WJR SUV up north

[statmanmi]

I passed an WJR SUV this afternoon on M-13 between Linwood and Pinconning. Are they broadcasting from up north this week?

Does anyone actually have an answer to the question, or will all of you geography majors continue to flash your diplomas?

IIN4MU has a good point--Nobody has attempted to answer Realist's question about possible WJR remote broadcasts "Up North" this week.

My favorite search engine found me this page on WJR's website: https://www.wjr.com/2023-pure-michigan-tour/

So yes, Paul W. Smith's show is "on the road". With this morning's location being the casino by Standish, the witnessing by Realist of the WJR-themed auto on M-13 put it less than 15 miles from the apparent destination.

...
US 10 is a decent dividing line from Clare County westward.

I could share my own opinions about what's the dividing line for "Up North". But instead in the last few years I've tended to adopt the guidance that MDOT uses in the spring for the lifting of weight restrictions on the "Seasonal" routes. Most recent example being "Update #5: Annual spring weight restrictions changing again Monday" issued 3/24/2023 (https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/news-outr ... ain-monday) :

"...including US-10 from the intersection of M-116 in Ludington, east to US-127 in Clare County, north to M-61 in Clare County, then east on M-61 to the intersection of US-23 in Standish...".

I'll rationalize that the use of M-61 is to mitigate how US-10 has the ESE trend from Clare into Bay County. Per various comments above, this definition causes the city of Clare to not quite be "Up North" (but Harrison is, as well as West Branch). Meticulous me also notices that the casino visited by the show this morning isn't quite "Up North", since it's a bit south of the M-61 / US-23 intersection in downtown Standish. By time of my typing this though, their vehicle has likely been driven north of M-61 en route to the Tip of the Mitt for getting the occupant(s) to Mackinac Island for tomorrow's show.

Cheers! ~~ Statmanmi

[Trophyhead]

Statman oughta know, having been raised in Cadillac.

Clare always had "Gateway to the North" on a venerable billboard, decades back, which indicates you're almost there. I would say M-55 could serve as the border.

[whitebalance]

Up North begins where you start seeing Trump signs.

[Realist]

Thanks to statmanmi for answering my question. I had looked on WJR’s website to try to figure it out but didn’t see what you found. It was Paul W. driving

As far as up north, I agree with Mark. Arenac County westward, to me, is up north. The laid back attitudes seem to start there.

[Ben Zonia]

I don't consider any of the Thumb, even Port Austin as "up north".

What about Caseville, Bay Port, Harbor Beach, etc.?

[Ben Zonia]

So Up North stops at the Bridge? The UP isn't Up North? What about Beaver Island?

My point is, there are a lot of similar resort type areas, but Latitude 43.75, if you look, it basically defines the same thing in different areas across the state.

[statmanmi]

Thanks to statmanmi for answering my question. I had looked on WJR’s website to try to figure it out but didn’t see what you found. It was Paul W. driving

As far as up north, I agree with Mark. Arenac County westward, to me, is up north. The laid back attitudes seem to start there.

You're welcome Realist! ~~ Statmanmi

[edj]

I don't consider any of the Thumb, even Port Austin as "up north".

What about Caseville, Bay Port, Harbor Beach, etc.?

No. Anything past the Saginaw Bay would be cut off from anything else. Yes I know it’s north of a hypothetical current US-10 line. I had a coworker years ago told me his family had a place up north- in Huron County. I told him it wasn’t up north. Maybe that’s why I was never invited…

[Ben Zonia]

College Towns-SVSU, CMU, Ferris, etc. are not part of Northern Michigan. Rosebush, Paris, and Pinconning are.

[Matt]

People in Grand Rapids consider Newaygo to be up north. These people are insane.

[audiophile]

People in Ann-Arbor consider Highland up north, LOL.

[Ben Zonia]

People in Ann-Arbor consider Highland up north, LOL.

And they make day trips to Parshallville....

[Matt]

People in Ann-Arbor consider Highland up north, LOL.

And they make day trips to Parshallville....

I was just in Munising and Marquette over the weekend, but you do you.

[MWmetalhead]

Since this was a station vehicle for the old fogie radio station, was the driver doing at least 10 mph below the speed limit? 🥸

[Realist]

Since this was a station vehicle for the old fogie radio station, was the driver doing at least 10 mph below the speed limit? 🥸

Sorta - was barely going over the speed limit but was camped out in the left lane, as I had to pass Paul in the right lane