5/21/70 Fishermen said, “To hell with it,” and slept in until 10 a.m. breakfast. Jim & I off for Brule Narrows for last (except one) buoy. Home by 3:30 and I took Jim to his place. I hope I have been able to show him just how damned grateful I am for all he has done — and is doing for me and NWI. Vandals broke small vent windows in both cars at landing — also tore off gas caps and took gas. Damn!
5/22/70 I put new red lens in Franzen Island light. It has been green for 30 years! Picked up Harry and Sally in houseboat at 6 p.m. To island and then off for cruise. Layna had meal all organized. We even sang about an hour at dock. We need this kind of relaxation.
5/23/70 A go-go day for me and tonight I am completely pooped. Many small jobs accomplished including batteries in Roberts and Bald Rock light. Timmy worked at island all day, and unless he is really showing off, he will do a good job for this summer. It could be a satisfactory arrangement all around. Dale here to tell about Terry. He is at Great Lakes and has had chance to think about the good home he has had all his 19 years. Dale had tears in her eyes as she told us. A good mother for sure.
5/25/70 Wind up to 30 mph. Temp dropped from 50o to 33o. Snow flurries so we could hardly see Cleveland’s island. Not one fisherman left island. If this holds there will be some desperate people here tomorrow.
5/26/70 Still cold and windy but gang took off for Grassy Portage Bay and did mighty well. Home for lunch with a full limit all around and they repeated it in afternoon. Great! Got a call from Joe Ludwig saying that all three plastic buoys marking Brule Narrows were gone. Good Jesus. Called Frankie Bohman and he said Doug available for a search via Cub plane. A rather desperate measure, but so I was. In 40 minutes we were back after locating all three. They were well scattered. I feel better but now when will I put them back?
5/27/70 Changeover day. The usual rush to get one gang in and another gang out. Brian feeling rotten so in to see doctor at noon. I took his boat out in evening with Fiedler and Dale Benson and we caught 2 WE. About Brian. The kitchen brigade has diagnosed his ailment as mononucleosis. Well, maybe they are right but I hate positive statements of any kind and this is the worst kind of thinking. I wish they would keep it to themselves.
5/28/70 At 9:30 we went to David Seegert’s graduation party. Glad to be with so many good people. Home at 12:30. A bit bushed, and not looking forward to taking Fiedler to town at 5 a.m.
5/29/70 Alarm rang at 4:30. Made it to airport with Ray Fiedler in time. To Grassy Portage and a full limit caught all around. It rained steady all the while but no one considered going in. Not cold. Cooked shore lunch in shop. Game warden checked us. Did not mention my guiding. Apparently OK.
5/30/70 Our Decatur guests hot and bothered about going fishing but fog lay heavy over land and sea. At 9:30 we took off, Jim and I in one boat. Willie following. We made it to Grassy and picked up about 20 WE. Took gang to plane and I was back and on my way to Brule Narrows by 2 p.m. Had no trouble finding buoys. I remembered well where I had seen them from air on Tuesday.
5/31/70 Took off for Brule Narrows at 9:30, the two plastic buoys in boat, wondering if I would ever get rid to the damned things. Everything went well. Located the sites and dropped in the buoys. Made one discovery that looks real good. I was able, alone, to pull buoys into boat. Also lift sinkers. With a little modification, my new 18’ Cadillac should work out well for lifting next fall. Stopped for coffee at Dutchy Oveson’s. Much talk — Florida, park, fishing, etc. It began to rain, and came down in sheets before I got home. It didn’t bother me. Mighty happy to have buoys back in.
6/1/70 Picked up Jim at R.L. Airways at 1 p.m. Cold sober. We hauled gas in tank and houseboat. Layna, Jim and I in to see “How the West was Won”. Good — for second time.
6/2/70 Annual inspection by Coast Guard due tomorrow. I remembered that #5 buoy was numberless. I ran to it (6 a.m.) and did job. George Utter’s party arrived at 1:00 p.m. The same goddamn fish crazy crowd. They give the guides a very rough time.
6/3/70 Off for Kettle Falls on annual Coast Guard inspection trip. No criticism of any kind but when I think of how Mr. Hall quietly screwed up our whole deal, I am not too sure of myself. To Ranier range lights where Jones hooked up the damned lights — not without a struggle, which pleased me mightily.
6/5/70 Changeover day at NWI. We traded George Utter’s fish crazy group for Harry Bean’s boys who appear more calm. Only 7 in party so I was able to go with Jim and Jim Rieman for bass “research” and caught 5 good ones.
6/6/70 Our telephone driving us nuts. Went in to talk to Harold Case who said it could be the batteries. I replaced same ($38) and altho I can imagine some improvement, we still cannot receive calls from outside.
6/7/70 Took gang for supper on houseboat. Checked by game warden, Chessell — very cordial. I am glad I met him in Brule Narrows a few days ago.
6/9/70 Heavy rain in p.m. Lake coming up fast. Damn. More to worry about.
6/10/70 Vivian Sutch spent afternoon with us. Very pleasant. She definitely was one of the best girls we ever had here. We have much in common — mostly Mexico. She is off for there next week. Good.
