Fishin report for Lake Iwanttobethere..

July 12, 2009

Sunday here at Lake Iwanttobethere, also known as Turn Over Day. This is the day when the week long guests at the local resorts packup and head back home and the replacements arrive. Come noon time the main street here is alive with pickups pulling trailers and grocery getters filled with couples and their kids. For a lot of places Sunday is an off day but here at the lake it might be the busiest day of the week. Those leaving town are stocking up on post cards from the rack out side of Big Earls General Store or at Ma and Pa's grocery getting ice cold bottles of Lake Iwanttobethere Root Beer or a few bottles of Maple syrup to bring back home. Mindy and Mandy make a point of having their truck parked on main street and will sell root beer by the case from the back of it. They autograph each case at no extra charge and seem to get a lot more of the male adults then the kids buying. Of course wearing them cutoff bibs and looking the way they do no one ever said they were hard on the eyes.

Lodge does a brisk lunch business as we say good bye to tourist who have found the Lodge during their stay. Candy display case takes a hit as kids stock up for their drive back home. Adults take the cardboard coasters from the bar home with the beer square stains on them. Most of them all promise to return to the lake soon and others mention they will tell their friends about our lake hidden here off the main road. Buddy and Barney are both at the Lodge, they to make friends and there is no lack of people and kids petting them for one last time. Bailiff and Grace make their rounds around the campground. Usually Grace is singled out as the big dog who took someone's ice from their cooler and Bailiff's drinking habit is mentioned. Hammering Hank and Skinny are seen stocking the wood piles and the smell of mini donuts is in the air from the park as people coming and people going have to buy either their first or last bag.

Access is always full on Sunday as a few boats bob pass the point but most are parked with their owners hanging over the sides of pickup trucks chatting away. From time to time you will see someone pointing out towards Root Beer Island or maybe pass the point. Hands outstretched to show how big the fish was that was caught or to show how big the fish that got away was. By late afternoon the lot is empty of people and just dripping wet trailers are left. The boats are all out on the water for the evening bite. Those who have been here for the week are on their way home, some will stop on the highway, at the vegetable stand and sweet corn will be the last thing they take with them from the lake. New tourist will be settling in at the resorts and a few new people will find their way into the Lodge for conies and some chili. A new group of kids will smear the candy display case with their noses and Buddy and Barney will make some new friends. Guys will taste an ice cold Hamms for maybe the first time or relive memories of shots of Wild Turkey. As night falls the lights will come on at the access and boats will find their way back on trailers. We will sit on the deck here at the Lodge and watch the tell tale boat lights working their way across the lake heading back towards resort docks. With the sun dipping behind the hill the lake will be quiet and loons will sing out in the dusk. Right on schedule we will hear the faint roar through the trees of the ten o'clock freight weaving it's way through the trees on the far side of the lake.

Campfires will be burning and the fish cleaning house will have noise coming from it, some low laughter will be heard. Maybe the sound of a beer can or two being open. Kids will be sleeping in tents or trailers the first day of an adventure running through their heads. Darkness comes quickly out doors and daylight arrives early. In a few short hours kids rubbing eyes will be walking down wet dew grass to climb into boats with uncles and dads. They will wipe off damp seats and load tackle boxes and slip on life vests. Dads will pull on starter ropes and motors will cough and be alive. Kids will check coffee cans to make sure their worms have not escape from them overnight. Maybe a few yawns and a shiver or two but the sun is coming up and they are off, because there is fishing to do. From Lake Iwanttobethere {99,243}

July 14, 2009

Well, I guess the tourists are looking at the town of Lake Iwanttobethere as a mite strange this afternoon. Around one thirty it started to rain. Just a few drops and then enough started to fall that you would have to turn on the windshield wipers. Shop keepers stepped out from behind their counters and made their way to the doors and standing on the thresholds watched as the rain fell and made small puddles along main street. Big Earl at the General store quickly pulled out his impulse cart with umbrellas to the sidewalk in front of his store and opening a bright red one to match his apron stood standing outside his shop door. The rain coming off the eve over heading bouncing off the umbrella to splatter against the building before dripping on to the sidewalk then the gutter and then down the street. Tourist stopped what they were doing and stood under the open awings staying away from the falling rain. Farmers at the grain mill looked skyward and welcomed the rain falling on their faces, A few even shook hands and slapped each others backs, small clouds of dust rising from their flannel shirts.

Old pickup trucks driving down main street glimmered in the rain, looking years younger then they were, the water made them shine and showed the color they once were. A mother and her young son walked barefoot in front of the Sunshine Cafe, The young lad splashing in the shallow puddles and the mother laughing at her son. Elmer coming out of Burts barbershop pulled his John Deere hat a little tighter down on his head and walked out into the falling rain. Making no effort to avoid getting wet he took his time getting to his pickup.

It did not last long, a few minutes and then it was done. But it has been three weeks since we have had rain and even the little dripping was well received and needed. Water still drips from gutters and rain barrels capture every drop that falls their way. Flowers in the planters look a little better and trees seem to reach skyward searching for more. Big Earl shakes his umbrella, closes it and stands it up next to the door. I roll the window back down on the Dodge and continue my drive on to the Lodge. I enter the Lodge to find it pretty much empty but I can her chairs scrapping out on the deck. I grab a Lake Iwanttobethere Root Beer and walk out the sliding glass doors to find a few members and Gus sitting on the old chairs with cigars lit and cold Hamms on the arms of the chairs. I look at Gus and he just points his arm out over the waters of Lake Iwanttobethere. Across the water and heading this way a dark cloud riding low with the telltale signs of falling rain covers the skyline. As I watch I see the flash of lightning and then another, a thunderstorm is heading our way. I find an empty chair and setting my root beer down I dig out my daily ration of cigar and decide this will be a good place to lite up and enjoy it. It's going to rain again and it looks like it's going to be a dandy !

