling. Is, has been, always will be. End of discussion. Memorize this, there will be a quiz later. If you doubt me, walk into Cops and Doughnuts and announce you don’t believe Clare is the Gateway to the North. On second thought–don’t do anything that foolish.”
Trust me, I won’t.
If I did, they might not sell me doughnuts.
I really like doughnuts.
I totally agree with the smell of pine and fern. As a child who “went up north to Cadillac”, the anticipation began around Lakeview on M-46. The feeling of being up north was when we turned off US-131 and headed to the lake.
28% is a plurality not a majority.
Northern city limits of Clare.
Four miles north of the Clare city limits, at Adams Rd. But I suppose it depends whether you are a fan of birches or pines. Birches start a little south of Cadillac. The boreal (pine) biome starts just north of Clare.
Or, you could say that North begins a hundred miles north of wherever you are.
I have always thought that “up north” was north of M-55 which runs east-west across our beautiful state!
That is because I believe 95% of those 500 people polled have never been to the UP because they are scared to cross the bridge!
Mr. Heller, Let me know when you are headed this way. I will treat you to a doughnut and coffee at Cops and Doughnuts.
Deal. But only one?
Depends if you behave yourself.
OK I wrote a few days ago and I guess I will have to back up my pt in little north of Clare is where the North begins. I agree with Cal I think he was talking about once you hit m- 115 north . There is a store right when you get off US -10 on 115 they will sell you a pastie and not only that they also have coney islands you can buy their . One time In stopping at that store I asked about the coneys are they good, the owner said they were a Flint style Coney . So going north you can get up north food a pastie , and going south you can get a Flint style coney dog at this one spot . I also heard a rumor in talking with those people that the Republicans in Lansing were going to put up a sign stating this is where North meets South , they also said the Republicans in Lansing were not going to let any one vote on it either they knew what was best for everyone .
Well, missed the vote, but my cousins all go to cottages “up north” and it’s down the street from me…which is Lapeer county….so that sure is souther than all the norther places people stated here. I just know once you soak in that “up north” feeling, you’re there…wherever that began. I also know my brother flies in from TX each summer and rents a place, just for that feeling…..it is THAT powerful!