It’s here — Tourist weather! What is Tourist weather
you ask? It is when temperatures are between 40 and 90 degrees
and you can eat ice cream. And you can swim, golf, lay on the
beach and eat ice cream. You can also sun bath, stroll around
in shorts and tank tops and eat ice cream. Oh yeah — you
can wear sandals go fishing and of course eat a lot of ice
cream.
Before
last weekend, you could drive along the lakeshore without
passing another car going either way. I guess it didn’t
have anything to do with the weather; it just wasn’t
quite the right time yet. It had already hit 85 degrees (a
couple of times), but did you see anyone cooking hot dogs on
an open fire or groups sitting around a bonfire? Of course
not — it wasn’t Tourist weather yet.
Tourist
weather sneaks up on us here in the Thumb and it just seems
to happen overnight. Sure you could find a few
locals
on the golf courses, maybe a few fishing at their favorite
fishing holes. Those anglers were just trying to get the
twist out of their lines so they would be ready when Bass
season
opened — which didn’t happen until tourist
season began. If you were to glance out on the lake two
weeks ago,
you may have spotted a boat or two but that was because
it was not Tourist weather. After the season got under
way,
fishing holes were crammed and boats could be seen everywhere
because
Tourist weather had arrived.
There
is a sure way you can tell when the weather changes. No,
it’s not a glance at the outdoor thermometer; it
has nothing to do with it. A notable sign is when all the traffic
seems to be headed toward Port Austin on Saturday morning.
Everyone is seeking home baked goods, home grown veggies, homemade
clothing items, fresh flowers and plants, fresh seafood and
everything else they desire at what State Tourism folks declare
one of the top 10 Farmer’s Markets in Michigan.
One of the best things about the Market is the chance
to run
into
old friends.
Yes, Tourist weather brings many old friends to the Thumb to
visit family, get their cottages ready for the coming summer
season or work on their boats that have been stored.
Many who arrive just like to visit the lakeshore to stroll
on one of the docks or breakwalls or drive along with a view
of the water.
I
visited the waterfront and saw kids of all ages splashing
out in the lake and playing on the beach.
There were
jet ski’s
running all over offshore and kayaks pulling up
to the public beach to take a break (they are not
welcome
on
private beaches).
As I drove around the county, I noted lots of garage
sales and whenever I looked out over the water,
I saw brilliant
shades of blue. I also heard the growl of many
motorcycles passing
by as they traveled the roads on less gas than
the rest of us. That meant they had more dollars
to spend
when
they stopped
in at various businesses along their routes.
This
year’s tourist weather was variable — you
know, typical Michigan weather; very hot, chilly, sunny, cloudy,
windy, calm and — rainy! It also was a
little stormy for a time which may have sent
a few folks
home early
but it takes all of the above to equal Tourist
weather.
It
sure was great to see all the tourist that arrived in the
Thumb thanks to Tourist weather
finally
arriving and
I started
to think of all the ways they enjoyed themselves
but had to quit because — I had to go
get some ice cream!