This past weekend, I visited the “up north” as we call it. Really it is the Grayling and Mio area of Michigan, which my map calls the Northern Highlands.
I got to do some fishing, but I think I had more fun this year with teaching my daughter to fish. Prior to heading up north, I found a web site that sells toddler waders called Oaki Wear. The had a pair of 3T waders on clearance, so I couldn’t pass it up.
Additionally, I had spent the last few weeks building a pink fly rod for my daughter as well. I took her to a busy access point that I knew was shallow enough for her to walk in. I helped her get ready for her first steps into the river.
It just so happened that Camp Barakel had a bus parked there waiting for their campers to finish a canoe float down the main branch of the Au Sable. My wife snapped a quick photo of my daughter standing in front of the bus, and I had a quick conversation with Paul who was driving the bus and patiently waiting the arrival of the campers.
I took my daughter out into the river, and I could tell she was having fun. She waved her hands in the water to make sure she wasn’t dreaming, and she remarked at how many rocks there were. I scooped her up, and waded out a bit to try and catch a fish with her new fly rod.
We didn’t catch any fish, but she had fun, and I think she will want to try fishing again.
One of the other non-fishing activities that I enjoyed doing was visiting two of the local Amish businesses. First we stopped at “The Bakery” which is just out side of Mio. We bought bread, an apple pie, cinnamon roles, and I even got a jar of blackberry jam and all for a very reasonable price. We then visited an Amish bulk food store only about a mile from the baker, and here I bought a large jar of honey and maple syrup. I will definitely be visiting these shops again in the future.