With any luck this post and this little rainstorm story will be read by the 100,000 reader here. Thanks everybody for reading about this little place called Lake Iwanttobethere. If you time it right maybe it is raining when you are reading this meaning you are closer than you think to Lake Iwanttobethere.. {99,896}

July 14, 2009

What a great accomplishment, 100,000 views. Good work, and thanks for the stories!

July 17, 2009

What can I say, sometimes you have to pay your dues when fishing. I was in the Lodge enjoying the heat from the fire, yes we had a fire going. Here it was July 16th, the middle of summer and we had a fire going in the big fireplace and it was not for looks. The flames licked at some maple as we wanted a fire that was going to last and burn hot so it would keep the chill out of the main room. Red needle on the bass thermometer was sitting in the mid fifties and Windy the Windmill was spinning and changing directions with each gust of wind coming off the lake. A few days ago I wrote of the light rain we got and after that we enjoyed a nice down pour as we picked up almost and inch and half of rain that evening. The next day was windy and overcast which was good as it let the rain soak in and not be lost to evaporation. Tourists were in and out of the Lodge as the white caps on the lake were keeping them from doing anything more than dock fishing.

Lodge member Jerry was in boasting how he would fish in this kind of weather, that is if he had a boat. Well me being me and not needing much of an excuse to go fishing stood up and said that I have a boat and if you want to go fishing well lets go fishing, and so we did.

This is where I mention that sometimes you have to pay your dues when fishing, For every good day there has to be a poor day and for every excellent day there has to be a really bad day. The lake now owes me a really excellent day. Grabbing gear we loaded the Puddle Humper and took off to what we hope would be a secluded bay of the main lake. We drove there and used the small access that is carved out of the reeds. Putting the Humper in the water went well and it took a few minutes to pole away from the shore far enough to get the big motor started. The little bay is only about two hundred acres but even it had some white caps on it. Looking at each other we zipped up our hooded sweatshirts and pulled our fishing caps down a little tighter on our heads. Pushing the throttle forward I got the Puddle Humper on top of the waves and we made a pretty dry ride to the calm shoreline across the bay. Pulling rods out we decided that today would be a good day to chase northerns so we are northern fishing, but if we catch any bass that would be a bonus as we decided on a few side wagers because I always have fishing contest in my boat.

Trolling motor down I moved towards an old dock with an even older pontoon boat tied along side, I shot out a cast with my favorite spinner on it and no sooner had the lure hit the water when I felt a tap. A swirl on top of the water and another tap and I set the hook, Hard! Ting my broken line came fluttering back at me. First cast, first hit, first fish, lost fish, lost lure. Laughter off Jerry in the back of the boat, and then it started to rain. Rain coats went on over the hooded sweatshirts, looks were exchanged and perhaps the thought of the fireplace back at the Lodge. I tied on a new lure, Took me a little longer than usual as I had to wipe my glasses off a few times from the falling rain. The rain stopped and the wind seem to get a little stronger, maybe because we were a little damp or because we had moved out away from the shore and the wind was howling over the top of the bent over pine trees.

Working our way around the little bay we decided on another option, there is a channel that runs to a small lake off the bay, We came up on it and we pulled the big motor up and using the trolling motor and the push pole made our way through the channel to the smaller lake. No white caps here, just a nice walleye chop if we were fishing walleyes. No sooner had we entered the little lake then we picked up a double, two small northerns and things were looking up. We held on to the fish a little longer then we normally would, The fish were warmer then the air and were actually warming our hands. It has been a long time since I had fished this little lake and I remember it having northerns in it, reed rimmed with just a few cabins none which had electricity it took me back a few decades. We took a break and watched an eagle fighting the wind till he to said the heck with it and turned to fly with the wind, a moment later he was long gone from sight. Just a light drizzle now, getting more water being whipped off the surface of the lake and thrown at us. A few more northerns were landed, nothing really big, a few more were lost, of course they were big and a few more flashed at the boat. I did snag a fishing line and when I pulled it in a perfectly good red and white daredevil was attached at the end. So I lost a lure and found a lure, almost a fair trade.

We made our way back through the channel and decide we had caught fish and now it was time to get off the water. We headed for the landing where a gal was throwing a tennis ball for her lab. Seeing us coming her and the dog retreated to the parking area. Putting the Puddle Humper on the trailer was not as easy as taking it off. The wind all day had followed us around like the smoke from a campfire, no matter where we went it was there. We pulled up to the parking area and as I dried off with a towel the gal took her lab to the water's edge, using one of then plastic throwers that you can toss tennis ball farther with she took a bright green tennis ball and whipped it out into the lake. Her lab looked at her, looked at the tennis ball floating in the wind swept white cap waves and sat there. If we were smart we should have done the same thing. From Lake Iwanttobethere {100,302}

July 23, 2009

Well, this past week has sure been a weather week. Lady like weather I like to call it. Mother Nature just can't make up her mind. Of course that is misleading with all of the tools that Stormy Clearweather and Sunshine Ray have at their fingertips, we get a pretty good idea of what is going to happen, weather wise. But when you are on vacation that is part of leaving home, now you get to walk down the wet grass to the dock and look out over the water and make your own prediction. Been tuff for people this last week as we wake up to a little fog on the water and cool nights for this time of the year. By mid day it is sunny with blue skies and then by three or so the sky turns dark and the wind picks up. Rumble of thunder rolls across the lake and the rain comes. Ducks head for brush along the shoreline and the dogs climb up on porches and wait the down pour out. Boats on the lake head for the small bays or make the run back to the docks.

