7/31/71 One of the best days of this, or any other, summer. The Rays due here at 8 a.m. so we could go fishing. Blowing like hell at 8:45 when they got here. We had an alternate plan by that time. We took our lunch and headed down #65 toward Nett Lake. A good lunch along pretty little lake and on to Nett Lake and home by 4 p.m. A short nap and on (with Rays) to Camp Kooch-i-ching for cocktails at 5 and dinner at 6:00. Good people - full of problems, many of them Canadian, altho health department on our side after them, too. I am glad we are out.
8/1/71 Another cold windy day. We were invited to “picnic” at Moes - and went. Byrne & Jane with us. Dan McCarthys, W. Schmidts, Frank McKibbages, Babe LaBelles, Jim Cummings. A good group. Much talk of “olden days” on Rainy Lake plus a lot of Florida talk. A fun gathering. Byrne and Jane came up when we got home and visited for another hour. Best part of day.
8/2/71 The Minnesota Resource Commission in town and Ruth McLinn invited me to have lunch with group. Did. No startling development altho I was able to tell a few that everyone, including myself, was not in favor of the Park. Home in time to pick up Bernice and Joan and take them to Layna’s “Hen Party” for Kooch-i-ching gals. I think all concerned had a good time. I ran over and chewed rag with George Ray for an hour. Good.
8/3/71 Layna making an effort to clean up our social obligations before Sally & Jim get here (Camp Kooch-i-ching yesterday). Tonight we had the Newharts, Rays and Les Cleveland. Stew Sheldon joined us later. Much Park talk. Stew seems to think that legal litigation might tie it up for some time. Norman Seegert dropped in at 9:30 and stayed an hour. He, too, is worried about Park Service taking his new development.
8/6/71 Monkeyed around Starcraft much of morning. It should be all set for Kettle Falls tomorrow. Byrne, Jane and kids here for supper. Sheila put on quite a show on the water skies. Little Tara tried desperately to get up on skies but just couldn’t make it. She did not cry, however. Etta a bit frustrated, no skiing with her bum tail.
8/7/71 My prayers unanswered (see July 21). We had one of the nicest days of the summer. Picked up Harry, Bern, Bob and a Mr. Eric Kendall at Island View. We joined caravan of about 20 boats from Kabetogama and about 200 people on hand for ceremony celebrating the National Park. More than the usual amount of hot air (B.S.) than one usually finds anywhere, maybe because of surplus of politicians. Much palaver and picture taking. I was definitely in the enemy camp. Elmer Anderson described me as one of “the less ardent proponents.” A great feed put on by the Williams. Our boat left early.
8/8/71 Layna had cooked up a deal whereby the two little Buck Johnson girls and the two little Byrne Johnson girls would spend night in maids cabin. Sheila and Tara came on their own about 7:30. Jill had gone to Kettle Falls and at dark it looked like she wouldn’t get home in time. Tara decided to put on a scene. No use to go into details. I haven’t been so goddamn mad in years. I had an almost uncontrollable impulse to spank hell out of her. Karen and Robin came home about 10 p.m. bringing Jill and Lisa. All serene at bed time.
8/9/71 The Byrne Johnsons and the Don Johnsons didn’t do much more today than await a call from Dr. & Mrs. Edwards. It came about 5 p.m. Jane to meet them at our landing. They arrived with a boatload of supplies. They are planning to go home by way of the Gaspe’ Peninsula and stopped at the PX in Duluth to stock up on staple articles. They are sleeping in their station wagon. Goddamn - they sure don’t think like we do - and who is to criticize? Some people must get the same thrill out of saving a buck as I do at shooting a duck or catching a bass. We are reasonably sure that they are better off financially than we are. Well, the Edwards heirs will fare better than the Johnsons. Byrne offered to take us all to Island View for dinner and Gil accepted only on condition we go “Dutch.” I let Byrne pay for ours. We, and he, know that he wanted to show his appreciation for our efforts this summer in behalf of his family.
