2001 Tip-up-Town - January 21
Houghton Lake, Michigan

Open Water - Read About TUT here

Little John, Todd and I waited at my place on Friday night for MattK to arrive from Cincy. He showed up before Midnight and we were on the road around 12:30 AM for Houghton, Michigan and the 51st Tip-up-Town. We arrived at Paddle Brave around 3:30 AM, played a few hands of euchre and finally fell to sleep around 6AM. The temperature when we arrived was 9 below zero... Luckily, the forecast was for sunny 25* days. Perfect.With the late start we did not arrive at the festivities untill 2 in the afternoon, after luch at Baum's Ausable Cafe.

New Photos 4/9/2001

Unfortunately, the polar bear dip was scheduled for next Saturday, so after dropping our bathing suits and towels back in the car, we headed to the line at the beer tent. What a mistake. Usually we arrive earlier, but with the beer tent closing by 4PM, we had no choice but to wait in the corral for our turn. 30 minutes later we were finally in. Captain Morgan was capt. of the festivities which appeared bigger than ever. They played some annoying tunes like "Who Let The Dogs Out" and a fair share of country crap. But the crowds were fun. Even Little John ran into some friends he knew in the Tent. The tent wrapped up with their usual "Star Spangled Banner" and we were deposited back out on the ice rearing to go. We walked out to the edge of the acres of snowmobiles and sat in the snow to just watch all the nuttiness of hundreds of drunk people ride over horsepowered snow sleds on a lake with hundreds of others.

We eventually hopped in our truck and headed down the river to the far end where in incoming creek kept 100 yards of open water clear from ice. 200 or so had gathered to watch the sleds fly across the open water. A few barely made it. A few near collisions. Hundreds gathered to witness a disaster. What better way to spend a sunset.

We made it back to town to have dinner at the bowling alley, then back to the cabins for a grill fire and beers. Matt Kline warmed up some of the smoked deer ribs from the deer Todd shot this fall. Great clear skies and thousands of stars left us alone by the South Branch of the Ausable river for a great night of sleeping.

I am getting my pictures developed this week AND will have them posted by end of week... I hope.

Great time guys. Until Next Time......

Prep:

The current plan is to meet at Paddle Brave campground on 1/19. We will depart 8AM for a short 2 hour canoe trip in the morning, arriving back at the campground, and then depart for the main TUT festivities in Houghton. This includes the Beer Tent and Polar Bear Dip.

Tip-up-Town Home Page & Schedule (cheesy)