We are several inches below normal for rainfall so no one is complaining about the rain. Grass is a lush deep green and there is finally some water in the ditches along side the roads. Deer are seen at midday before the rains come and they are healthy and a deep bold caramel. Fawns are growing and getting more bolder as they start to stray away from the sides of their mothers. When driving down the dirt roads it is wise to pause when you see a deer as in most cases there are always more than one and sometimes three or four. They cross the roads like they own them, taking their time and giving you that " What " look as they watch you drive on by. I have been taking my late afternoon walk behind the cabin. Bud and I have been walking the trail and making our way back to where the wild raspberries grow. Not ripe yet but looking better it won't be long and I'll bring the grand kids back with plastic ice cream pails and we will try and bring some back to the cabin. Seems a lot of berries are picked but they don't make it into the pail and if they do they don't make it back to the cabin. But that is part of berry picking.

Garden is looking good, buzz of bees can be heard and the best time is to be there is after the rain falls. The smell of wet tomato plants is heavy in the air and I don't know how to write to describe the rich smell. Potato plants are heavy in flower and already I am thinking how them tatters will taste fried up along side a nice chunk of fall fish with a garden salad and some apple pie. Of course with these afternoon rains I am having a hard time keeping up with my honey do list. I have another length of fence to put up and I have fallen behind in staining the cabin and out buildings. Normally I fish in the afternoon but I have been limited to fishing from the dock and enjoying the falling rain with a cigar on my covered swing. Ya, I know life is tuff but someone has to do it.

Fishing for those who have been getting out has been good. A little cool in the early morning and you have to bring a towel to wipe off the dew from your boat seat but some fishermen like that experience. For every fishermen who likes to be out at the crack of dawn, motoring out to their spot as the fog lifts and the sun climbs up over the horizon is another fishermen who likes that part of the evening when the sun is just slipping down. Loons are calling and the wind finally dies. Lake goes calm and the rod with the popper comes out. The easy cast made to slick water and the rhythmic return of a popper making it's way back to the boat.

For others the afternoon rain is a good excuse to sit under canopies, or on the deck. Watching the rain fall and trying to answer kids questions as they sit along side of you. Like how can bees fly in the rain? Don't the rain drops hit them? And dragonflies, they are even bigger how do they fly in the rain? How come the wind does not blow the spider webs down and are fish scared of thunder. Why do banana popsicles take longer to melt then cherry ones? I sometimes ask myself these same questions.

Have been lucky this summer to have a nesting pair of bald eagles not too far away. Late afternoon brings them soaring high overhead. The crows that were a constant sight in the spring are not so much around. Having the eagles around seem to make the crows a little nervous. The old goose, he don't seem to care, every morning he is on the shoreline patrolling. His mate is off tending their off spring. Elmer has been tossing bread to them and then complains they are on his dock all the time. Of course I know he would not have it any other way.

July is better then half over and with it summer has reached it's halfway point. August will bring us county fairs and the stock car racing will heat up at the track. Campers will come and go and old friends will return to the lake to make new memories of the place. Fields of corn with look like waves of green when the wind blows and city kids will point at horses and cows grazing in the fields. What we take as an ordinary day will be a memory that they will take away. From Lake Iwanttobethere, I hope you are enjoying a nice summer day.. {100,668}

July 26, 2009

Last Sunday of July, where did this month go? Grand kids were all over yesterday so a lot of work was not done. Well that might depend on how you look at it I guess. I did replace railings on the front porch and they found there way to the burn pile next to the fire pit. As soon as the kids found out that there were raspberries to be had buckets were found and I had to scramble to keep up as they headed down the back trail behind the cabin. Of course they were sidetracked when a grouse thundered out from almost under their feet. Bud gave a few barks and headed in the direction of the brown feathered rocket as it darted through the trees. Seeing that no one was going to follow him Bud turned back to the trail. Kids now walk a little slower and my grandson turned to me with his finger to his lips and told me to shush, " They were hunting" So we walked slower and we were hunting. They were again sidetracked by a big frog that happen to cross the trail the same time they got there. Off in pursuit of the frog the four of them took off and once again Bud was barking and he didn't have a clue why.

We made it to the berry patch and as predicted it was several minutes before any berries actually hit the bottom of the plastic pails. Ten minutes later and they announced that they were done picking berries. All together they might have filled one bucket with the ripe berries. I empty all the buckets into one and with Bud leading we headed back the trail to the cabin. Some more distractions on the way and the berry buckets were now filled with pine cones and interesting rocks. Long sticks were gathered to be held at the ready in case of bears. The oldest granddaughter who is seven is now a seasoned outdoors person and is an expert on the woods. I brought up the rear of our expedition as she pointed out the woods to her brothers and cousin. Even I learned a few things on the dangerous trek back through the woods to civilization.

Girls took the berries into the cabin to a waiting grandma, they will make jelly and the boys and I headed to the dock Barney was already there sitting on the edge and looking over the side. The boys on hands and knees crawled across the decking to peek over the edge and look down at the sunfish hiding out in the shade of the dock. With all the stealth of three and four year olds they got up and ran yelling to me that there are fish under the dock! Ice cream buckets are dumped on the ground as pine cones are no good for fishing and now the berry buckets are bait buckets. They head off to the garden and the compost pile to search for worms.

Granddaughters come out from the cabin and trade places with the boys. Girls told the boys that grandma was making cookies. Girls take the worms the boys found and head back down to the dock. I am sitting on the swing and in my wisdom I make a note that something has just happen. Boys dig worms, give them to the girls, girls don't get their hands dirty. Boys are paid with cookies. Girls have free bait. Hmmm Girls make it to the dock but are sidetracked by baby ducklings, Baby ducklings like worms thrown at them. Bait is gone Girls head back to the cabin. Boys come out with warm cookies and find all of their bait gone. Boys are once again distracted when they see Elmer drive up and he and Pepper get out. Boys dash off to see Elmer and just me and Barney left sitting on the dock.

Later that night we start a fire in the pit and the old cedar from the porch railings is burnt. Sounding like the Fourth of July the old cedar snaps and cracks in the night. Some birch is added and when the coals are cherry red the kids cook hot dogs on wooded sticks. Corn is tossed on the hot coals and grandma sets up the table with butter and chocolate milk. Onions are diced and homemade relish awaits the hot dogs which are well done on one side. The adventure of berry picking is retold and I guess I missed a few things as even I am interested in this trip that was taken in the haunted woods behind the cabin and the magical frog that was chased. I am so happy that I was protected by number one grandson as I guess I did not realize the danger I was in. Lucky for me he was along.

