One hundred years after Ernest Hemingway’s short story elevated the myth of the Two Hearted River into the public consciousness, Bob Otwell invites you to the riverside—to experience the revered watershed as it really is.

In The Real Two Hearted: Life, Love, and Lore Along Michigan’s Most Iconic River, Otwell reveals truths about the river’s past, present, and future in ways that only he can.

As the owners and caretakers of a secluded old cabin called “Boggy’s Camp,” Otwell and his family have spent decades paddling, hiking, and mountain biking in an area along the Two Hearted River so remote that visiting in the winter requires skiing five miles.

An expert in hydrology and environmental investigations, Otwell explains the river’s science and shares his thoughts about conserving the watershed’s delicate balance.

Otwell weaves together the rich history of this isolated gem in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula; he introduces colorful local characters, including the man named Boggy. And he reminisces about his family’s adventures at a beautiful and hidden bend along the storied Two Hearted.