Every year, fathers and sons across the Midwest pack up their pickup trucks and head north… a pilgrimage fueled by coffee, Mountain Dew, YouTube Music on the radio, and a few unnecessary stops along the way.
This year, it was my son, Ethan, and I making the trip to northern Michigan, about an hour north of where we live. Ethan is the hunter. I’m the weird dad who doesn’t hunt at all… but I like to pretend I’m a hunter and wear hunter orange and camo. I’m just there for moral support and to spend time with my son.
The mission for this trip was simple… finish prepping deer camp and set up some new trail cams to scout the deer that might be hanging around when rifle season arrives.
The (Not So) Great Supply Run
Our first stop was Sam’s Club. The plan was for this to be our only stop. We just needed small propane bottles for the Buddy heater (a must-have for any hunter who likes to keep their toes attached) and some padlocks for Ethan’s new cellular trail cams.
We found the propane bottles for a great price and, of course, grabbed a few snack items… including a big plastic jar of Peanut Butter M&M’s! At least one variety of M&M’s is essential for any road trip or hunting weekend. It’s basically trail mix, just without all the healthy parts.
Unfortunately, Sam’s Club didn’t have padlocks. Wal-Mart was right next door, so we figured we’d make a quick stop. We found the padlocks immediately, Ethan grabbed a couple of shirts, and we headed for checkout. But for an early Saturday afternoon, the lines were outrageously long and the store layout felt like it was designed by someone who hates people. We both agreed it wasn’t worth the wait, so we ditched our items and left empty-handed.
Menards was conveniently next door. We picked up the padlocks there, and finally… we were ready to head north. Ethan fired up YouTube Music through my truck’s Bluetooth, and we rolled up M-37… from Grand Rapids to somewhere deep in the woods north of White Cloud.
The Great Camper Awakening
The property where Ethan will be hunting this year is owned by a family member who currently lives out of state. There’s an old Coachmen fifth-wheel camper hooked up to septic and electricity. My wife, Susie, went up a few weeks earlier with Ethan to clean it out and get it ready for deer camp weekends.
At least one mouse family had claimed squatter’s rights inside. Susie worked her magic and cleaned everything so it looked almost new. When Ethan and I opened it up just two weeks later, we discovered that the mice still considered it their vacation home. Nothing major, just a little cleanup needed.
We dropped off a coffee maker, toaster oven, and air fryer… because apparently, we’re glamping now. Then we checked the supplies and made a list of what we’d need to bring when we return for rifle season in about a month.
The Woodsman and The Wanna-Be
After getting the camper situated, we headed into the woods where Ethan wanted to check existing trail cams and hang the new cellular ones.
Something about walking through the woods with your son… it makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time, when people actually hunted for food instead of for Instagram likes.
Ethan, my 18-year-old, is the real woodsman of the family. He didn’t get it from me. I’m a city slicker… a wannabe woodsman who doesn’t even really want to be one. I just like the idea of being a woodsman.
I do enjoy being out in nature, though. But I still prefer to get my meat the way God intended… from the grocery store meat counter.
Still, I love being in the woods with Ethan, where he’s in his element. I’m proud of how he takes care of the land… living out one of Jesus’ quiet teachings about stewardship. We don’t own the woods… we just borrow them for a while.
Dinner at Na-Tah-Ka South
The OG Na-Tah-Ka Tavern has been a legendary stop near Irons, MI, for decades. I knew there was a “South” location somewhere nearby, but I’d never been. Since it was only about 15 minutes from camp, we decided to check it out.
By the time we locked everything down and left camp, it was pitch dark. We remembered seeing a sign for Na-Tah-Ka South along M-37, so we decided to find it the old-fashioned way… no Google Maps, no GPS, just blind optimism.
In the dark and fog, I blew right past the sign… which, of course, wasn’t lit. We turned around, followed the arrow west, and drove a few miles past a couple of campgrounds before finally spotting the place.
When we pulled in, there were only two cars in the parking lot. One couple was leaving, so that left exactly one other vehicle. Peering inside, we saw two people at the bar, a bartender, and a waitress. Not exactly hopping.
But we’d driven all that way, and there was nothing else around for miles, so we went in. And good thing we did! We ended up with a great tavern-style meal, shot a game of pool, and Ethan played a few rounds of Galaga. Meanwhile, I absolutely crushed the high score on Ms. Pac-Man. By the time we left, the place had filled up with about 20 people. Guess we just arrived during the pre-party lull.
The Long Drive Home
The drive home took a little longer since we’d wandered off course for dinner, but that’s part of the adventure. We snacked on venison jerky, sipped sodas, and of course, enjoyed a few too many Peanut Butter M&M’s.
We talked about the day, laughed about the stops, and reminisced about other trips north. Ethan scrolled through his phone, already dreaming about buying his own piece of “up north” land someday… his own little slice of Michigan wilderness.
The whole day felt like a snapshot of what a father-son relationship should be. We drove. We talked. We dreamed. We got things done and shared a meal.
Nothing spectacular happened… but it didn’t need to. That’s kind of the point. We could’ve stayed home, scrolled our phones, or zoned out in front of the TV. Instead, we chose to get outside, do something together, and make a memory that’ll stick… even if it’s mostly fueled by coffee, jerky, and M&M’s.
When’s the last time a “simple day trip” for you turned into a story worth retelling?