8/10/71 By nightfall Byrne was on his way to Pittsburgh, Jean & Gil had got to their place via Fort Frances; Jane, Sheila and Tara home via boat. The only casualty was Muffin who missed first trip but Jane came after her in evening when wind died down. Buck was desperately in need of a couple of guides to help with 18 person Hartley party. We went back and propositioned George Ray, so that solved Buck’s problem.
8/11/71 My first paid guiding job of summer. Picked up George Ray at 7:45. He flew into Roscoe to catch a full limit of WE. I stayed on Rainy. Trip definitely worth while in that I had a chance to see how Buck operates. He is a real pro, and no doubt about it. At 2 p.m. the fly-ins joined us and all 18 guest and 4 guides on a sight seeing trip to Trout River Falls. Hartley a rather demanding, go-go guy but Buck seem to mind him not at all. Home at Curtice Island at 5:30. I was glad to get to NWI. My side pretty sore.
8/12/71 We spent much of day “island hopping”. First to Dahlbergs where we met two of the new owners, John Lynch and Paul Pelton. Young and enthusiastic and I sincerely hope they have the money to go with it. What a goddamn mess they are in. On to Gwanachawan (now Holiday Isle) to talk to the Grushalaks. No guests but they were optimistic. More young people full of enthusiasm. On to Atsokan (now Northwest Island) to talk to Danny Williams. He has almost as big a mess as Dahlberg, altho he has a full house and making money. Some of buildings 50 years or more old - and look it. He did not seem concerned. There is new young blood on the islands on Rainy lake and all we can do is watch and wish them luck. I think they all need it.
8/13/71 Made out my loon report to Judy McIntyre. Layna brought Jill & Lisa home from town. They are truly a joy to have near. After supper, I did something I have wanted to do all summer. Took depth finder and located reef off 8 Mile Island. Fooled around trolling and caught 3 good WE and 1 jack.
8/15/71 No sense in putting down the details of this day. It can be summed up in one word - people. According to my jumbled recollection there were a total of 41 on the island today. Some ate, some drank, some just passed thru for a short visit - but what confusion. The best indication of the volume of humanity is the fact that they almost filled the pot in the outhouse - not counting what was deposited in the flush jobs up the hill. Five Lynch, 4 Dean Minter, 8 Sally & Jim, 5 Hauglands, 7 Edwards, 5 Cummings, 5 Dale, 2 Don & Layna.
8/16/71 Got Dr. Walter bill today. $175.00. Medicare will take part of it.
8/19/71 The Judys built their “Robin’s Nest” on Footprint Lake in 1960. This is the first time we have had the opportunity of visiting it - and it was great. Judys getting along very well. I think Opal is really working up some sympathy for this remarkable man with all the handicaps who is trying to lead a normal life.
8/20/71 When we got to Sheridan’s we learned that our car not in lot. Damn! Wayne took us home. We had taken gasoline hose out of our boat so had to borrow one from Dale Both Layna and I deeply concerned about Wayne’s driving ability. He has completely lost sight of one eye. That, accompanied by his diabetes makes him a mighty poor risk.
8/21/71 Hauled gas. Hope for the last time this year. Layna and I and Jernbergs to visit Dean Minters. Another clever offspring of Bernice’s. He has built a “dream house” for sure.
8/22/71 Up at 10 a.m. A short night. Felt good. George Amidon brought Elsie Harridge and son Bill for a visit. She has gone thru hell the past year losing Bill, Sr. Wonder what the connection is with Amidon. So does Layna, so did George Ray when we saw him. Damned old gossips!
8/23/71 The Byrne Johnsons took off for home today. They stopped to say goodbye. A damned empty feeling in this old man’s innards when they were gone. Not a word of thanks from anyone of them! A great satisfaction in looking back at Byrne’s farewell on the 10th. He thanked us! Great excitement when we saw smoke billowing up from Deer Island. Called Buck, went to Camp for Holden. They were already alerted. Quick and efficient work and fire under control by dark.
