5/7/75 By midmorning the east wind began shoving ice toward NWI and I began to wonder if I should repair a dock that would soon be smashed up against the shore. I can’t recall when I was more concerned about anything. At one time, when a huge flow hit the end piling and the whole structure shuddered, I involuntarily looked heavenward and almost prayed. I quickly realized that God had much more important matters to attend to than Don Johnson and his dock. However, this does indicate how desperate I was. The ice pushed at the dock all day but was honeycombed enough so the dock stood firm.
5/8/75 I went back to town about 2:00 with a load of empty boxes which Layna filled. As we hauled stuff out of front door, Pete and Frank hauled their stuff in back door. It was 6:00 before Layna and I had second load stowed sway on island and we were pooped, but not too much to have a drink, supper and watch a glorious sunset.
L2E DJ Park 5/9/75
5/9/75 We are moved. I woke up at 5:30 thinking about snowmobile ban in BWCA. The skiers and snowshoers pulled the right strings. I got up and in ½ hour had written a letter to the editor which I thot rather good. Stopped at Daily Journal to present my letter and had short chat with Griggs, Ramnes and Albrecht. An efficient team. Back to pick up Layna at 2:00 p.m. and we hauled last load!
5/10/75 Lower lake opened. To Buck’s island where Layna got first look at the completed kitchen. She was impressed, as will be everyone else who sees it. Borrowed Teflon tape pipe compound from Buck - a new product. Home to work on plumbing. Had usual trouble priming pump but going by noon. Was going good on rest when I ran out of tape. DAMN! Layna went to #265 and brought some old compound back. I finished, all but big cabin. A real snag when we couldn’t light hot water heater. Now what? Layna raked leaves and pine needles much of day and I hauled same to burning pile. It already looks like someone lives here. It is hard to describe what happened to the ice. No wind for past 2 days but bright sun. It is completely gone from Sandpoint to Ranier. No wonder Harry Robinson used to say that it sunk!
5/11/75 Sunday Mother’s day. All of lake opened. When Layna picked up the mail yesterday, she drew a blank. Not a single card from any of her kids. She started this day out rather blue - even a few tears. By 9:00 Dale called. By noon a call from Sally. By 4:30 “Happy Mother’s day” from Karen. That made 3 out of 4. If you stretch a point and count yesterday’s calls from Sheila and Etta, that makes it 4 out of 4. I had already fallen asleep, 9:30, when Layna called me to say someone had landed near pump house and was calling for help. Two young men and a woman up a creek with a broken motor and worse yet, no paddle. They had used a couple of sticks to paddle from Snowball Island. I towed them back to Semmeroth’s island. Very grateful!
5/12/75 Hard at painting kitchen all day. Took off at noon to take last night’s people to Rainy Lake Lodge. They were sitting on bank at Semmeroth’s waiting for me. When I cut them loose they offered to pay. The got the usual answer, “No charge.” It always surprises people and always makes me feel good. Another beautiful day. Not one boat went by, we are in a world of our own - and a good one.
5/13/75 Buck here to borrow some buoy paint and stayed for coffee. He is busy but can see “light thru end of tunnel.” Harry Davey called to compliment me on “Letter to Editor”. We had a good laugh. Ready for bed about 9:30 when Byrne called. A belated Mother’s day call plus a newsy chat. He sounded busy but happy. Light rain when we turned in. The weather is worth a note. After a long drawn out spring, it broke on May 3. We have since had 10 days of absolutely perfect weather since. Some of them were dead calm with temperatures in 70’s. The ice in lake west of us literally melted with no wind to help. Tonight’s rain welcome. It is getting dry.
5/14/75 Weather broke - cold, damp windy. I took a bath! Built fire in back room, filled dishpan with hot water and got reasonably clean. Shades of Buck Lake when I used to back my bare butt up to the airtight.
5/15/75 In 1946 the ice knocked over the Red Sucker light. I retrieved the lantern. Ever since I have played with idea of putting it somewhere. Last summer we put it on table in back room - temporary. Today I made a stand - none like it anywhere. Cut two sections from 15” pine log about 3” thick. Fastened them together with a pulp stick. Unique and strong!
5/16/75 Locked up all of buildings on NWI, secretly wondering if everything would be undisturbed during our absence, and off for Gun Lake by noon. Met Harry and Bern at 4:00. A grand reunion. Kimballs out in evening but not very communicative. Jim working on a column and it must be like giving birth to a baby. He should retire.
5/17/75 We came in for breakfast at 8:00 with 6 good WE. What’s wrong with that? My last cast brought in a 6# walleye. Much picture taking. I am having fun. Harry too. The gals seem to like one another’s company. The weather great. Heaven can’t be better than this. The Kimballs and Ryans out for visit in evening. We firmed up a date for Norway Island in July. Hope we can do as well with the fish up there.
5/18/75 No great rush to get out fishing. It had rained during early morning. Everything fresh and green. Home for lunch, a nap and out again about 4:00. Dead calm in Harry’s Hole and we were treated by seeing hundreds of dogfish working the area. We assumed they were spawning. We tried various methods for catching them but no luck. I even rigged up a snagging rig but couldn’t do anything. Fun while it lasted. Home at 6:00 to eat supper on porch and watch hummingbird chase woodpecker, piliated woodpecker hop along ground, orioles, robins, cardinals. A nature lover’s feast. What a spot!
5/19/75 Breakfast at 7:30 and we were on the road an hour later. Nothing disturbed on NWI. Letter from Gould Morrison’s sister, Augusta. She said that Gould had died April 19. There went my plans to fish with my old buddy this summer. We were pals as kids in Hibbing in 1916 and never lost track all these years. So goes life - and death.
5/20/75 Hooked up plumbing in big cabin - no leaks, second year in a row! Fiber glassed noses of both Cadillacs. Who said it is hard to find things to do in retirement? Layna made curtains for kitchen. We take pride in our island home. Sig and Ev Hauglands called from town to say they would like to see us tomorrow. We have given them a standing invitation for many years so can’t complain. It would have been nice to let us pick the date, however.
5/21/75 Picked up Sig & Ev Hauglands at 10:30. They followed us at Camp Koochiching in 1936 and we saw much of them the year they were in this area. After lunch we took them to inspect Buck’s operation. They were impressed. On to Camp Koochiching where the Secrists gave us a complete tour. There is little there now that has survived in the 39 years since we (Johnsons & Hauglands) were there. I am not sure that the kids love it more now.
5/22/75 Took cover off Starcraft. When I put the windshield back I had to lie on my back looking upwards which upset my stomach badly. Almost vomited. It made me intensely aware of just how healthy I have been for a long, long time. Saw a pair of scarlet tanagers and a pair of Baltimore orioles!
5/23/75 I had promised to write Harry Davey’s RR Reflections for next Friday and realized it was today or never. Got right at it and had it done in long hand by 1:00 p.m. Heavy rain in p.m. but it cleared when time for us to take off for pot luck dinner at Virgil Anderson’s church. We ate at 6:30, sang hymns for ½ hour and then I showed my Rainy Lake slides. A very enthusiastic audience of people over 55. I’ll bet many of them had never been to Kettle Falls. Picked up Karen, Robin and Chris at Gene’s, and to island just at dark. A very touching scene when Karen walked into guides’ room carrying little Chris saying “I am bringing my baby to the place where I was born.” Tears - of happiness - from all three of us.
