Our trip would begin about 3:00am. Of course there was no I-75, so our trip would take us through Clare for our annual family breakfast. The excitement on our trek to Curtis certainly elevated when we reached Mackinaw City, and it was time to board the car ferry. What an awesome memory it was to travel by the mighty Mackinac Bridge while it was under construction.

Finally, off the ferry and into the U.P., past the Mystery Spot, and the pasty and fudge shops, here we come. In my earliest memories, H-33 was still a gravel road. Watching all the dust fly up the back of the station wagon was always a treat, we knew we were almost there!

Arriving at Al and Harriet's resort was great. However, we could hardly unpack before begging our parents to take us into town. The thrills were endless. We first passed Albert the Worm Man's cabin and checked it out to see if he was out front. He was a mysterious fellow. As we made our way into Curtis, everything came back as if we had never left. First we would pass Dewey's Mobil and Soder's which began the seemingly endless trip through town. One landmark after another - Gordon's Resort, Fuller's Dress Shop, and the North Shore Gift Shop. The trading Post was just being built; we could not wait until it opened. Our travels then took us by the old post office, Torgeson's, Betzer's Meat, Memory's Grill, Watson's Marina, the various dock and furniture builders, the Wigwam, Brown's and Burk's, Feneley's Grocery, the Bake Lady's house, Laverty's Service Station, Lud's, the Teepee Hardware and then all of a sudden it was over, we had traveled all the way though town.

Now it was down to business; get groceries for the cabin; stock up on penny candy, and check out all the used nickel comic books at Bob McConnell's and Lizzie's. Before we left town my brothers and I just had to run up one side of the old post office steps and down the other. It was a tradition.

Back at the resort, there was no time to play. It was time to unpack the fishing gear; put the boat in the water; situate the cabin; have dinner, and then maybe go fishing. We had to be in before dusk because going to the dump and looking for bear was a most anticipated trip. We were now settled in and our two weeks of bliss had begun!

My vivid memories of Curtis are split within two time frames; from the mid '50s to the early '70s and the mid '90s until today. The first era was the time of the family vacation, enjoying each summer with my parents, brothers and sister, not to mention the numerous friends and relatives who all gathered at the resort for the Fourth of July holiday.

When our father (Rocky) passed away in 1967, our mom (Virginia) decided to build a summer home just south of the Graves Resort; but it was not the same without my dad. Finally in 1973, forging a career in the home building business, I moved to Florida. I thought Curtis would just become a wonderful part of my past; little did I know.

During the '70s and '80s I had visited mom a couple times but really did not have much interest in coming all the way up the U.P. from Florida; it just wasn't the same. As the 90s rolled in I had now married the girl of my dreams, Amanda, and we had our first daughter Calli. We decided to travel to Curtis to show off Calli to her grandmother. A new appreciation and joy for Curtis was developed during that visit. Watching our daughter swim and play in the same lake as I did at her age had a magical charm.

Around 1997 our mom's health was failing. So, along with my brothers, Jack and Tim, I started to spend significantly more time in Curtis. Childhood memories were overpowering me. The joy I once felt about the place had returned. In 1998 our mom passed away, so Jack, Tim and I decided to hang onto the past, at least for a little while, since it had terrific sentimental value.

Each year it becomes more and more special returning to Curtis.We now have another daughter, Sarah. Witnessing our children's excitement and anticipation each time we are planning a trip to the cabin is truly precious. Last year Amanda and I made a decision to look into a cabin for us our family. Incredibly a lot went up for sale two properties down from where our current cabin is located. With some apprehension, the decision was made to buy the land. We are now planning our dream cabin for the property. Ironically, when we closed on the land with Roland and Marge Lambert (who currently own the Trading Post) the title search showed the site had been in Roland's family since 1949. It was sold to them by none other than Al Graves himself. Had it not been for our father being a good friend of Al's we would probably never have had a reason to travel to Curtis.