Way Back Machine - The Mio Years

Mio, Michigan - sometime in the 1990's

The way back machine today takes us back to the late 80's and into the 90's to a small Amish town about two hours due north from the Saginaw area, Mio, Michigan. The place was home to Matt and Tim V's cabin purchase. How were these young lads able to get the funds for the purchase? Let's just say they played the game...and won. Which was awesome! A place for all to gather and gather we did.

It was pure warfare some weekends as your trip started with a mean bladder burst fight while waiting for the M-33 exit (Rob is a limited stop driver, which I can respect). There were some close calls there. After surviving that, on any given weekend you might get firecrackers thrown under your lawn chair, might get pushed out of said chair while having your "tennis anyone?" shirt ripped off your chest, an arrow might fly near the outhouse while you are in it, a whiskey bottle might slide off the roof and get your noggin, a man with a vat of oil might throw it all on a 10 foot high fire pit stacking and light it (that's a fire!!!), you might trip while trying to jump a lit fire pit, you might sleep in said fire pit (the pit was a meteor crater), you might almost light your entire tent on fire while having a gas lantern in said tent, you might go walking buck naked through a park, past a group of locals and into the water at Smith Lake (Mr. Natural!), you might be sleeping in the top bunk while the wood burning stove is peaking at 100+ degrees and decide that you will fix it by putting a block of ice into said stove which makes for a cold morning, you might be hurling in the back of a vending machine supply van while someone gives you the Heimlich, you might get beat playing euchre to two fellas wearing snowmobile helmets (lids down) the entire game, your vehicle might get stuck in the "suck hole," you might miss the softball tournament because you went for a joy ride into Fairview, a turkey might dive into your car grill, you might fall for the oldest trick in the book as a bowl of water is spilled upon you from above as you open the front door, you might get to hitchhike back to the cabin after boogeying (sp?) from an Au Sable canoe trip mid stream, and last (I honestly could list forever), but definitely not least, you might fall asleep in the presence of people drinking whiskey and have some serious furniture laid upon you.  

No, the list you have just read is not all me. Are you kidding? Yes, a few of them are my own.

tough pool cue

What can you say about the cabin? As they might say on a Sunday, it was a blessing. The place had character and was pretty darn solid in terms of construction. Situated on about 10 (?) acres, the structure was probably 20 by 20 feet (30?) with two sets of bunks,  a couch, sink (no running water), wood burning stove, outdoor crapper, and of course, the pool table. The quarter mile two track entering the place was always an exciting journey. Matt and Tim's property neighbors, while quite a group they were, rarely were up so you could get the Ozzie cranked up pretty loud without worry while gazing up at the many stars (love those northern Michigan skies). As noted above, the stove did not mess around warming the place in the winter. With that, you had quite a booger factory in the morning so you had something to do while at Town and Country Restaurant for breakfast.

But, oh the times that were had at the cabin. Those parties were something to behold. Just a great place to get silly. You always hear people say "looking back, you never knew you had it so good" but I think we all knew it was good.  

Thanks for the lodging Matt and Tim.

Trail Head





unidentified person in the crapper