The Johnson Journals, Part 214

7/12/69  93 degrees! A go, go day but all went well. Jim and I to Kelner’s and picked up his Starcraft. I ran down to Pithers Point and got Canadian clearance. Back to island to learn that Bill Atkinson had caught a 5# 4 oz bass in Brian’s boat. A happy group. Norman Seegert took Atkinson’s 5# 4 oz. bass to Sportsman’s Service and entered it in Mando contest. It weighed 5 - 6 officially - aided by a chunk of lead. He was beat out of crappie money last year by 1 oz. and is trying to forestall it happening again

PS  July 15 The Shuffs, at Sportsman’s Service, today told me what a great fisherman Norman is. He had given full details of how he landed great bass. They also told how he had won big crappie contest twice. Did they tell me? One of the crappies had been caught by Don Johnson and another by a guest at NWI!

7/14/69 A busy day for our houseboat. We met party at Three Deer Bay for shore lunch. Then home for a few hours and off for dinner on boat. David brought my boat and all hands out fishing. I drew Marty and Mr. Harris. The latter one of the all time poor fisherman. No fish by them. These people have no sense of punctuality and are late for meals - always. It drives Bernice buggy because she knows they are here for only one reason - to pester her. Wish I could feel that important.

7/15/69 Only 5 fishermen so I went with Brian and John Daniels. We had fun. Much good conversation, some about Mexico. As he talked about hunting and fishing there I was mentally comparing our trips from a financial angle. I’ll bet we have just as much fun, however. Took Brad out for bass and he landed his first on flyrod - after 4 strikes. A happy kid. Bought model 1280 shotgun for $110.00. Don’t know exactly why. It sure looks good.

7/16/69 Jane and kids here much of day. Came for lunch, a short trip to town with Layna and back. They watched the “moon shot” that sent 3 of their fellow countrymen off into space, scheduled to be first to land on our neighbor. Sheila hated to be bothered. She had seen another blast off before! All of this way beyond my comprehension altho scientists and politicians did their best all day to justify it. One said it was because of man’s urge to find a better world. The same amount of time, money and effort (to me) would do much toward improving this one where most of us have to stay.

7/17/69 Layna, Jim and I to see John Wayne in True Grit. A far fetched western, but fun.

7/18/69 At 4:00 decided to call Gerry Armstrong and proposed a bass fishing evening for him, Bill and I. He jumped at it. Jim asked me to look at a cabin he was considering buying on Lost Island. We ran over to see a mighty poor house in a mighty fine location. I told him $4000 was pretty steep and he agreed. Don’t know what the outcome will be. I spent a very happy, interesting 3 hours with my ex-crew. What men they are, and how damned proud I am of them. Altho we had a number of strikes, we boated only 3 fish. Much kidding.

7/19/69 Layna, David and I put up tent for Sally & Jim on Snowball Island, thereby staking a claim. Much confusion and fun. We tell ourselves that Jim Jernberg would have had more trouble but I’m not so sure. Bob and I to get Kelner’s boat. Hope it lasts until other is fixed.

7/20/69  Spent much of day watching our astronauts on the moon. A very, very dramatic sequence when pilot Neil Armstrong brought his earthling Lunar Module in for a landing. He completed his blow by blow account by saying “The Eagle has landed” - all in a very matter of fact voice. He could not fool the doctors, however. They had him wired and told the whole world that his heart beat had accelerated considerably on impact. Well, so did mine, along with every other TV watcher that had even one brain cell working. God - what implications! 

7/21/69 Despite Fiedler’s obvious peevishness over boat trouble, he broke down and said a few pleasant words when he left. His guests must have had a good time. They threatened to stay.

7/22/69 To Sportsman’s dock to see men from U.S. Army Engineer Corp. A very interesting and informative visit. The lake has been charted since early 30’s and this is the first time they asked a local man to mark the boat channels. I will be damned interested to see how they foul it up. Met Sally & Jim & kids at #265 at 5 p.m. A short visit and out for dinner. We then loaded their stuff in two boats and off for Snowball Island. They were well set up at dark. We are happy to have our kids home.

7/23/69 Spent much of morning marking charts for U.S. Engineers. Took same to their headquarters and had good visit with Bill Monteith. Layna and I to visit Sally & Jim. Sat around camp fire and chewed rag. Very pleasant. I am sure they have enjoyed their first day on Snowball Island.

7/24/69 Took party to town and met Coast Guard truck with our long awaited buoys. Hurried back to landing where we unloaded same. No plastic 35 pounders as promised. All heavy steel, about 200 pounders. Banen is a great hot air shooter. Sally & Jim here for supper. Jane to wash clothes and got weathered in. I am glad. We had an active table with all the kids. No trouble. At dark, Bob Monahan and Bill Boyd dropped in. When Bob heard about the buoy job, he volunteered his boat and service. I accepted - gratefully. 

7/25/69 Up early and had gear for buoy job all set when Bob Monahan showed at 7:30. No Jim and I cursed him way back in my subconscious. I apologize. At 8:00, he came having been up most of night looking for a deer. We took off with 2 buoys in each of three boats - after Harry Davey took our pictures. West wind freshened and blowing pretty hard by time we got to Brule Narrows. We progressed reasonably well and all done by 2:30. What a Goddamn poor entrance we have to Brule Narrows now! To Sally & Jim’s for shish-ka-bob dinner. Great. They are enjoying their camp. 

7/26/69 A restless night thinking about the awful, stupid channel in Brule Narrows. Got up and hurried over to talk to Army Engineers. Don’t know how much I accomplished. Had planned to put Sand Point buoy in place but by time I had it loaded, Stew Sheldon came. We chewed rag on many subjects (I like him, despite what many local people say). By time he left, it was time to go after Karen and Robin. They told me that some rotten bastard had taken tires off front wheels of Jim’s car. We decided to not tell him until party over. Our kids and their kids kept coming and all here by six. What a fine bunch of people we got started in this world - and what good mates they all picked. Layna so proud of whole gang she was ready to split. Bob Monahan here to take pictures. It took some doing to get tribe settled. Seven Buck Johnsons, 6 Byrne Johnsons, Five Jernbergs and two Monahans plus Grandma and Grandpa for a total of 22. Little John scooted away just as shutter about to close and it held us up a bit. During all of this excitement, the Army Engineers arrived to report on Brule Narrows. I think we understand one another. A big feed and then Karen showed a movie she had made in summer workshop. Good. Everyone ready to leave at 9:30. It was then that I told Jim about his tires. He thot I was “putting him on.” Don’t know what this will do to their happy vacation. DAMN!