Author: Michael Hardy

Michael is the owner of Thumbwind Publications LLC. It started in 2009 covering Michigan and the Upper Thumb. Today, his Michigan Moments series has established a loyal base of 110,000 followers.

6 Great Spots For Shore Fishing On Saginaw Bay Near Bay Port, Michigan

Posted on April 3, 2024April 3, 2024 by Michael Hardy

It turns out you don’t have to have an expensive boat to get access to great fishing on Saginaw Bay. We cover about a half dozen spots we have personally fished and visited near Bay Port.

Turnip Rock – 7 Basic Things You Really Should Know When You Kayak In The Upper Thumb

Posted on March 31, 2024July 20, 2026 by Michael Hardy

One of the most amazing sites in the #Michigan Upper Thumb is Turnip Rock. It’s the #1 tourist attraction in the Upper Thumb. Here are the top tips on how to visit the site and things to know before you go. .

Top News Last Week In Huron County Michigan

Posted on March 25, 2024March 25, 2024 by Michael Hardy

Here is a round-up of the top news last week in Huron County Wind Whips Up Deckerville Fire Near Hurds

Michigan Moment – Remember When A Clear Ice Walk on Lake Huron Video Went Viral?

Posted on March 22, 2024October 5, 2025 by Michael Hardy

Lake Huron’s clear water conditions coupled with sub zero temperatures have created an unique and amazing ice walk video experience on north Saginaw Bay.

Opinion: Control the Potential Great Lakes Asian Carp Problem with a Cash Bounty

Posted on March 21, 2024March 21, 2024 by Michael Hardy

The first major federal bounty program began in 1915 when Congress appropriated $125,000 to assist with predator control and nuisance animals.

Michigan’s 14 Best Oriole Feeder Tips & Simple Hummingbird Nectar Recipe

Posted on March 19, 2024March 30, 2024 by Michael Hardy

Discover how to attract Baltimore Orioles and hummingbirds to your cottage during migration season with these helpful tips and tricks. From colorful feeders to nectar solutions, learn how to make your yard a bird paradise.

2 Michigan Drive In Theaters Remembered – Michigan Has 11 Big Screens Still Going!

Posted on March 17, 2024March 17, 2024 by Michael Hardy

Drive In theaters remained popular until VHS movies took hold of the market in the 1980’s. Yet one still remains in the Thumb. We look back.

The Legacy of C.F. Leipprandt – A Pillar of Caseville and Huron County’s Development

Posted on March 15, 2024March 15, 2024 by Michael Hardy

C.F. Leipprandt’s journey from Germany to Michigan shaped Huron County’s history. As a farmer, merchant, and postmaster in Caseville, his contributions were vast. His innovative spirit and dedication to community set a lasting legacy.

Frank Murphy – The Judge Who Fought Against Japanese American WWII Internment – Supreme Court Justice from Michigan

Posted on March 13, 2024May 11, 2024 by Michael Hardy

Harbor Beach native Frank Murphy was a political heavyweight in the 1930s-1940’s. Frank Murphy was born in Harbor Beach Michigan in 1890. He was the 39th governor of Michigan and was on the United States Supreme Court. He was the voice of anti racist dissent against Japanese American Internment during WWII.

Great Lakes Cruising History – 100 Luxurious Years of Travel

Posted on March 11, 2024April 18, 2025 by Michael Hardy

In the mid to late 1800s steamships traveling on the Great Lakes were the only way to get to most cities.

Cruising via paddlewheel steamer gave rise to our northern Michigan tourism industry and the start of the term “Going Up North” Prior to the railroads and automobiles.