There’s an enormous amount of work going on at the upper harbor in Elk Rapids. On Friday the sidewalk superintendents were out in force.
There will definitely be more shopper docks available this summer, which is good news for everyone who likes to cruise down Torch Lake, through the Torch River, through Lake Skegemog and Elk Lake and the Elk River, all for a nice dinner. You would be surprised how many people that is during an average summer. The village is grappling with the question of what to do with the former Bech mustard facility structures. They might come down, they might be sold, perhaps to Short’s for a brew pub like its excellent establishment in Bellaire, or they might become some sort of communitiy facility. I will report in due course, but in the meantime there were a lot of overgrown bushes and dead trees and general mess to haul out of there, and a big trench to bore. I have no idea of the purpose of the trench but it reminded me very much of the plumbing line Dad laid when he put in the septic tank at our house a hundred years ago. The heavy equipment, on the other hand, reminds me of the Tonka toys Rob the Firefighter had when he was little, which was only yesterday.
A few miles north of Elk Rapids the cowslips (marsh marigolds) are blooming in the dappled shade at the edge of the woods. You can spot them on both sides of US 31 just north of the rest area.
These are marsh marigolds.
These are cowslips.
The rest area is still closed. That it closes at all is a pet peeve of mine, but that it should be closed in April is especially irritating. On the other hand, up in Torch Lake village . . . TA-DAH!!
When Chris and Sonny got back from vacation the sign said “The store will reopen in a month.” As time passed, we all got a little antsy. Then a plaintive chorus arose, “Yes, but which month?” Now we know. The Torch Lake Market will reopen on April 27. Not a moment too soon. This year’s guest workers, by the way, will be coming from Mongolia and Kazakhstan and other places not yet confirmed. We are looking forward to the cultural exchange.
Torch Lake Views 
tootlepedal
April 14, 2012
You live in a happening place as they say.
Gerry
April 14, 2012
We live in a resort area. Fasten your seatbelt. Happening begins in May.
tootlepedal
April 15, 2012
We used to live in one once. You couldn’t get anything sensible in the shops after May.
Joss
April 14, 2012
I have two questions. One, did you really say you are ‘looking forward’ to the arrival of migrant workers because I have never heard anyone express such an sentiment and I’m in shock. Two, will these workers be coming over to work in the cherry orchards or the shop?
Gerry
April 14, 2012
Yes. Looking forward. These particular guest workers will be coming to the shop, which includes a popular cafe. They’re part of a program where young adults who are in school in their home countries come to the U.S. to polish their English and learn about us while working here for the summer. We’ve had a great time getting to know them. (You might enjoy this 2010 post: Midwest Meets Mongolia.)
We also look forward to the arrival of migrant workers who harvest the fruit in the orchards and the vegetables on the farms and staff the lines at the processing and packing companies. It would be impossible to bring our bounty to market without them. It’s a very complicated subject and perhaps we’ll have some conversations about that during the summer.
Dawn
April 14, 2012
I too was looking at marsh marigolds and cowslips last weekend. And I would also welcome a cultural exchange.
Gerry
April 14, 2012
I think it’s harder to arrange downstate, unless you go over to one of the universities and get acquainted with their guest workers, the teaching assistants from all over the world. You could go to a hospital–there are a lot of guest workers there, too–but it would be more fun to hang out in Ann Arbor or East Lansing or Detroit than in your neighborhood emergency room.
I know – you can come up here to visit! (See, this whole blog is a subtle marketing scheme to get more Tourist People to come to Antrim County.)
Dawn
April 14, 2012
While I was in grad school, 2006 thru 2008 I got to meet a lot of other students from all over the world. That was so great. I miss being a student. Would be one forever if I could. And I’m hoping to make it up there..hopefully with the Katie-girl, sometime this summer. Or spring. Or fall. Or MAYBE winter…..
Gerry
April 14, 2012
Sounds like April to me. Summer or spring or fall or maybe winter . . .
shoreacres
April 14, 2012
I do love watching big machinery work. After hurricane Ike, I spent a lot of time watching the divers and crane operators and such untangle the mess at the local yacht clubs and marinas. It was horrifying and fascinating all at once – those guys could move things around with the delicacy of brain surgeons.
I was caught by “guest worker” myself. Here, of course, the reality and the language is a little different, since many of the workers in our midst are running guns and drugs. I no longer go to the valley for shopping or any other reason, and I have friends working there who are required to “carry”, as we so delicately put it. On the other hand, there are drug lords parceling out sections of Houston now, so there you are. Sigh.
On a brighter note – when I went to the grocery store tonight, there were branches of cherry blossoms for sale! They just were opening up, and were so pretty – I resisted, but I thought of you!
Gerry
April 14, 2012
Yeah, this is why the whole thing gets complicated. I was distinguishing migrants from guest workers because (1) lots of migrant workers are American citizens and (2) the guest workers don’t migrate once they’re here, but come for a specific temporary job in one place.
Northern Michigan is full of migrant workers all summer long, with a fair number well into the fall. We don’t have the kinds of problems that are rife along the southern border. We have other problems. All this is worth a good long think and maybe I’ll get some interesting people to help me have that think.
P. J. Grath
April 14, 2012
I knew the marsh marigolds would start blooming while I was away! And hey, give my regards to Sonny and Mrs. Sonny. It was fun meeting them last year. — Pamela
Gerry
April 14, 2012
Hi rascal. Hope you’re having a really good vacation. There will still be marsh marigolds when you get home. Unless it snows of course, in which case all bets are off.
Sybil
April 14, 2012
Love the marsh marigold.
Gerry
April 15, 2012
Oh me too!
Karma
April 15, 2012
Nice to see things waking up! After that strange heat wave last month, it was like everything stalled, but now its back to bloom time. I hope you’ll be finding your “favorites” around Torch Lake over the next couple weeks! Favorite duos are welcome 😉
Gerry
April 15, 2012
Well I am on the track of something that would be a really, really beloved favorite. We shall see.
Cheri Sell
April 15, 2012
Happy Birthday!
Gerry
April 15, 2012
Thank you.
chris
April 16, 2012
your birthday!??
yesterday was our Jacob’s 8th b-day. time just passes so quickly.
sending you some pictures you might like