More wood is added to the fire pit and flames lick higher in the darken night. Loons call out telling each other good night on the waters of Lake Iwanttobethere and a big splash is heard close to shore. I say something about it being just a big frog and the youngest grand daughter sits a little closer. Fireflies make an appearance, and grand kids go chasing after them trying to catch them with empty ice cream pails. From Lake Iwanttobethere {101,224}

July 29, 2009

Grasshoppers and dragon flies, bees and wasps. Bats and butterflies and don't forget the fireflies. Dusty washboard roads and green grass taller than your arm pits. Bright red raspberries and waves of corn blown by warm summer winds. Fawns and small bunnies and ducklings along the shore. Skipping rocks across flat calm waters. Fire pit sparks flying skyward. Smell of cut grass and homemade bread. Sizzle of fish in a blacken cast iron skillet. The smell of a two cycle engine the buzz of a jet ski. Crack of thunder and the splatter of falling water. The echo of children. The music of a singing drag the plop of a bobber hitting the water. The feel of water between toes of feet dangling from a wooded dock

Short and sweet my story is today, just a reminder of things around us today. From Lake Iwanttobethere {102.095}

July 31, 2009

Rain continues to fall here at Lake Iwanttobethere, The last week of July has brought with it some cool nights with scattered showers during the day. I guess if you are from somewhere hot it is a perfect vacation. Farmers are getting a chance to fish as there is not much more they can do right now but hope the rains came in time to help out their crops in the field. I know the grass has made good use of the rain as usually this time of the year one does not have to mow but a few times a month. The yard is a deep rich green and it feels good when walking barefoot down to the dock in the morning.

Of course I have all but stopped staining on the outbuildings, With rain everyday it is a good excuse to wait for drier weather. Yesterday I had to run down to the big city, errands that the wife had lined up for me. I did make a few side trips to walk through a few of the men's stores and as I was passing the golf course I saw a pretty sight. Standing on top of hill overlooking the main road were two bucks deep in velvet. They were acting nervous like they were going to bolt down the hill at any moment and try to cross. I eased off the gas pedal of the Dodge and watched as I passed. I mentally coaxed the two boys to stay where they were. One looked to be about six points and the other was bigger, hard to tell with the velvet on their heads. Standing chest deep in the tall grass they bounced some on their front hooves before quickly turning and running back over the top of the hill and back towards the golf course.

A few cars heading in my direction had also seen the deer and had slowed, I am thinking that we all had the same thoughts about seeing two nice looking bucks. A few more cars passed me with drivers talking on cell phones busy going where ever they were going. I am sure they did not have a clue what was just off to their right a few yards. To intent on getting where they are going, eyes locked on the bumper of the car in front of them.

I know a lot of you read about Lake Iwanttobethere and it reminds you of your own little place. For some of you this may even be the first time you have read about this small town on a big lake with it's cast of aunts and uncles and friends. Thing is that everyone has a Lake Iwanttobethere. Everyone has stories to tell about things they see. Some just need to take some time to slow down a tad and enjoy things around them. Last time I looked grass is everywhere, bees fly and birds soar. Little kids still look at the ground when they walk and there is a world there that sometimes us adults overlook. Little kids lay on their backs and look at the sky and see tigers and lions and big white angles in the clouds. When it rains they go out and try to catch the drops while we adults to many times look to hide under something. How many times have you told your kids "It's only water" as you stood under your umbrella... You should be standing next to them, face skyward feeling rain drops, laughing at getting wet, it is after all, just water! From Lake Iwanttobethere {102,220}

August 9, 2009

Been a long week here at Lake Iwanttobethere Beginning of the week was calm weather wise and I was making headway on projects around the yard. Went in to have lunch with the wife and #2 granddaughter who was spending the day. Enjoying my lunch we were interrupted by a loud crash the cabin shaking and then ceiling tile falling out of the kitchen ceiling! Quickly at least for me I made my way out the door to look back at the roof and see part of my chimney sticking out of the kitchen roof! Looking like a meteor with some dust rising from it. The rest of the chimney was leaning against a section of roof.

I don't want to bore ya with what happen afterwards, Just something us home owners have to deal with. I had Hammering Hank and Skinny come out and they removed the 300 pounds of chimney that fell into the kitchen. A patch was made and nailed in place and no sooner was it done then it started to rain. Insurance guy was called from the big city who told me right off that my insurance does not cover chimney replacement. Did not make me or the wife very happy campers hearing that.

The next day found us with out hot water as we were told not to vent into the down chimney. I had a fishing trip plan with my buddy Jerry and with a wave to the wife we did just that, we went fishing. Normally I would have written a nice little story about our day on the water and there were a few high points. Including watching some tourist trying to back a trailer down an incline ramp for the better part of twenty minutes. Yes, we did help them in the end. It was tuff to as they kept ignoring our help. A borrowed boat they had, never even started the motor because they did not know how, they had just fished sort of only using the electric.

So a few days later finds me with the chimney now broken apart laying in the valley of the cabin. About 2000 pounds up there that will have to be taken down. Some good fill for behind the wood shed. A new chimney and some roof work to be done and another project on the Honey Do List. Not much I can do about it, just glad no one got hurt and everyone keeps telling me all the good things about having my chimney fall over. Like it could have happen in the winter it could have fallen the other way and went through the bathroom. There was some important damage done though. The weight of the chimney falling send a shock wave through the cabin knocking down my walleye and bass mounts to the floor. Both landed on their tails breaking them. I didn't find out till later in the day. I don't know if I will get them fixed but I will be able to say when someone asks me about them " O the tail, well back in 09"..... From Lake Iwanttobethere {102,550}

August 15, 2009

HIYA from Lake Iwanttobethere. Well Friday has come and gone and with it the cabins and resorts have a new crowd of tourists in town. The last group sure left with a lot of sunburn and memories. Summer was here and it lasted the entire week. A little rain in the beginning and then mother nature poured on the ninety degree days one after another. Most fishing was done early in the morning and late in the afternoon. The Dew Drop Inn and the Sunshine Cafe saw a lot of mid day customers as roofers and the county road guys took extended lunch hours in the cool eateries.

