Remember walking to school (or the bus stop) in early Spring? Although I have to reach back about 40 years for those memories, I can still hear the ice crunch in little puddles, or see the swamp spread with crinkled cellophane. Peg Riemer's shot of the day takes us back.

But we may have seen the last of the icy morning skim here in the U.P. I just heard on the radio that temps down in Wisconsin may reach 90 by tomorrow! Here in the Keweenaw we will most likely hit the 70's. Good-bye to the rest of the snow, and (before long) hello to the black flies.

Do those evil black flies last the whole summer through? Do they stay mostly close to the shore and in the woods? My husband and I visited the UP in June 2000 and the black flies were like a Twilight Zone movie - sticking to the outside of our van like the evil blood-suckers they are. But, they didn't seem present in the urban areas. When we came UP again last September, they were no where to be found (thank goodness). If you could, someone please tell us more about these evil creatures?!? We are getting ready for another vacation up North next month...should we be prepared with an arsenal of bug spray and citronella candles?

Ya, it is suppose to be 80 today and 88 tomorrow down here in the Milwaukee area. A little too early for those temps.

Michele and Jeff - The black flies may be out by May (depending on the temps) and are pretty much gone by the end of June or early July. You are right, the little "buggers" don't seem to like the city as well. If you plan to be outdoors much, I would bring plenty of bug repellent which specifically says it repels black flies. (I have used HourGuard 8 Insect Repellent Spray from Amway, which is pretty good.) You may also find wearing a bug net helpful. I'm not sure where in the UP you will be traveling, but I'm from Copper Harbor at the tip of the Keweenaw Penninsula, and you can buy them there in the form of a shirt which has a ribbed knit waist and cuffs and a zipper across the neck in case you want to get to your face without having to take the whole bug net shirt off. They are pretty effective. I also recommend rubber bands around the cuffs of your pants to help keep them from crawling up and biting your legs. Then spray bug repellent around your ankles and socks.

Black flies can be a real pain, but they are a temporary part of the UP each year. Hopefully you won't have too much trouble with them. Enjoy your visit to "God's Country"!

Only seven more months until we once again can enjoy winter. Lets hope it starts a little sooner this year.

My 12 year old friend Bonnie and I were recently
in the Copper Country. We had a great time! She
had an opportunity to go dog sledding in Florence
Wisconsin and also to enjoy an awesome hot fudge
sundae at Lindell's in Lake Linden. She took many
pictures of the sundae and talks about it a lot.

The sundaes at Lindell's were good even back in the '50s. I enjoyed quite a few of 'em back then. Kinda nice when a place can stay in business all those years, 'ey? The frogs are singing again here in Cornell tonight. Spring must be sprung!

Our family had the little Lake Linden Motel across from Lindell's. What awesome treats they served. This sure was a trip down memory lane. --- Sandy ----

Warm down here in the mitten too but they say snow this weekend.......NOTHING like Michigan weather!

Michelle and Jeff, try Avon's Skin So Soft, that is what we would always used. AND IT WORKS GREAT.
Don't let the 'bugs' stop you from going to the great 'copper country'.

Gotta question - we will be staying in Copper Harbor at the HarborHaus in the end of June (so maybe the black flies will be gone). Any recommendations? Is the B & B at a good location?
What do we want to 'not miss'?

does anyone remember scottys restaurant in mohawk.that was many years ago.tey has good sundaes and malts there.

Where in Mohawk was Scottys? That might jog some memory banks.

Excellent picture! It sure does bring back the memories perfectly!!

Few years back we traveled to the UP with the in-laws and their two young boys. The boys had a great time wandering in the garden, woods, sitting on the tractor. But when they came in the house they were bleeding from all the black fly bites! Seems to bother some people more than others.

scottys use to be right by the catholic church in mohawk.both buildings are gone now.the barber shop use to be right there too.

The Catholic Church is gone?

The most fantastic Copper Country Pastie ever was found at a Catholic Church once each year not far from the Northern Michigan University campus.
That was 1965 or so.
Wish I could get another one!
Norm Cook, Ex Royal Oak resident, in Arizona now