The Property
It was the rocky point that first drew us. A billion years old, it parted Lake Medora’s waters like the prow of an ancient, battered ship. It was encrusted with lichen and in its cracks and crevices wild daisies danced in the breeze. Before we even imagined what kind of structure we might someday build, we spent hours on the point, tasting the magic of the ephemeral, firefly existence of our brief human lives. Idle time became precious time. That was enough.
It was several years before we built anything. First, we had to get acquainted with the land. Slowly…on its own terms. One autumn David camped alone near the point for 10 days, incommunicado with the world, without books, entertainment or distractions. He listened to a young bird practicing its song for the very first time. He watched the last flight of a dying moth. He caught his age in leaves. He found a rock with a perfect circular defect that taught him lessons. A the end of that trip, David had a name for this property: Anam Cara, Celtic for Soul Friend.
It’s been almost two decades since we first set foot on this land. The magic is still there. Whenever we enter the tunnel of trees on Highway 41 just past the turnoff to Mt. Bohemia, there's a potent mix of enchantment, relaxation and anticipation. It's a portal to another realm. After several magical miles we turn off onto a gravel road. In wintertime we park our car and strap on skis for a half-hour journey across the frozen lake. In the other three seasons we follow a winding road through forest that ends 1.6 miles later at our secluded property.
Here’s how our day might unfold: In summer, we're greeted by an exuberant display of colorful perennials. In fall, there's autumn's incredible colors. In winter, an ever-changing landscape of snowy drifts. Maybe we'll be greeted by northern lights, a spectacular sunset, or a golden orb of a full moon sailing across the placid waters of the darkened lake. Often, the first thing we’ll do is head for the rocky point and just spend several minutes in stillness and appreciation. That first evening, we'll listen for the haunting call of our resident loons. The next day, we'll visit our resident eagle's nest, a one-ton behemoth high up on a leaning white pine. With luck, we may see an eagle and a hummingbird on the same day. We might do a few loops on our 1+ mile trail - hike, run or bike, depending on our mood. Then jump off the dock for a refreshing swim. Read a book, strum a guitar, or play some flute or Irish whistle on our point or on one of our decks. After lunch on our porch, we might hop in the canoe for a paddle, do some local exploration, wet a fishing line. Or bike/hike/ski one of the innumerable logging trails near the cabin and see what animals have preceded us.
Wolf track on a nearby trail. From our property we’ve been entertained by the howls of wolves and the yip-yapping of coyotes, but never at the same time as they don’t like to share territories.
Our 12-acre property, with its 2500 feet of waterfront, can keep you busy for the week. Enjoy cooking over an open fire by the fire ring, or lounge around on the lakeside deck, or sunbathe on the lichen-covered rocky point. How many different types of lichen can you discover on the rocky point?
Want a deeper level of relaxation? String a hammock (in the entry closet) between some cedar trees along the shoreline and borrow one of our books from the library (like The Verlen Kruger Story: 100,000 Miles by Paddle...it’ll make your head spin). In the evening, you can sit on the porch and mesmerize yourself with the changing colors of dusk...or sip on a cocktail made from one of the recipes from the Merry Mixer book, located on the fireplace mantle.
Or there are some games to choose from under the southern window seat.
A boardwalk along our trail.
Want more activity? A delightful trail, over one mile long, winds through the property - perfect for mountain biking, hiking, running, or snowshoeing. It was built by Aaron Rogers, one of the premier mountain bike trail designers and builders in the country. It’s an exciting ride, but the trail is also great for gentle strolling. It’s also great for mushrooming - this area has some of the greatest fungal diversity in North America.
Along the trail, south of the Point House, you’ll spot a towering white pine, leaning precariously over the water. At its top - a huge eagle nest, which is occupied most years. If you’re lucky there will be one or two fledglings in the nest. One year a government scientist who is one of the world experts on eagles stopped by as part of a study. Teryl Grubb, a wiry 68 year old, climbed 40’ up the white pine and lowered a 12 week old nestling in a stuff sack to his assistant, for banding and blood samples. While his assistant worked, Teryl stretched out his 6’2” frame inside the eagle’s nest and took a snooze, unperturbed by the squawking mother eagle circling above.
Teryl Grubbs climbs the tall white pine with the 2-ton eagle nest.
One nestling. One nonviable egg. You can’t tell from this picture, but Teryl stretched out his entire 6’2” length in the nest and disappeared from view after lower the nestling to the ground in a stuff sack.
Along the trail there’s also a little detour, The Bridge to Nowhere, which leads to a rock that has been a favorite perch for yoga for many guests. There is great mushrooming along the trail. This area is one of the most diverse sites for mushrooms in North America. Then there’s berry picking….depending upon the season: wild strawberries, bilberries, thimbleberries, blackberries, blueberries. Pick some berries and make some jam, or top off an ice cream with some freshly picked berries. There is great thimbleberry picking along Washington Mine Road, but you may have to compete with other berry pickers!
Water sports? Choose either of two sandy coves for wading and swimming. It’s easy to launch canoes and we’ve provided two canoes for guests. Lake Medora is a beautiful, peaceful 700 acre lake with several picturesque islands, perfect for exploring and picnics. Every year David paddles around the entire lake, including each of its four islands and a detour into the creek/wetland system on the NW side of the lake.
In winter, David repeats the journey, but this time it’s on skis.
Approaching the Point House.
After a day of activity we always welcome the evening - it might be approaching 11PM before it gets truly dark in the weeks preceding and following the summer solstice…the long days are a treasure. Maybe we'll cook up a gourmet dinner, or grill a simple hot dog over the fire, or head into Copper Harbor. If it's winter, the long, dark nights are also a treasure…maybe we'll curl up by the fire, read a book, sip a cocktail or enjoy a glass of wine, play a game, or catch up on a movie. But if we’re feeling energetic, we’ll bundle up and take a moonlit ski sojourn into a silent, sparkling world of wonder.
If you’re into yoga, or meditation, you’ve got tons of choices. There are two lakeside decks, the Bridge to Nowhere, the rocky point and innumerable other amazing perches along the shoreline.
Or if you’re into sunrises, moonrises or sunsets - this property has them in spades.
Into fishing? Lake Medora has walleyes, smallmouth bass and perch. So catch some fish and grill yourself a fish dinner.
Nights at Anam Cara are perfect for campfires and stargazing. This area, far from urban lights is one of the best areas in the midwest for ogling the nighttime skies and we are just a few miles from the Keweenaw International Dark Sky Park. With luck, you may even glimpse the Northern Lights.
