Things may change, but they seem to remain the same.

My life of over 60 years has revolved around two places I loved; Two Rivers, Wisconsin and Kelly Lake (not necessarily in that order!). Both home and away-from-home involved water; Two Rivers jetting out 5 miles into Lake Michigan, and Kelly Lake , a lake of its own.

Two Rivers had two rivers; the east and west twins. I lived a block from the East Twin, where we’d catch crayfish with liver, string and a small net; slowly lowering the liver to the rocky bottom, seeing the liver disappear only inches below the muddy water to a shallow depth; waiting for a gentle tug; carefully retrieving the line to the inches of visible water; quickly bagging the soon-to-be bait in the net; then, using the tails to fish perch with cane poles off the pier on Lake Michigan; landing perch after perch, back then–not so anymore.

We were only a few blocks from the beautiful sands of Neshota Beach, where we swam and body surfed. Often we’d walk the beach 3 miles to Malarsh Creek, and sometimes we’d continue all the way (another 3 miles) to Point Beach Lighthouse. More often we took our bikes down the winding wooded road past Picnic Hill to explore around the lighthouse and pick wave and sand smoothened rocks from its shore.

Spring, summer and early fall found us at dad and mom’s cottage at Kelly Lake. Swimming, skiing and exploring by hiking, fishing boat with oars and later with motor. I packed my fishing gear and comics purchased for 10-cents each at the Kelly Lake store (don’t remember the name, but it was near the Round Roof; Collins?). Fish and read; mainly read. Ski boats followed, fishing waned.

Fond memories relive my past on Lake Michigan. I became an avid sailor, traversing single-handed across to Ludington, MI on one voyage, and eventually sailed all the Great Lakes; not just a day sail on each, but all the way from Bayfield on western Lake Superior to the Statue of Liberty.

Fond memories reflect the waters and fun of all 60+ years coming to Kelly Lake, making it our year ’round home for the last 18 years; I’ve never lost my enchantment and romance of these waters–Lake Michigan and Kelly Lake.

Looking through our archives, I came upon this folder I thought I would share, and the memories we all can relate to, though they’re a bit different, I’m sure, for each person.

Hope you enjoy a sail through the past. Like me, you’re probably saying, “Oh, I remember that”, or “Where was that taken?”

Scroll on through decades back in a time that seemed simpler and more energetic! Roger Birr