9/8/71 Not much activity on NWI other than entertaining our guests. We proposed taking a trip by car to Bears Pass but they said they could think of no spot on earth better than right here and preferred to stay put. Much talk off and on all day, much of it about the Hvoslefs. We learned that their father had been a doctor, also and a close friend of Hvoslef. The Jacobsens also good friends. The 3 families visited back and forth on special occasions. I am sure they enjoyed our stories concerning these good people. Both gals have reached the point in life where food is their chief recreation. Mrs. Albrecht shows it, very much overweight, puffing up and down the path. Mrs. Preston as agile as my mother and apparently burns up all her calories. Layna invited them to stay an extra day, and it’s OK with me.
9/9/71 At 6 p.m. Les Cleveland picked me up. We went to his house for a drink and on to Holiday Isle for dinner. Apparently Les does not take for granted the small favors we have been able to do for him and he wanted to reciprocate. Warren and Tense Shuff there and we had a short visit. I feel crappy as hell that we have not done more for them, at least shown more interest in Tense’s illness. Back to Les’ place for an interesting hour or so waiting for RLWC to evacuate from our island. We timed my return well. Layna not too happy over fact that the co-hostesses took off with all the refreshment that were left.
9/13/71 “The last day of the last party”. I have written it many times before in these books, but I thot that this year would be different. In many ways it has been the same. We have had lots of company and most of it mighty good. It was almost a tearful farewell with the Davises and Konens. To Boyds for cocktails then on to Daveys. For dinner at 7:00. Played whist later. The more we see of Bern, the better we like her. Light rain falling as we left our dock. “Dark as the inside of a cow,” as only it can get in the fall.
9/14/71 To Buck’s about 10 a.m. to see if he could pull our Starcraft out this fall. Buck gone to town but Dick Secrist there to tell us that Buck had hit Deer Island head on last night in their Starcraft. Dale pretty well banged up - cut leg, bumped knees. Damnation but it make me feel bad. Buck came home later. He will handle this OK I am sure. The Daveys and Boyds here for crappie feed. Good. Stopped at Boyds for a drink. They are proud of their place, as well they might be. Good neighbors. Buck’s experience brought up memories of many “near misses” in my life on Rainy lake. Surely we are all living on borrowed time.
9/15/71 Had planned to open duck season in Grassy Narrows Bay but strong SW wind scared me out. Instead went to Rice Bay - full of optimism. I fired 4 shots all day, in each case in an effort to scare out some birds from the heavy rice paddies and never saw one. Stopped at Buck’s on way home. Dale still pretty shook up but not complaining. Layna and I to Holiday Isle for birthday dinner. We were the only guests. Linda and John full of talk concerning future. We are all for them.
9/16/71 Buck here for a short visit He has told ’76 that he is fully prepared to pay for loss of Starcraft. I can’t believe that they will let him do it. To Supervisors Club meeting at 6:00. Picked up Owen. Met many old friends. Fun. Bob Douglas retired and Fred Boeckh and Joe Kalar gave talks. Great! Much kidding but a lot of meat in what they said. Had chance to talk considerably with Owen off and on all evening. I still like him.
9/17/71 Off for Duluth with Daveys after lunch at Holiday Inn. Called Karen and the Foxes who came and joined us at Chinese Lantern for a real gut buster of a dinner. On to Opera - Barber of Seville. Very enjoyable. It was in English so we understood most of it. Much comment about an endeavor to get some “couth”. On to Foxes for a midnight snack. They are bird watchers. Interesting people.
9/18/71 Karen alone, Robin at Great Lakes. She had us over for breakfast. Good. She is proud of her home, and we are proud of her. Off for Gun Lake arriving at noon. Harry and I eager to get after the partridge. No need. We saw one bird, which I missed in heavy cover.
9/19/71 Walked nature trail before anyone else up. Did not see a bird. Harry and I out fishing and got 6 small jax and a walleye. Big feed at 4 p.m. Partridge, fish, ham, steak - great. Our gals sure can cook - and can work together. Kimballs came about 7. Some good talk, then we made mistake of playing cards until 11 p.m. I wanted to listen to Jim.
9/20/71 Harry wanted to get away by 8 a.m. - and we did. On to Falls by 12:30. Lunch with Daveys. Thus ended what had to be one of the best weekends of our lives. For no good reason I have had a few reservations concerning Bern. Maybe subconsciously it is because of my high regard for Grace. Well, there are no reservations now. We (Layna has always been) are 100% for her. It has worked out well for our very good friend Harry. Partly luck, partly good planning. To Buck’s (at island) at 4 p.m. Terry there, looking very well and we had a good visit. Much navy talk. We learned that he can take it without too much bitching.
9/21/71 Tried for partridge about 2 hours - got one. It is sure tough to live off the land nowadays. To Buck’s at 4:30. Layna made supper for gang. A good visit. Cold ride home after dark. Temperature about 45. Dale still pretty well laid up. Both legs bothering. To see Doctor today. Buck’s neck still a bit stiff but he is working full time.
9/22/71 The Anchor gas boys delivered gas to island - $120.00 worth. A big item in the life of a retiree. When we check up at the end of the season we will know if we can afford such luxury.
9/23/71 Had Les Cleveland over for partridge feed. An appreciative guest for sure. He was high in praise of Timmy who has talked to him twice lately. Tim is using Les for the subject of a paper in school. We sure have great grandchildren. The conversation flows easily with Cleveland. Our likes and dislikes in people correspond (Keyes, Kulevar, etc. on the minus side - Sheldon, Rays, Boyds, Newharts and many more on plus!) We talk of taxes, inflation, travel, politics, books, etc. but our strongest tie is our mutual love for Rainy Lake. We see it thru different eyes. He neither fishes nor hunts. I am sure he has not been more than 3 miles (on the lake) from his place all summer. A good neighbor. I cannot imagine a better one.
9/25/71 To the Dwight Austin’s for noon dinner. David and Jill there. I think they all were trying to show their appreciation for letting them use our house last summer. Good people - churchy in a mighty fine way. To see Judys for a few minutes. They are off for Saskatchewan despite Wayne’s poor eyesight. It worries me. To Seegerts about 7:30. Much talk about hunting, but also some serious talk about their hopes and aspirations concerning their Spring Lodge Resort. They have accomplished much this summer. Goers both, and apparently the boys have been pitching in, too. We are all for them.
9/26/71. On to reception at Gene Monahan’s in honor of Laird and his bride. Many good (and a few not so good) people there. On to Fort Frances where the Bill Whites had invited the Armstrongs and Martins to join them at dinner at the Gourmet House. A full evening - a full day for that matter.
9/28/71 Picked up Gerry Armstrong at 5 Mile Dock and on to Stanjikoming Bay. New hunting grounds for me. We saw several good flocks of mallards but they were mighty wild. At 12:30 the rains came- and how! Had to go to shore and bail out canoe. We set decoys out and moved them 2 times before getting a shot. I got a hen mallard. Rain, rain and more rain. Plenty of wind, too. Don to Gerry, “Let’s call it quits before it stops being fun!”
9/29/71 Took our first load of stuff to #265. On to town with Dale for her appointment with Doctor. She is getting along fine. We are moving. Les Cleveland leaves Friday, too. He said, “It has been a great summer, I hate to call it quits”. We too, altho I plan to spend another month or so on lake - off and on.
