[driftless2]

Almost thirty years ago I drove from northern Michigan, to Sudbury, and on to Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto. That stretch from Michigan to Sudbury, and on to Ottawa close to the Ottawa River was an excellent drive with outstanding scenery. I'd like to take that drive again sometime.

It's sort of weird to realize that there's almost nothing but trees, lakes, and rocks north of that highway all the way to the North Pole.

[Hieronymus]

It’s sort of weird to realize that there’s almost nothing but trees, lakes, and rocks north of that highway all the way to the North Pole.

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Living about 40 minutes south of the highway, I don’t think it weird at all. Long nights, a short growing season (you can’t count on even three months between first and last frost), harsh weather, and largely poor soil make it rather inhospitable. Timber, mining, hunting, and fishing. If you aren’t going to a spot specifically for one of those activities, there is no need to venture all that far from the highway because there isn’t a great demand for land.

I like it, but it isn’t easy, and I can sort of see why many Canadians prefer the city, and why many people would prefer warmer climates.

But at least all my kids above the age of six are bookworms.