Johnson Journals part 229

8/1/70 Strong NW wind as we took guests to town at noon. Stopped at house and picked up Layna’s cousins Ray & Ethel Palmer, their kids Pat & Joe Giamfortune, and their 2 girls, Debby and Missy. Missy an 8 year old live wire. Ethel has a raucous voice that would drive me nuts over a long period but not too bad on a short haul. She doesn’t show any other great defects so I should be able to settle for that one - for a few days.

8/2/70 Ray is Bernice’s cousin too and Layna decided that she should spend some time with him. To me it was obvious that Bernice could not care less. At any rate, I braved the waves and went after her.

8/4/70 In a wild sweat to get off island in time to get to Capt. Martin’s funeral. Two Starcrafts to get over to landing and at last minute Frankie Bohman stopped to say a boat broke down and drifting near Clark’s. We sent Timmy after that one. A short service, maybe the minister knew as did most of mourners that in life Billy Martin did not believe one damned word said. To young Bill’s house for lunch after. Saw many old friends, all agreeing that we had lost a truly great man.

8/5/70 This party of 9 all strangers. When they leave they will still be strangers. We see little of them. They come down for breakfast, get in boat and gone all day.

8/6/70 A near crisis avoided today when host invited Layna and I to join them at dinner. Layna fielded that one nicely by suggesting we go on houseboat for dinner. That mollified Bernice to some extent. Christ, but we have to put up with some damned irritating little pieces of crap.

8/7/70 Stopped at 265 at 2 p.m. and said goodbye to Ray and Ethel. I think they thoroly enjoyed their stay. Don’t know if they thot we should have done more. Our only possibility of a slip up - we could have taken them out for dinner tonight.

8/8/70 Had Stan Wilde and Mile Robilio all day. Good men and a good thing. The fishing poor. We caught 9 small WE to contribute to shore lunch. 4 more after lunch. No griping from guests. Forgot to mention fog. It rolled in at 6:45, just before breakfast. It was so bad we could not see Cleveland’s Island. It lifted enough to we could go by 9:00.

8/9/70 Hot - Dry! 88o. It looks more like 1936 each day. Country powder dry.

8/11/70 92o No guests on island but enough activity in that Jane and kids here much of day. Layna and I took off for Frank Youso’s Pine Crest Lodge on Kabetogama at 7:00. A pleasant evening followed. A couple of drinks and a good steak feed. Talked to several people. It was good to get away.

8/12/70 I pulled what could have been the grand boner of the year. I (alone) lifted the stern of Brian’s boat and greased outboard unit. I put one filler screw in and remembered I was to call Layna at 2 p.m. I did. Then took off to meet her without putting in other screw. Had I not noticed it at landing, we would have had a ruined motor tomorrow. This bothered hell out of me as well it might.

8/13/70 I enlisted Brian & Tim to help put up Jernberg’s tent. We had considerable trouble figuring it out but it looks good from here right now.

8/14/70 Rain - .47”. Layna and I to town at noon to do shopping before the Dwayne Andreases due to arrive at 3:30. Andreas here at 4:30. He is all business, not outgoing like brother Lowell. Erv in a cast iron tizzy hoping that all goes well for the great man who is less than half his size. Layna and I take it all very calmly. It is interesting to note here how philosophy of the whole deal has changed. For better or for worse, we feel we are in the enviable position where we are no longer concerned one way or another. If ADM checks out, we can still make a good go of it therefore Olson, Andreas or anyone else holds no fear for us. (They apparently fear one another, however). Almost a full moon. We took gang on a cruise. The 4 women sat on front deck talking and the men were inside talking about the one thing they know - money. They all seemed to agree that our economy is damned shaky and many businesses on or about to go on rocks. Andreas apparently right there willing to grab the sinking ones at a ridiculously low fee. It reminds me of the buzzards along the road in Mexico waiting for a truck hit burro to make his last gallant gasp.

8/15/70 The Red Gods don’t know Dwayne Andreas so they sent the winds to harass the fishermen. We (Layna and I) met the group in Deer Bay with houseboat. The 3 boats showed up on time and a good shore lunch followed. A hurry back to island, bucking huge waves and we had the Andreas at airport at 3:00 as per schedule. A twin turbo prop plane had been waiting for them since landing them yesterday! I am glad we are not paying for it. Had chance to hear Erv and Bradford tell about their goose hunting trip to James Bay last year. The poor dears spent a lot of money for what they got. No tears from me.

8/16/70 We took the 6 of them to airport at 1:30. They said they had a good time, in fact the gals just raved, darling, but I had my doubts. A new batch of guests, only 5 of them, all newcomers. Layna, Jim, Willie, Joan and I to see Airport. Great. Helen Hayes superb.

8/17/70 The Clarks had agreed to take Harry Davey, Layna and I to Gwanatchewan for dinner. I was to pick up Harry at the dock at 6:15. Sally and Jim came at 5:00 so I was in a real sweat to make it. A little late, about 6:20, and when I arrived, Harry not there. I decided that maybe he misunderstood and was at our dock. I ran over there, back again, and again. Harry was doing the same maneuver by land! We finally got together on 3rd round! Had a good time with Clarks. Sally, Jim and kids great.

8/19/70 Layna and I to Boyds for dinner. Much, much fun. We have a great deal in common. They have decided to give their bodies to the U. of M. medical school and asked us to witness the agreement. A good idea. I think we will go for it, too.

8/20/70 Byrne, Brad and Kyle Harris off for #36 marker by 7:10. Stopped at Brule and located #31 which had sunk. We could not move it. On to job site, arriving at 8:40. A good stroke of business followed. We had the form filled by 2:00 p.m. Byrne and I alone in skiff stopped again at buoy #31 and this time Byrne got out and dove down to tie rope around chain. Jim came along with barge and we towed buoy and sinker to shore. Great. We found holes in it but could do nothing so came on in. Byrne’s family and Sally’s family here for supper at 8:30. Vivian Sutch spent day at island. She and Layna real pals.

8/21/70 We stopped at Moes for a short visit and back to island. The rain really came in earnest. We met Layna & Sally in houseboat, then built fire in fireplace and had a very pleasant visit and dinner. At 7:00 the sun broke thru, bright red and a most spectacular sky followed. Even a blood red rainbow. At 8:30 it calmed down enough so kids could go home. A big day again.

8/22/70 Airport dedication in Falls. We went to Buck and Dale’s for family reunion. A great touch football game with almost whole family involved. Big feed and off for home at 9:30. Terry’s birthday soon and he was guest of honor but he was very cool about it all. He left early.

8/24/70 Shore lunch on Mattson’s Island. Changed fishermen and had a good p.m. Home to find Harry Davey on dock. He stayed for supper. Fun. Much talk about Maude Will. Now there is a deal that meets with 100% approval from us. Layna told me that Amy from Decatur had told her today that chances very slim of ADM renewing lease. We are full of related thots tonight. No panic.

8/25/70 Byrne and I reset #4 buoy and then on to their place. An hour’s visit and then left because they had the Cummings family coming for dinner. Layna thot it strange that we were not invited but my thick skin thought nothing of it.

8/26/70 Byrne and Jane took off before I got home. Layna a bit depressed. She wasn’t sure if they thot we could have done more for them this summer or not. Well, this old man thinks we did more than enough and that’s that. Ed Barnes, the bastard, called Jim and wants him to leave tomorrow for Alberta. Damned unethical, we think. Well, maybe he can have him for all of next summer. Jim told us he will not go. We will see.