Gulp- n- Go was selling ice like they were giving it away and here at the Lodge more than a few members spent time out in the ice house sitting on the cool sawdust that covers the lake ice cut from last winter. More then half of the ice is gone but still more then what we usually have on hand this time of the year. This has not been the warmest summer or anywhere close to even an average summer. With the rain we did get and the hot days we are taking wagers on when the mosquitoes from the swamp will make their first appearance on the deck of the Lodge. I expect they will come flying in formation and will be as big as bombers. Elmer has a shotgun by the deck door loaded with #9's and when asked by a tourist what is was for he told the man skeeters! The man asked Gus for confirmation and Gus cleaning a beer mug just nodded yes.. We might have scared the guy a little as when he left he was looking skyward and there was some gid- e- up in his step.

Fans have been running twenty-four hours a day here in the Lodge and the Hamms has to be drunk quickly if ya want to taste it cold. Swimming beach is a busy place and it is not just the teenagers hanging out down there. As for me I feel a little guilty going into Ma and Pa's grocery store. With the big meat locker and deli case it is a cool a place as anywhere in town. Also surprising the ladies who go in there to do shopping and what little they wear when they are away from home and on vacation. I always wondered why Pa was always smiling behind that meat counter till I noticed the ladies always have to bend down to look into the deli case and while they are looking at cold cuts Pa is looking, well I think you get the idea.

Work at the cabin is nil, Skinny came over and with a two pound hammer broke up the old chimney brick by brick but it has been too hot to work on the roof and he has done nothing else since, I don't blame him. My other projects have been put on hold as I feel if it is too hot to roof it must be too hot to stain or work on that section of fence I have been building. I have been fishing though as there is never a bad day to go fishing. Fishing has been a little slow but we are catching fish but nothing really to brag about other then the northern. Twice this last week I have had big northern flash at the boat and make me utter a curse because they did not take my offering.

My friend Jerry and I went fishing and he had a big fish glide up along side the Puddle Humper and have a stare down contest with him. I know there was something going on as when I fish with Jerry he is always talking, the only time he goes quiet is when he has a fish on. This time I just heard him saying out loud " Fish, big fish, really big fish, Big Big Fish!" Then turn to me and hold his hands outstretched still muttering about the big fish.

Sunshine Ray says we will be getting some rain this weekend and that will cool things down, looks like the rest of the week will be back in the seventies. I plan on getting a few more days of fishing in as I need to stay away from Skinny when he is working on the roof. If I am around we will just end up sitting in the shade drinking ice cold Lake Iwanttobethere Root beer and trading fishing stories, which are all true by the way. Mid August already and you would think we would be winding down around the lake but we seem to be really busy with the county fair going on and dirt track racing on the weekends. Produce stands have popped up along the highway just outside of town and candy corn is being sold by the wagon loads. Tables are set up and cucumbers and tomatoes are displayed on tables along with watermelons. There is a little war going on between a couple of gals home from college, they have brought big city advertising to their stands along with some rather skimpy outfits to draw attention to their parents produce. They are doing a fine job as even truckers are pulling over and truckers usually don't stop for anything. I bought some sweet corn just the other day from one of the gals, I don't remember what I paid for it, matter of fact I don't even remember how many ears I bought. I do know that tomorrow is going to be the last really hot day and I better stop and buy some more. So from a summer's day here at Lake Iwanttobethere hope to see ya on the water.. {103,096}

August 19, 2009

HIYA from Lake Iwanttobethere, a rain day today as it is dripping outside my window here at the cabin overlooking the waters of Lake Iwanttobethere. A passing thunderstorm has just gone by and the rain has slowed but still dripping down off the roof. I noticed that even with the rain moving on that a dripping sound was still quite loud from the kitchen. I went into the kitchen to find water dripping from the ceiling. A quick fix, Skinny had moved his ladder supports and had missed plugging a nail hole. I climbed up the ladder and shot some blackjack into the nail hole and left the caulk gun on the roof to remind me to yell at him when he returns. Might be a few days as Sunshine Ray has forecasted rain for all day tomorrow and most of today.

Well no sooner then I sit down to write this and the rain picks up again, so loud I can't hear the clicking of the keys. Was a good thing I mowed early this morning and got that out of the way. Been a good August with the week of hot weather and now rain again it is pretty green around here. Garden is doing good but it might be to late for some things. Corn is nothing more then green stalks growing up to be Halloween decorations. If I want eating corn I have to go to the farmers stand but that is OK. Berries have done well as have my cucumbers and potatoes, Apples are doing good even if this should be an off year for them. Between rain drops I have been doing small projects and getting sidetracked. I was just out checking the batteries on the charger, I went fishing last night and was thinking about going out again today but the rain will keep me inside.

Kind of a strange night fishing as soon as I got on the water I notice the lack of wildlife. This small bay that I trailered the Puddle Humper to is usually good for a lot of ducks and geese and all I saw all evening was one lonely loon. I parked the trailer in it usually spot and noticed that the wild raspberry bushes have not been touched much. Right along the road there is a pretty good stretch of berries that are usually picked over. I pulled off several and popped them in my mouth as I am not one to pass up free berries. I was on this little bay to chase some northerns, I wanted to upgrade the one I had caught for the fishing contest down at the Lodge. I was not on the water five minutes and I caught a little 24 inch fish that flipped on me in the boat and managed to nail me in the knuckle with a sharp tooth. I bled all over the boat trying to find where I had put my little first aid kit, I ended up just wrapping it with some duct tape that I had on board. One should always have some duct tape handy.

