1/1/70 Volume XXV - Holy Yee! Altho the prophets of gloom are heard over the land and the 60’s are reviewed with grave doubts, it was a good period for Layna and me. I will keep at these little books if for no other reason than to have some cheerful reading when things really get tough. To Eisnachs’ “Hilton on the Bigfork” at noon with Harry, Nancy and Pammy. We were joined by the Eisnachs. They have a new Arctic Cat - a far cry from our old machine. It got a good work out today.
1/2/70 I finally found a parka I thot would keep me warm. Now if my hands would only behave. I have seen some battery operated mitts advertised. Maybe that is the answer.
1/3/70 Layna and I decided to make a run to island on Scorpion. I had on my new parka which worked fine, but I froze both cheeks quite badly. They burn tonight.
1/4/70 I was as nervous before today’s game as I used to be in my playing days. It must be the old “fire horse” psychology. There must be many, many more like me throughout the land that wait for the vicarious thrill that comes each Sunday during the football season. Cleveland fell 27 - 7 and the Vikings are now #1 in the national league. One more hurdle. They play Kansas City in the Super Bowl next Sunday at New Orleans. We were joined by Cliff, Nancy & Pammy at 6 p.m. and Harry took us all out to Island View for dinner. He is desperately trying to show his appreciation for what we have done - and is doing a fine job of it.
1/5/70 To island to pick up my fishing tackle that will go to Florida with us. Cold, about 5 below. Built fire in shop so I could keep my poor hands alive. On way home, I saw a snowmobile stopped near Black Point. I ran out to find a man broke down. I took him back to the highway. Many thanks!
1/6/70 Decisions, decisions, decisions. What fishing tackle to take to Florida? What clothes, what camera, what anything? I puttered with my big tackle box, but not satisfied yet. Warren and Tense Shuff out for an hour to talk about Mexico. To the Moes for trout dinner at 5:30. If we have as much fun in Florida with them as we have at home, it will be great.
1/7/70 Received a long letter from the DeGraafs of Winnipeg. They are going back to Manzanillo. Lucky! Also heard from Etta - good!
1/9/70 This was truly a trip preparation day for me. I organized my fishing gear. I am taking 7 reels for Layna and me. Bait casting, spinning and even a fly outfit. Rods for every occasion and a tackle box that is loaded. Karen and Robin home at 10 p.m. Karen put in her first week at practice teaching and really thrilled. Gave us a good report.
1/10/70 I dug out the boxes of odds and ends of fishing tackle that I had inherited from Jim DiOnne. There are literally hundreds of jigs and spoons of all sizes. He must have spent a great deal of time on this, but it must have been during the period when he was mad at me because I knew little of this activity. I put what I thot would catch fish in Florida in my tackle box, which is quite full, and weighs about 25#.
1/11/70 A sad, sad day in the northland. Our Vikings traveled to New Orleans to get clobbered by the Kansas City Chiefs, 23 - 7. Well, you can’t win them all and I am still proud of our boys.
1/13/70 33degrees below. No headbolt heater on the Chevy. -35o predicted so we knew it would never start if left alone. Last night I covered it with sleeping bag and ran engine for 5 minutes at 11:30, 2:30 and 5:30. It took off fine when we were set to go at 9:45. Most of freeway opened to St. Paul. Sally, Jim and kids fine - a good evening after a good day.
1970 Vacation
Chicago:
“It is many years since we were down town in Chicago. My God, what has man done to your earth? Why, oh why, can’t the intelligence that built the freeways and sent men to the moon and back be used to settle our social problems?”
Pittsburgh:
“Byrne took me down to the computer center where he has been doing much of his work. We were there a full hour or more, and altho he did his best, I am afraid I came away but little smarter than when we walked in. I am amazed that anyone understands what goes on inside one of those boxes, and much more amazed that is should be an offspring of mine.”
Baltimore:
“They live in a huge, 200 year old house that has been built on and over several times. A devil to heat, I am sure.”
Columbia:
“the new city which is the future of America, according to its founders. 5000 people there now to be raised to 110,000 by 1980. Much activity. An interesting concept. People to have everything needed in a relatively small area. Home, recreation, job, school, church. There aren’t enough there yet to start fighting, but there will be shortly.”
Lumberton, NC:
“Our first ‘pay night’ of trip. $12.00.”
“We pulled over to the shoulder and had the pleasure of having our fellow motorists splash slush over us as we changed the tire.”
Okefenokee Swamp:
“A twenty minute boat trip gave us an idea of what it was all about. A climb up a 90 foot tower helped get the picture.”
Long Key:
“Morrie & Margaret Cline greeted us like long lost children. Much local gossip.”
“A great shopping experience. Layna and I to Marathon to stock up on groceries before Moes arrived. We took a cart and went up and down the aisles like we were expecting to be marooned for a month. Layna was standing at the checkout counter and gave me a frantic wave, ‘How much money you got?’ ‘Damned if I know, why?’, I answered. ‘I left my traveler’s checks at home.’ We both stood mesmerized as the clerk rang up our purchases - $.67, $1.20, $3.15, $2.25, $.29 and so on. Finally came the total - $22.96. We emptied our bill folds and came up with $23.00.”
“The Clines put on a great fish fry in p.m. Cocktails from 5:30 to 7:00 and then fish with all the trimmings - as much as you could eat. A fine way to treat guests - no wonder these people come back year after year.”
“When we got home, Bruno LaVigne stopped to see us. Then Kash Micknall. A good visit.”
“I finally gave up - catching a king fish, that is. I have given the bastards the best part of four days without a strike. It reminds me of the hiking I did up to my butt in snow trying to get an elk. Same results. I survived that one and I am sure will be able to do same in this case. Even already I have a sort of feeling of relief. Maybe if I hooked one of them, I would be unhappy with our Rainy Lake fish.”
“Frenchy Paquin and wife, Carol LaGoo, stopped to visit. Fun.”
“Away from Morrie’s by 9:30 but not before Lewis and Margaret Keyes stopped in to say it was too damp at the Salty Dog Motel and they were leaving the Keys. They had been there one day.” “We drove to Everglades Park, arriving about noon. We walked the trails and took a 2 hour boat trip. All agreed that there was no wonder the Park Service wanted our area.”
Fort Lauderdale:
“acres of high rise apartments, miles of marinas with boats, boats, boats and on out to see Queen Elizabeth rotting at her anchorage. Money, money, money in every direction.”
Miami:
“Called Major Roberts about 9 a.m. (he was reasonably well) and off for airport to pick up Mary Edwards.”
Fort Meyers Beach:
“A pleasant reunion with Jean and Gil Edwards. They have a lovely place.”
“What vulgar displays of wealth. $100,000 homes with $50,000 yachts in their water fronts. High rise apartments that cost each occupant $95,000.”
“To Corkscrew Swamp for the day. Had a picnic lunch near entrance where we fed birds.”
Visited Dutchy and Nellie Oveson: “When we returned to their home, Nellie had dinner ready for us - and we got a drink! The first one since hitting the Edwards’.”
“Looked up the Frank McKibbages. A swank place for an ex paper maker.”
“Holy Yee, I almost forgot the 1 1/2 hour tour of Edison’s home, laboratory, botanical gardens and museum in Fort Meyers. Wonderful!”
