Two Rivers, a lake, and another river.

At the moment, I'm unwinding from a week in the UP with Kristine. The trip was filled with mishaps, but fun anyway. We left last Friday and pulled back into the driveway about thirty minutes ago. Why blog so soon? Why not? It beats unpacking.

If you ever find yourself in the western end of the UP, stop for a night or two at the Two Rivers motel in Kenton (Houghton Co.). We spent the first five days of our trip there, and actually that motel was the main reason for heading across the bridge this summer. Kristine and I discovered the place on a trip up there a few years ago. We had been camping, and getting soaked by rain almost daily for more than a week. When we pulled into Kenton in a downpour, Kristine suggested getting a motel. I didn't need much convincing, and on the outskirts of town I saw a place advertising rooms for $20 a night. At the desk, I asked if the rate was really $20, and the lady looked at me regretfully and said "Oh I'm sorry sir, for two people, the rate is $25."

I don't think I've seen a decent motel room at that price in my adult life, and the Two Rivers is decent at the very least. Real wood paneling in the rooms, what looks like handmade wood furniture, comfy beds and clean linens, a stove and refrigerator in each room (handy, as there is no restaurant or grocery store in Kenton), very quiet. They have cabins, too. Of course, those low rates are a thing of the past--now two people shell out a whopping $30 a night.

There is, of course, an abundance of hiking, fishing, mountain biking, and other outdoor opportunities nearby. And not much else. Houghton, Ontonagon, and Gogebic counties are pretty close to my idea of heaven, but they are not for those who need cafes, cutting edge live music, galleries, or bookstores. The Two Rivers is not a place for people who need wi-fi, wake up calls, or more than four TV channels. Quite often, I feel I need these things, though I can't say I feel their absence greatly when they're far out of reach.

Besides Kenton, we also stopped for a few days in Grand Marais to spend some time along Lake Superior, and also so I could get a crack at a river I last fished in 1992 and have planned to fish again ever since, but hadn't managed to for various reasons (the main one being that I have a hard time getting past Grayling when I drive north). It was a good trip, and over the next few days I'll write about some of the highlights. There was some fishing, of course, though not much. Some good hikes, and some harrowing ones. Beautiful and strange sights. Wild blueberries everywhere, and thimbleberries teasing us with the first glimmers of ripening (if you can get up to the western UP in about 1 1/2-2 weeks, go and gorge). I've returned with many good memories, and more regrets that I had to leave.