I was alone on the bay and it was pretty quiet, a little windy but that has been the norm for most of this fishing season so far. I did boat fifteen northerns but none were bigger then what I had entered in the contest already. At dusk I switched over to a top water bait and fished for bass for a half hour or so. The second cast I laid down I was rewarded, I made a perfect landing just out front of a birch tree that was down in the water on the back side of a dark shaded point. A flick of my wrist made the props spin and on the second flick the water erupted around the lure, I gave it the one count and set the hook to be rewarded with some weight on the end line. The drag sang a little as the fish pulled back on me and I knew I had a decent fish on when the Puddle Humpers bow was turned by the fish. I eased up on the drag and worked the fish with some care. Maybe a minute later and I had a nice bass at the side of the boat looking up at me with a mouth of lure hanging from her.

Taking care to get the right position I eased my thumb into her mouth and brought her over the side and into the boat. Hooks were removed and she was laid down on the fish board and her photo taken. 18.5 inches, not a bad fish at all. Next she went to the scale and the reading came back at 3 pounds 13 oz. I took her back to the water and dipped her back in. I told her thank you and she repaid me by slapping her tail on the surface and splashing me with water. Using a towel I wiped the water from my face and chuckled to myself, I never have had a problem getting wet from a nice fish. A few more bass were boated and with the skeeters coming out I decide to call it a night and turned back to the landing. I eased up on the sand beach and made the short walk to the waiting truck. Getting dark now and I thought I saw some movement on the other side of the truck. Thinking it was just the shadows I came around the fender to find a small black bear leaning against my door eating berries. I don't know who was more surprised! The bear went to all fours and rumbled down the ditch through the berries. I went around the Dodge to the other side. After catching my breath I went in through the passenger door and backed the trailer to the water. I might have loaded the Puddle Humper in record time as it did not take long to get it out of the water and I was moving on down the road before I remembered to pull over and put the tie downs on.. Like I said it was a strange night indeed.. From Lake Iwanttobethere

{103,453}

August 21, 2009

Woke up this morning looking into the eyes of Bud and his wet nose a mere inch away from mine. I was going to sleep in this morning as I knew it was going to be wet out. I open my eyes and looked across the few inches and locked eyes with Bud, he looked comfortable with his head on the wife's pillow. We stared at each other for a moment till Bud flicked out his tongue to give me a doggie kiss. More likely it was his ploy to make me blink and move, which I did. I reached up and rubbed him behind his ear and he closed his eyes again and took it in. I heard snoring and looked over the side of the bed to see Barney sprawled on the floor. I guess everyone had the same idea about sleeping in this morning.

Past several days have been wet here at the lake. The other afternoon into the night we got four inches of rain here, Some places got a little less and others got even more. Everything got wet as with the rain we had winds up around forty miles per hour. The wind driven rain managed to get everything wet actually soaked. Several of the potted plants were blown over on the deck and some corn was also folded over. Small apples that could not hold on cover the ground under the apple trees. Some water came in around the patch on the roof but no more damage was done. Some caulk and a little adventure of walking on a wet roof in driving rain took care of the problem.

I went outside with the dogs following me and the deck actually was drying, however as soon as I stepped on the grass I could hear the squish of water beneath my feet. Yesterday was a drizzle day and I did not do to much outside, I had gone down to the Lodge to tackle some paper work and got side tracked by the search for Neds pontoon boat. Old man Ned not to be confused with another younger lodge member also named Ned had his pontoon disappear during the rain storm. The clothes line that Old man Ned had secured his pontoon to his dock had broken and the pontoon had set sail without him. Ned was not to worried about the boat but his favorite rod and reel were in the rod holder.

The word went out for the missing boat, Jessie the paper boy was located and he had not seen anything but would now keep an eye out for it. Mark the mailman had not seen anything and even Frank the plow driver was asked. Frank being pretty busy working on wash outs had admitted he had not had a chance to look at the lake much. On a side note he should be out at my cabin today to grade both Elmers and my driveway. A few fishermen did go out in the drizzle to fish, we have a few guys who live to brag that they can and will fish in any kind of weather. I suspect that if we don't find it today it will show up later in the week when the weather gets better and more fishermen get out on the water. A local will have to spot it as odds are a tourist will not think of it out of place.

It's an eighteen footer with a beat up old 25 hp Johnson on the back end. It has green indoor outdoor carpet and a couple of folding deck chairs which may or may not still be with it. It has a couple of gray white dock bumpers on the port side and two rod holders in the rear, one which is holding Neds green Shakespeare rod and Johnson reel. I am going to guess if you see the rod you will also find a red and white daredevil hanging from it. It will be listing a little but that is normal as one of the pontoons had a little water in it. There should also be a blue Coleman cooler tied to the deck, that should be there still as Ned said he just use some new clothesline on it this spring, I would not open it as Ned keeps his bait inside. If you should come across the boat contact us here at the Lodge and we will get a hold of Ned and get it back to his dock. There was also a report of a missing jet ski but here at the Lodge the pontoon is more important.. From Lake Iwanttobethere 103,562

August 28, 2009

HIYA from Lake Iwanttobethere. Well, fall is creeping in around the lake here, pushing summer aside the weather the past few days has been cool and a little wet. Rained hard overnight and Frank the plow driver will have some more work ahead of him as his dirt roads will need some attending to. I stepped out on to the wet deck and was followed by Bud and Barney, they quickly headed to the grass to do their thing and then went on patrol of the grounds. Bud jumped a rabbit on the edge of the garden and gave chase, the wet grass did not help him any and he lost interest as the rabbit did a few zigs and zags and made it to the safety of the cedar only to wake up a sleeping Pepper who picked up the chase. I could only hear Elmer yelling at Pepper to get back on the porch.

