9/20/75 George and Maria set to go by 9:30. We said goodbye at landing and off for town. Did some shopping and home by noon. At 5:30 Buck arrived in his houseboat carrying the 4 Abellera. We had just finished eating but served a drink all around and they stayed for about an hour. A quiet evening at home for us - we enjoyed it. Not bad to be alone.
9/21/75 I took off for Buck’s at 12:30 to watch Vikings beat San Francisco 27 - 17 in season opener. A good game. While I was there, the sun broke thru and temperature moderated some. At home by 4:30. Layna and I to Stop Island where we made tour of the 5 neighbors places. We hadn’t visited any of them all summer.
9/22/75 Wrote a letter to Wayne Judy. It wasn’t my best effort. What do you say to a blind man to cheer him up? I told about the rotten hunting and fishing that I had with George. That should help a little. We started to put NWI away for the winter. Layna washed clothes and finished big cabin. About 4:00 p.m. it cleared off somewhat and wind went down. I got excited about fishing and out on my reef by 6:00. To my amazement (and great satisfaction) I caught 5 bass, one a 4 ¾ pounder. Lost 2 more good ones. All on a Lindy rig. Halleluia!
9/23/75 Grandpa and Grandma pulled out the Starcraft today. It went without a hitch, however, this thought ran thru the minds of both of us, “How many more times will we be able to do this? One, two, three?” Well, we will take it year by year. For now, we are happy it is done. I quit feeding the ducks. They are on their own. I don’t want them to depend on me until freeze up. It has added a lot to my summer’s enjoyment of NWI, more than the $28.00 we spent for feed.
9/24/75 Indian summer 65o,colors spectacular. The covering we have put on the Starcraft the last few years has come loose in spots before summer rolls around again. Today I made a better framework and we used more rope in tying it down. I’ll bet it stays. Pulled out one Cadillac boat. We are down to the Larson and one Cadillac. The summer is winding down.
9/25/75 Indian summer 68o Winterized 3 outboard motor. Started to clean shop - it needed it. Off for town at 4:00. Took Jernberg motor with us. To Brascuglis’ at 6:00 where we were guests in our own home. We were joined by Dr. & Mrs. Phinney from Cincinnati. Interesting people, very much in love with Rainy Lake. We had a true gourmet dinner.
9/26/75 Indian summer 72o. Wound up cleaning shop. Threw away a bunch of junk of many years accumulation. Should throw more. Drained plumbing in big cabin. Always a worry that something left undone. Won’t know until I hook it up next spring. Lois Beyers here in a.m. to deliver 50th anniversary gift. A gold engraved plate for each of us. She and Marie are two of our better friends. Called Wayne in Mpls after supper. He sounded quite optimistic.
9/27/75 My first meeting as a board member of the Border Lakes Assn. A bunch of old fogies sat and reminisced from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with damned little accomplished. Gina Erickson had planned, in her own mind, how Don Johnson was to write a history of the area for the Assn. That was aborted when Rudy Erickson said the job was about to get underway by someone else which saved me from refusing.
9/28/75 Watched Vikings slaughter Cleveland 42 - 10. Buck came after the game and we hauled a big load of stuff to #265. He stopped on way home to have a drink and some good talk. He is a joy!
9/29/75 A putting away and locking up day at NWI in preparation for our trip to Red Lake tomorrow.
9/30 – 10/4/75 [Hunted ducks and geese at Red Lake and Kee-Wa-Say Refuge]
Don and Layna, George and Maria Williams, George and Velna Rayman, and joined by Don Meyer.
Terrible hunting.
Warm weather.
Great social life.
10/4/75 Fantastic fall coloring all the 200 miles to Duluth. Little Chris has made great development in the 6 weeks since we saw him last. What a joy.
10/5/75 We were off for Mpls at 7:30 as per schedule. A good reunion with all. Sally prepared a big “brunch” and we left for stadium at 12:00. We needed the full hour. We walked to our seats just at kickoff. A fun game to watch. Our Vikings beat Chicago 23 - 3. Took Robin to depot where he took Amtrak back to Duluth. We went back to Sally & Jim’s.
10/6/75 We had had hopes of getting back to #265 today but had to wait for Karen to get eyes checked. As Jim and I walked around Lake Como, we met Al Fairfield. A great visit for about ½ hour. Had “picnic” in back yard - 80o weather and off for Duluth by 3:00. We played feebly with idea of pushing on but were easily talked out of it. Jayme, Laird and Pat Robinson with her 2 kids joined us at dinner. Good.
10/7/75 A beautiful drive home altho most of leaves off trees by time we reached Fall. Stopped to visit Wayne and Opal. Wayne practically blind. He was on hands and knees feeling for chair when we came in. What a damned pity! Lardy came soon after and we cheered Wayne somewhat by telling of poor hunting and fishing. The Brascuglis practically moved. We took off for island at 2:00 p.m. When we got to Curtice Dock, we met Buck who had dropped “Pug” in lake. A truck had just pulled him out. We stayed with him for about an hour and he got it going again. After supper, John J. Hackett, of Minn. Historical Society came. He was looking for information concerning historical sites in National Park - at least 50 years old. He left at 10:30 and I had the feeling that we learned a lot more from him than he learned from us.
10/8/75 A good day. Altho winds from SE up to 30 mph we were able to make 2 trips without incident. As Layna said to Pete, it is too bad that they could not have left their stuff at #265 and we take ours direct to their new place. It would save them a lot of moving. Of course that wouldn’t work. We have too many valuables that we just couldn’t live without. I remember how I used to rave in these pages about all the crap we handled in the spring and fall. Now I take it quite philosophically. Maybe down deep I am happy that we are physically able to do it.
10/9/75 Much “putting away” to do but we knocked it off at 10:30 to go visit Judys. Peetsie there. We sat around kitchen table and were as cheerful as possible under circumstances. Wayne contributed his share by telling a couple of damned poor stories. He seemed to enjoy them so it was small sacrifice for us to listen - and laugh. He doesn’t have much to laugh about. After lunch I took off for island. Drained last of plumbing without too many complications. Home at 6:00 with last of Layna’s things. A few odds and ends of mine left. We are practically moved! Bob Hilke came at 7:15 and took pictures of our anniversary quilt in a very workmanlike manner. I’ll bet he got some good ones.
10/10/75 No rain for past few weeks and forest fire danger high. Last night about ¼ of an inch came down giving the area some temporary relief. At Bern Minter’s suggestion, a Mr. Fear from Bemidji called on us to sell Layna supplementary health insurance. It took him less than ½ hour to convince us that $200.00 a year in his company would solve her problem. Sure hope, and believe, that we did the right thing. The Brascuglis moved their 2 freezers this a.m. They are out and we are in. A good mutual benefit arrangement came to an end after 5 months.
10/11/75 Took .308 to Carl Westerberg at Ray. He took out the stripped screw in mount and replaced same. $.50 please! Open house for Russell and Alice Christianson. We went and met many old friends, mostly of Christianson tribe. Good people, all.
