Michigan Yooper

[RPodster]

Hi from Grand Rapids, MI. Green as green can be. First Travel Trailer, First full sized truck, first trip starting tomorrow morning. Heading to Alabama and then down to Florida for two months. Fortunate to have a good break in the weather. Belong to Harvest Hosts and Thousand Trails. Planned using RV Trip Wizard, which I found very helpful and fun to use. I am a retired trade-tech teacher and my wife is a retired science teacher. We have a great 1.3 year old blue Springer Spaniel that will be joining us. Did a ton of research, watched many videos and learned from my full time RV brother and sister in law. I'm ready for the adventure and the first thing to go wrong, but hoping you fine folks will by my library and counselors in the weeks ahead.

[aceinspp]

Welcome to the forum. Later RJD

[Oaklevel]

Welcome form Virginia !!

[Wiscampsin]

Welcome from Wisconsin.

[Cabinfever97]

Welcome from PA! We visited northern Michigan this past summer, Traverse City to Munising. Being all new to you, take your time and enjoy the ride. I like using roads less traveled. I avoid interstate if possible. We used 127 to go north in Michigan. These routes may take a bit longer, but I find the drive more relaxing and better sites along the way. Another example, when we went to Gettysburg from Erie, I used state route 15 to go south. It traveled along the Susquehanna River. That route removed some hills and the was absolutely fantastic scenery following the river. It did go through some smaller towns, but the lost time was well worth the experience. You didn't include the year of your truck; I'm guessing newer so should not be any issues there. As for the camper, remember no matter the issue, most are not too difficult to repair. My thoughts with our camper, no broken items (except for axles and wheels of course, LOL) will ever keep us from going on and enjoying a trip. We can make do no matter the issue until it is fixed. Be safe and enjoy!!

[RangeMaggotBob]

Good luck, and hope the weather stays ok. You picked a helluva time to get started!

[Oaklevel]

Sorry I have to ask. What or who is a Michigan Yooper??

and I have cousins that live in Grand Rapids and have no idea.........

[SmittyCorp]

Originally Posted by Oaklevel

Sorry I have to ask. What or who is a Michigan Yooper??

and I have cousins that live in Grand Rapids and have no idea.........

People that live in the U.P.! The upper peninsula.

[Riverbend]

Welcome from Pentwater! Harvest Hosts has been a great way for us to see some out of the way places and avoid the crowds. Have a safe and enjoyable trip!

[DogMan635]

Originally Posted by RPodster

Hi from Grand Rapids, MI. Green as green can be. First Travel Trailer, First full sized truck, first trip starting tomorrow morning. Heading to Alabama and then down to Florida for two months. Fortunate to have a good break in the weather. Belong to Harvest Hosts and Thousand Trails. Planned using RV Trip Wizard, which I found very helpful and fun to use. I am a retired trade-tech teacher and my wife is a retired science teacher. We have a great 1.3 year old blue Springer Spaniel that will be joining us. Did a ton of research, watched many videos and learned from my full time RV brother and sister in law. I'm ready for the adventure and the first thing to go wrong, but hoping you fine folks will by my library and counselors in the weeks ahead.

Welcome to Forest River Forums!

Looks like you have a great start and looks like a nice travel trip AL to FL, oh yes Florida has new traffic laws you should know about. If an emergency vehicle is on the side of the road on the "HIGHWAYS" you need to move over one lane. Next law is don't drive (Hangout on the inside lane) on the inside lane unless you are passing. Learn more at myflorida. Loved science class and in college jumped into the study of Entomology, and have designated Butterfly Garden, Bees and just reading about Gails wasp eggs where some of the first ink came from as well as hummingbirds. So very true as it sounds like you have setup a good line of trusted folks to fall back on should something goes hold you up. Again, welcome looking forward to your posts.

[Airboss]

Originally Posted by Oaklevel

Sorry I have to ask. What or who is a Michigan Yooper??

and I have cousins that live in Grand Rapids and have no idea.........

As mentioned above a yooper is someone who lives in the upper peninsula of Michigan. But I believe to be a true yooper you have to have been born there.

All other Michiganders who live under the bridge (Mackinac Bridge)
are called Trolls.

Therefore your cousins are Trolls.

[PNW_Sweetie]

Originally Posted by SmittyCorp

People that live in the U.P.! The upper peninsula.

One of places I SOOOOO want to visit when I get ready to criss-cross the country

[Riverbend]

Originally Posted by Airboss

As mentioned above a yooper is someone who lives in the upper peninsula of Michigan. But I believe to be a true yooper you have to have been born there.

All other Michiganders who live under the bridge (Mackinac Bridge)
are called Trolls.

Therefore your cousins are Trolls.

I lived there for several years and was fully acknowledged as a Yooper after, of course, demonstrating my fondness for pasties, my ability to BS in the good ways with the best of them, and an affinity for beer and a good woman. Or something like that. It did take me about 2 years before I wasn't an "apple knocker" (AKA troll) anymore.

[Rhumblefish]

Welcome RPodster.

You've stumbled over a great group - lots of good information, and ABSOLUTE TONS of opinion. We're also generally helpful.

MI is near and dear to the heart, above and below the Big Mac! More Mac races than I can shake a stick at, with distance and round-the-bouys races throughout Lake Michigan. North Channel remains a favorite getaway. Now with the trailer, we're exploring the land side a little bit more (even over in the Bad State with all that cheese), with a "circumnavigation" planned for the great eventuality.

Hope you enjoy!

[TomfromtheSoo]

Originally Posted by RPodster

Hi from Grand Rapids, MI. Green as green can be. First Travel Trailer, First full sized truck, first trip starting tomorrow morning. Heading to Alabama and then down to Florida for two months. Fortunate to have a good break in the weather. Belong to Harvest Hosts and Thousand Trails. Planned using RV Trip Wizard, which I found very helpful and fun to use. I am a retired trade-tech teacher and my wife is a retired science teacher. We have a great 1.3 year old blue Springer Spaniel that will be joining us. Did a ton of research, watched many videos and learned from my full time RV brother and sister in law. I'm ready for the adventure and the first thing to go wrong, but hoping you fine folks will by my library and counselors in the weeks ahead.

Welcome RPodster from the east end of the UP.

We spend a night at the Northern Lights Campground in Republic on our way home from Ontonagon last fall. Very nice spot and enjoyed part of the evening at the Pine Grove (just a short walk).

[TomfromtheSoo]

Originally Posted by Airboss

As mentioned above a yooper is someone who lives in the upper peninsula of Michigan. But I believe to be a true yooper you have to have been born there.

All other Michiganders who live under the bridge (Mackinac Bridge)
are called Trolls.

Therefore your cousins are Trolls.

Definitely correct on the Troll nickname for those from down below.

Another less common nickname is “Beet Yanker”. Particularly in areas where lots of sugar beets are grown as the beets are “yanked” from the ground during harvest.

Beet Yanker is also considered a more affectionate than Troll. “Hey, want to go fishing on Saturday? My buddy the Beet Yanker is coming up”.

[TruckNut]

Welcome to the forum!

[Ncgrandma]

Welcome from another Michigander ( Grand Rapids) now NC. Safe travels.

[free83118]

Welcome from Waterford, MI

[Redboat]

I'm a perma-fudge , moved to the Traverse City area from Flint in 1981 . They sell a lot of fudge around here . 1.5 million visitors to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore .
Welcome to the forum .