Cool enough that I went back into the cabin and grabbed a flannel that was still laying across the chair from last night. I headed for the Dodge as I had some errands to run and walked pass the smoldering embers from last nights fire in the pit. Fog floats across the lake and you can't see much pass the end of the dock, I looked skyward just in time to catch about a dozen geese flying over head, Dipping in and out of the fog they were quickly gone from sight. Just as I thought a few new potholes on the road into town, filled with water the Dodge hit them and splashed water towards the ditch. I drove pass the high school football field and with the window down could hear the sounds of morning practice. As I went by I could just make out players in the fog as they stood in rows doing jumping jacks.

I was going into town to pick up the first part of my order from the lumberyard. My cedar siding was in and I wanted to get it home and start staining. I arrived to find my order on the loading dock and made quick work of loading it into the Dodge. Attaching the red flag on the back I headed back towards the cabin. The deep smell of cedar following me as with the fog there was now a little drizzle. The wet wood must have been giving off clouds of aroma if you could see it. I drove past Neds cabin and I can see the pontoon is tied securely to the dock, even from the road I can see the bright new yellow line. It took several days but the pontoon was located. A couple of locals found it doing lazy circles in one of the small bays. When they went to tow it they found a ten pound northern hooked to the daredevil that had been hanging from the old Shakespeare rod. The fish was swimming in a slow circle pulling the pontoon with it. They released the fish and towed the pontoon back to Neds cabin. Gus at the Lodge donated a new length of yellow rope, enough to tie both ends of the pontoon to the dock. Surprisingly the minnows in the Coleman cooler were still alive, they needed some fresh water but Ned was happy his boat was back and that he didn't have to replace any bait. No word on the missing jet ski as of yet.

Got back at the cabin and transferred the siding into the wood shop, already had the saw horses set up and as I stacked the wood I inspected it. When I was done I stood in the doorway looking back at the cabin and the ongoing repairs. Skinny has been working a little on it every day and the new chimney is in place and when the rain stops he will start doing some shingling. When he is done I will come in and replace the damaged siding and do a section that I have been meaning to get to. Today with the fog and forecast by Sunshine Ray of a chance of some afternoon showers I am thinking I might just have to go fishing. Summer is coming to a close and I can't be too picky on what days I have to go fishing on. Besides this could just be my lucky day! From Lake Iwanttobethere {104,125}

September 2, 2009

If you are on vacation here at Lake Iwanttobethere this week you picked the right week. Several great days and several more on tap in the forecast of both Sunshine Ray and Stormy Clearweather. One of those rare times when they both agree on the weather. Fishing has been a little slow but that was one of them just plain weird couple of days when I think even the fish were surprised at the weather. I myself was out one evening with the lake looking like glass and could not buy a fish to chase after my top water offerings. I should have know something was up as I did not see a deer on the drive to the landing or even many birds flying. I saw one eagle flying with purpose across the lake like he had some place better to be. Sometimes you get those days and you would be better off working on the house or mowing grass but the night was so inviting that I had to be on the water.

Making good progress on the honey Do List and the repairs to the cabin. With no rain and comfortable weather to work in I am just about done with my new fence and today it will be stained. I am actually waiting on Skinny to finish up on the roofing repairs so I can get the siding up. If he is not done today then it looks like I will be forced to go fishing.. Even the grass is mowed and there are more pencil lines through projects marking them done then there are projects left. Of course this is on the summer do list, I was of course informed by the wife that the fall list is underneath and she has been busy adding to that one.

Gardens are doing great and I am even going to get some corn of my own. Mine is so slow growing this year that even though I have been stopping at the farmer's market and eating corn for a month I will be able to get a few ears of my own now. Cucumbers are hanging heavy off the plants and we have started to make pickles. The tomato plants are loaded with green tomatoes and with some heat I am hoping we will have some ripping here. The small cherry tomatoes are plucked and eaten every time I walk by and see a ripe one. Grand kids the other day made the last trip to the raspberries, and they did not get many in the bucket but they did come back out the trail with red lips. I dug one potato plant up and was rewarded with eight tatters, looks like a good crop this year but I will leave them in the ground for a while yet. The carrots were discovered by the grand kids and several of them were pulled from the ground and washed under the garden hose. The boys used them like cigars as they held them between their lips while they went looking for crickets to go fishing with.

Apples are not having a great year but there will be enough for several pies. The gray squirrels have been leaving them alone so far this year, might be because Pepper has been free to roam both Elmer and my yards. Barney has been spending a lot of time on the porch this summer and Bud has been spending more time following me around. They both turned nine this past spring and I fear they are starting to slow down some. Barney still spends time on the end of the dock watching the fish but I find him a lot on the porch lying in the sun with his feet hanging over the edge. We have always called him a porch dog and now it looks like he might have found his true calling.

Elmer and Marv can be seen every night out on Marv's pontoon boat, They don't go out to far from shore and I suspect they are anchored over one of Elmers brush piles. They stay till after dark and you can hear the sounds of a baseball game from their radio and the occasional low deep laughter of contented men echoing across the water. If it is quiet enough you can make out the click and cush of a can being open and maybe a belch or two. A few trees along the shore are taking on a little yellow in their leaves and maybe it is me but the geese seem to be flying a little more. I noticed a few docks have been pulled up on shore, stripped of their decking they looking naked and out of place. Way to early I think to be pulling docks up.

Things are changing here at the lake, seasons are changing and even though I try not to watch the calendar September is here and Labor Day is just a few days away. More docks will be pulled and people will decide that summer is over. Big Earl at the General store is not helping anything either. He has leaf racks stacked outside his door and his cart has piles of blue and brown tarps stacked on it. Just inside the door he has a bin of notebooks and school supplies. Pens and crayons and a big box of pencils with a sign "ten for a dollar" Canning jars and lids are stacked just inside the door and you can hear Junior in the back of the store in the sporting goods department blowing on a duck call.

