10/10/69 My ear bled a little during night and had a stuffed feeling so decided to see doctor. Dr. Walter out of town so sat 2 1/2 hours for privilege of seeing young Dr. Talsness. He “hemmed” and “hawed” in a true professional manner before saying, “My friend, we will have to do something about this.” I got a tetanus shot, a prescription for antibiotic pills and eardrops and a date for next Monday. The Mayo Clinic would probable done no more but it is hard to have confidence in a doctor who looks about 20 years old.
10/11/69 Called Mr. Murphy regarding trip on barge. He said he would take care of us and let us know details on Monday. I am getting excited about this deal. Off for Duluth by 8:45. Karen made a great feast of barbecued ribs. I ate too much as I was well aware of when curtain time came for Man from La Mancha. A great performance but I had a hard time trying to stay awake. I came to completely about 1/3 thru and was able to enjoy one of the best plays ever.
10/12/69 Karen, Robin, Layna and I up North Shore to Gooseberry Falls. We left car and walked about 1/2 mile. The trails were well worn and I was amazed at the lack of vandalism. Few beer cans, gum wrappers, etc. Maybe I misjudge my fellow American. On the other hand, how do I reach any kind of a conclusion by spending an hour in a park?
10/13/69 Back to see Dr. Talsness at 2 p.m. Sat for 2 hours for a 2 minute visit. Said he, “My friend, you are doing fine. Come back next Saturday.” - and was gone. No wonder they can handle 100 people a day. God help anyone who is sick.
10/14/69 Mr. Banen and new executive officer, Leroy Rosa, drove up from Duluth to have me check over new charts. Rosa looks good. We all agree that Mr. Douglas, who preceded him, did not have his heart in his work.
10/15/69 To town by 10:30 to join Judys and off for NW Bay by 11:30. We picked up 7 ducks. Not bad, but not good enough for Judys. They are off hard liquor completely but drink wine instead. A water glass at a time. It would kill me. I will stick to bourbon. They taught me to play dominoes in evening. A “first” for me - and fun.
10/16/69 Wayne’s eyes getting worse and Opal no longer gives him hell for not seeing the birds. That helps.
10/18/69 Robin, Jayme, Timmy and I off for partridge. Not a damned bird on Keyes Island. Tim finally got one on Thumb. Robin got one on Crow. Our last bird was sitting on Buck’s dock for a total of 3 all day. I would rather hunt ducks. It was fun to be with my boys, however. It makes us feel good that Karen and Robin want to come home as often as they do.
10/20/69 A poor start when I got to landing to learn Cadillac was full of water. Plug had come out. Luckily found an old coal bucket under LaValley’s house. A long bailing job nevertheless. Picked up batteries, etc. I think we are done moving.
10/21/69 Cudmore called to ask if I would be pallbearer for Burt Bruggeman. MacKellar a year ago - now Burt.
10/22/69 At Bill Martin’s in Fort Frances at 6:30. Bill, Gerry, Chip (the dog) and me off for lake of Woods soon after. We drove thru the same area where Carl, Dr. Oliver, LaFave, Dr. Dennis and I used to hunt with Kendal Hanson. More memories. Many ducks in area and they cooperated enough so we had 13 by noon. Chip put on a great show, retrieving practically every bird in that icy water. On two different occasions he came in with two ducks at one time! Much talk about houseboat days. I love them both dearly.
10/23/69 To island by 8 a.m. in 15o weather to meet Jim. I got him going on catamaran and hurried back to town to be honorary pallbearer for Burt at 10:15. A fine funeral, altho I have a hard time trying to believe what Rev. Buchler told us. Back from cemetery for lunch in church and on to island by 2:00. Jim all set to go. We pulled all the buoys in our immediate area by 4 p.m. so decided on a quick run to Goose Island for deer. Jim drove. Two big does came out and I killed one and crippled the other. While I cleaned out the one, Jim took after the cripple and got it. My record intact for 51 years now. Hurried to see hunting pictures at Border Theater. Not bad, altho I think hunting a poor spectator sport - like square dancing.
10/24/69 I talked to Buck yesterday about buoy job. He is up to his ears in work but made it plain that he was on call. I told him we understood one another - and we do. What a great comfort he - and his family - are to us. Jim said we could make it alone so off we went at 7 a.m. We sailed right along, pulling our guts out on the “radar” buoys but doing fine otherwise. We arrived at Christianson’s at 4:00, which was my goal when we took off, altho I had had small hope of making it.
10/25/69 By 11:30 we had everything picked out of river - and a good thing. It began to snow, hard. No one at Kettle Falls. We took our catamaran apart and ran back to Christianson’s, made lunch, cleaned cabin and on way home by 1:30. I followed Jim as he drove into the storm. He went straight north until we hit entrance to Friendly Passage (and so it was) and he followed north shore right to Brule Narrows then cut out to Halleluia Point, then down Seine Bay to Sandpoint. To island about 4 p.m. - cold and miserable. We built a good fire in guides room and had lunch. I realize what a good job we did, and how much I appreciated Jim’s help. He is a tough Indian. Well, damn it, I must be some kind of a tough Swede! I paid him $75 for the three day’s work and was happy to do it. Said Jim, “That’s a lot of money!” Said I, “we don’t always get value received”.
10/26/69 We put buoy stuff away, pulled out a couple of boats, picked up motors and back to landing where we said goodbye. Damned if I didn’t have a lump in my throat! That Indian sure has grown on me. Grace & Harry here at 6:00 and we made plans for river trip. On to Rainy Lake Lodge for dinner.
10/27/69 About 10:00 a.m. a Mr. Ball of Coast Guard in Cleveland called to tell me about my retirement. It is beyond my fondest dreams, amounting to much more than BCC. I can’t believe it is true, he must have made a mistake. At any rate, I told him I would not retire for a year or two - and learned it will be substantially more if I do. It has come a long way since the $30.00 a month in 1941, which I was very happy to get. Banen called just before noon. “Don’t leave me,” was the essence of his conversation, which lasted about 15 minutes.
11/1/69 Off for Jernbergs’ at 10:30. Our “new” car performed well. Arrived at 4:00. As always, real pleased to be with Sally & Jim and their three. All well there. Dr. “Goose” and Gail LaFave for dinner. We saw them grow up to be fine people. Would hate to lose that contact and very happy that Sally & Jim have it.
11/2/69 3:00 is a good time to start a football game. Vikings came thru in great style beating Chicago 31 - 14. I chose that game because I wanted to see Gayle Sayer run and he did. Made a touchdown in front of us in last few minutes.
11/3/69 Took whole gang out for dinner which was a mistake. Johnny fell asleep, Jimmy dawdled his food and Nancy ordered wrong dish. I enjoyed it nevertheless. Home to listen to Nixon tell of his plans to end Vietnam war. It won’t sell to many, many people. Not drastic enough. I feel sorry for the poor bastard.
