The Johnson Journals, Chapter 213

• Don sets buoys

• Don entertains dinner on the houseboat

• Jane and kids visit

6/15/69 Bob and I to Ronnie Jonson’s by 8 a.m. and brought boat back. Byrne and Jane drove from Pittsburgh in 20 hours - oh, to be young! We went over to visit them and they were well settled. The kids look great - so do their parents.

6/17/69 Finally did something definite toward filling Coast Guard work order. I took #3 buoy out and put on station. Then to landing and rigged up buoy for Powder Island rock. Off in Cadillac, alone. Had some trouble finding rock but had it by 2 p.m. On to Olson’s reef where I put buoy out there. So far, so good, but when I got to Brule Narrows my troubles began. I spent 3 hours trying to decide where Mr. Hall thot my two markers should go but I’ll be damned if I am sure. My feet wet all day and I was miserably cold on long ride home. As I entered the narrows by George Ray’s cabin, I met Jim. He was worried about me and was out looking. Good boy.

6/18/69 Jane here with her little brood when we came home. A terrific NW wind so we kept them here until 9:30 when wind went down somewhat. They were fun. We sure admire the spirit in Jane that makes her rough-it over in their little cabin. 

6/19/69 No Jim, but David and I put in practically a full day on assembling the #19 day beacon. We need more beef to put it up. It is a cobbled up job due to fact that Coast Guard sent wrong brackets. Christ, can’t they do anything right? They do a good job of sending out reports to fill out but that is the extent of it. 

6/20/69 Wind still howling so when Lt. Banen called to say he was in town at noon, I suggested we wait until tomorrow to go up lake. He agreed and I went in to see him. We had a good meeting and according to him, we will get top priority on buoy job. Well, I am not going to hold my breath until the buoys come. I went to town to meet the 9:00 p.m. bus and Byrne. Was reading paper about 8:30 when Robin, Karen and Byrne drove into yard. Good.

6/21/69 Up at 4:00 a.m. so I could meet Lt. Banen at dock at 5:00. A fine morning for a change and we had a good run to Brule Narrows. Cleveland says we must mark north channel and that is that. We did some serious survey work and think we have worked out a pretty fair channel. A pleasant day and he proved to be good company - and fairly knowledgeable. Back to island by 10:30. Byrne, Karen and Robin there and we had a good visit with Byrne & Banen doing much reminiscing concerning Coast Guard. Interesting. 

6/24/69 Our guests made “one more try” at Windy Island and came home at noon with a full limit. Not bad. Took party to town at 2 p.m. They all said “We will see you next year!” I wonder, but am not dismayed. We had the Clarks - Dan, Dan, Jr. Their wives and two kids for dinner. Good. They sure have leaned over backwards to entertain us in Tucson. It is good that we can reciprocate somewhat. 

6/25/69 Brian, Bob, David and I took #19 tower to Big American and put it on base. It fit perfectly. Most of your troubles never happen. Whole crew clearing around path and it looks better. Jim here by 1 p.m. and on the strength of that, I decided to start putting new rock foundation on main house. The old one has been an eyesore for years. We are sure to improve it. 

6/27/69 We (Jim and I) finished foundation. It looks great. A beautiful sunny morning went plumb to hell at 11 a.m. We got caught near Clarks’ Island with a load of rock and got soaked. We kept at job, between showers. Finished about 3 p.m. when rains came in earnest. Jane stopped by from town with her little brood. They were in fine humor despite the weather - Brad had no slicker but refused a dry shirt. I did not press it. He must have been frozen when he got home. 

6/28/69 Worked all morning on cleaning up around our new foundation. Layna resisted my idea of throwing surplus rocks in lake. At 2 p.m. I arrived at Bill Lloyd’s to talk over buoy situation. We sure are in complete agreement. We sure could do a good job of marking Rainy Lake if they would leave us alone. A good visit talking of old times and people until 4:30. 

6/29/69  Terrific east wind blowing when we got up. Jane called at 9 a.m. to say that their Larson boat had broken its lines and was swamped on beach. Robin, Karen and I over there in rain and wind. Some fun when we got lost crossing island. Considerable trouble getting boat bailed out and pulled up but we made it. Jane waded right in - literally - and helped a great deal. I am sure Robin was impressed as was I. No panic there. Layna, Karen, Robin and I to Frank Youso’s new Pine Crest Lodge on Kabetogama for buffet luncheon. Good. I wish he was paying me the interest he must owe on what he has spent on that place. 

6/30/69 Put louver in foundation and painted same. The whole thing looks mighty good. Should have done it years ago. Must thank Jim for getting me started on it now. All of our crew here by 12 noon. What a relief! I ran over to Jane’s with box of groceries. She and brood doing well. Sure glad we have telephone communication. It saves us a lot of worrying - and running. David and I out in evening and put batteries in Roberts Light and Franzen Island. A good stroke of business.

7/2/69 To Brule Narrows with two buoys and put them in according to station agreed upon with Mr. Banen. I am still dead set against marking this north channel but “These are orders.” Goddamn! It went so well that I was home by 2 p.m. Ran to Ranier and put in other buoy. Back to island in time to take gang out for dinner on houseboat. Then fishing with 2 guests. Landed 3 good bass but missed many strikes.

7/3/69 David and I did it. A case of the “old Man and the Boy”. After the fishermen took off, we loaded the two #19 day beacons in the Larson and took off for Big American Island. David admitted later he thought we were foolish to even try. Well, it went great. In a couple of hours, we had hoisted them in place and bolted them down. Met Howard and Gloria Nissi and out on houseboat for supper. They asked us if we would be interested in selling NWI to ADM. They admitted it was purely talk, but we discussed it rather thoroly.

7/5/69 The Nissis left at 10:30 but not before we discussed our setup rather thoroly. They would like to ease into this setup as we ease out of it. The whole deal sounds too good to be true, but fun to think about it. 

7/6/69  We have been trying to get Irene MacKellar to island since lake opened and today we made it. I picked her and Lee Ann up at Windy Point at 2:30. I am sure they enjoyed the day as did we. Nothing spectacular but we took an hour’s cruise on houseboat which I am sure impressed both of them. Fred in all our thoughts, including the little one. He made a tremendous impression on everyone he came in contact with. How great it was for us who knew him so well. 

7/7/69 Jane and kids here. Her 10 hp Johnson lacking a couple of screws. It took us until noon to get them in. Coast Guard called to say O&M had written to report Ranier lights out. Damn. I went to town in p.m. and got them going - “just for temporary.” Called Layna and she came in and we went to Island View for dinner. Very enjoyable - she needs some kind of a break during our “break” between parties. 

7/8/69 Altho no guests here, Jim came back at 8 a.m. as he promised. A windy, squally morning. We decided to put cross braces on Roberts Island Light anyway. We did. It went well. Finished about 2 p.m. so in to town to try and change lamp changers at Ranier. Lost my nerve when I saw how complicated it was. 

7/9/69 Party due at 12:30 so Layna and I in early to check on our crippled boats. Both promised for tomorrow. We tried to make a deal with Ronnie whereby we could lease an extra but no luck. Letter from Gene Hammes. It was full of woe. Cancer, partial paralysis. I don’t take my good health for granted, but appreciate every day of it.