Black Bear Cabin is located in the hinterlands of the Shenandoah Mountains. The Rose River carves the earth between Black Bear Cabin and the main road, making the cabin only accessible by footbridge or by fording the river in an offroad vehicle. Additionally, due to its remoteness, there will be no parking at the cabin unless specifically requested. We would also like to stress that the ceremony is not ADA accessible.

At this point, you are probably wondering how the heck you’re supposed to get to the ceremony. This is where the adventure begins! Please read details below as they will inform your trip planning.

On a gravel road northeast of Seney, Michigan we weaved through a once burnt over landscape. The land still bore scars of blackened bark and charred limbs, yet when we drove through it that day, it was alive with acres of regeneration, bright green with new growth. We could smell the jack pine and sweet fern perfuming across the ancient sandy landscape as we followed the winding river down to its mouth, spilling into Lake Superior.

Each year, for the past decade, a few of us gather up our tents and fly-fishing rods and drive north across the Mighty Mackinac Bridge, past the fragrant cedar swamps of the eastern UP, through the berry-laden pine barrens around Newberry, and into the land of Hiawatha. We set up camp near the Two-Hearted River, a place that lends its name to both a favorite craft beer, but also Ernest Hemingway’s short story The Big Two Hearted. Traditionally, we head to the mouth of the Two Hearted River, read the Big Two Hearted while drinking Bell’s Two Hearted Ale. Then, after jumping into the frigid water in a sort of baptismal way, we conclude the trip by capturing a few gallons of river water that we then use to brew our own Big Two Hearted ale. 

Every year the river mouth shifts - sometimes a small widening, other times a dramatic lengthening or shortening. Its a treat to the keen eyes of its visitors. Just like the river, our pilgrimage each summer is a little different. Some years we have large groups of friends and beautiful weather. Other years, we have small, intimate groups and chilly weather. This particular trip was one of the latter. On July 29th, 2022 a north wind began to blow across Lake Superior, coming down from Canada. After crossing the swinging bridge over the river, grains of sand whipped and saltated across the beach with each step we took. The sun dodged in and out behind the racing gray clouds as we made our way down to the mouth of the river. Dave’s best man Keith and him were walking together, chatting about who knows what - probably Hemingway or Tolkein. In the meantime, Eleanor strolled ahead of the small group bundled up in down jackets for warmth. As we approached our final destination where we would sit and read Hemingway’s story and jump into the river, Eleanor called back to Dave and asked him to come check something out. Dave, knowing Eleanor’s love of neat rocks, especially along Lake Superior, thought nothing of the request and trudged forward. Eleanor was on a knee with what Dave thought was likely a rock when he arrived. But upon further inspection, he quickly realized that it was not a rock, it was a rusty bottle cap! But wait, “why would she care about a rusty bottle cap on the beach? '' he thought to himself, “and why is she not standing up?” he silently added. He then looked back to tell Keith about the bottle cap likely belonging to us from a previous year, only to see Keith, nor any other friends were nearby and they all had their phones out, taking pictures. At that moment, Dave looked back at Eleanor - who, still kneeling, began to profess her love for him and finally he understood what was happening! As she spoke, what once was a bottle cap magically turned into an engagement ring and without hesitation and through happy tears, Dave responded to her question with an emphatic YES!!