But today it is going to be like yesterday, Highs in the seventies and a little cool in the evening with great sleeping weather. Of course now it gets dark by eight thirty and the fire in the pit is already a bed of red coals when the ten o'clock freight weaves it's way around the lake. A nice time of year to be sitting around the campfire telling old tales and talking to old friends. As a matter of fact as I write this I am thinking today would be a good day to go fishing. Tomorrow is another day and that fence is not going any where. I think I will go pack me a lunch and go fishing. Tomorrow might even be a better day to stain or maybe even go fishing again. From Lake Iwanttobethere {104,311}

September 14, 2009

while i was at the lake this weekend. i drove by bobby's the curtains were drawn, and the grass was a bit on the long side. it did look like skinny has completed the roof repairs. but there was some siding missing and other siding lacking stain. anyone seen bobby around. i was on a short trip this weekend. just doing a few fall tasks. and did not make it to the lodge to ask about him. hope everything is well with him, and that it is just one of those unannounced trips with the misses, kind of things. ... paul

September 15, 2009

HIYA from Lake Iwanttobethere. I was just looking over the trail cam photo of Nytelyter at the cabin here and I guess the grass is getting a tad high. Been such a nice fall here at the lake that I don't even have to embellish anything at all. Yes, I am giving in and calling it fall. The past few weeks have been finding me taking advantage of every minute of daylight. I have the new fence up and it is all stained, the apple trees are now behind the protection of the fence and the deer will now have to work to get at them. Skinny got the roof repaired and as of last night the upper level has been resided. Smoke curls from the new chimney and it has passed the test. The wife was so pleased at the fence, chimney and siding that she said them words that I hear so seldom. "Go ahead and get some fishing in" and so that is what I have been doing the past few weeks.

Today finds me with another week of great fall weather up ahead. My neighbor Chuck and I have found ourselves in the same position. We are lucky enough to have our calendars cleared so we can take in the fall here at the lake. I wish I could say I have been fishing every night but it has been close. We have a few rounds of golf in there and a walk on the trail behind the cabin where not one but two grouse fell to the side by side 20ga and were brought back to me by Bud. Fire pit fires have been common as I have burned up the old siding from the cabin and the old shingles have been carted off to the dump where another bear encounter was had. Fishing has been good for the most part, a few adventures, a lot of lost fish and a lot of conversation and catching up with my neighbor Chuck. Elmer has been fishing with Marv and I have seen them on the water several times. The two of them are catching enough fish for dinner and then just sitting on the pontoon letting passing boats rock them on the calm evening waters of the lake.

Geese are flying low around the lake and it looks like they to know fall is here. Since Saturday orange caps are starting to show up as hunters are in town. The Sunshine Cafe has a sign in the window welcoming hunters and Amy at the bakery is offering specials on her loose meat sandwiches. I wrote myself down as being on vacation at the Lodge and I have only been down there once this past week. My desk is deep in pink telephone messages by Gus who is not very good at taking messages. The few I looked at just said "Bobby, someone called for ya" Today I thought maybe I would mow the grass around the cabin and maybe check my e-mail. Hard to do as I look out over the lake and see nothing but calm water and the rings of a fish splash not far off Elmers dock. Bud and Barney are lying out on the deck just a sliver of sunlight peaking through the trees hitting them.

Fishing on the lake has been pretty good, I have caught a few, lost a few more and had some big fish make me curse out loud. Just the other night I was with Chuck and we were in a small back bay throwing big buzz baits looking for northern when a bass blew up when my lure hit the water. I must have just about hit her on the head as no sooner had the buzz bait hit the water then she thundered out from beneath it and did a cartwheel in the air before landing with a huge splash. I can still see her tail which was as wide as my hand. Chuck just made the comment " Now that was a big fish" before throwing his lure and giving me a soft chuckle as only a fishing partner can.

Another night found us fishing a reed bank with a small point, as we came up on it dimples were on the water as fish were feeding on top. Dark clouds were coming our way and we eyed them as we got with in casting distance of the dimples. As we got closer I could see green mouths on the surface and I was making the comment that I think we found a school of crappies. I tossed a top water bait out and with a splash a pound bass was brought to the boat, no sooner had I released it then Chuck was reeling in its brother. We had stumbled on to a school of bass and I quickly fired off another cast which had barely enough time to get wet on the water before it was taken by another bass. Like a couple of kids we caught and released several bass and we were no longer watching the sky. A noise made me look down the lake and I made the comment to Chuck that it was going to rain. Chuck just replied with a " Ya Ya" and asked if it was getting close. My answer was "Eh Chuck, I can hear it" Chuck looked up to see a wall of rain coming down the lake at us, you could hear the rain as it came closer and grew louder hitting the surface of the lake. Chuck made the decision to get one more cast in and I went for my rain coat. I just got it on when the first rain drop splatter against my hat. Sitting down in the chair I chuckled as Chuck tried to land a bass with the rain starting to fall. He did a quick release and scrambled for his coat. I reached behind the seat and pulled out the golf umbrella that is always kept there. I hit the release button and like in one of them cartoons the umbrella popped open and then all the metal rods came raining down on me and the umbrella collapsed around us. Somehow the umbrella had gotten broken and I never noticed it till just then.

Of course the rain just fell even more, it was like Mother Nature knew she had us and was going to make us pay for that one last cast. We motored to shore and got under a boat lift that was empty. We watched it rain for awhile and decided we were done for the evening, In a lull we made it back to the landing and no sooner had we got the Puddle Humper on the trailer then it poured again. Trying to lite damp cigars we watched the rain fall on the windshield and talked of hitting this spot again. Odds are pretty good we would not find that school of bass again but we know we would come back. We sat and chatted and watched the rain fall on the lake, we were in no hurry to leave.

A few errands to run here this morning, then do some chores around the cabin. Another nice day ahead and I am thinking there is another little bay I would like to fish this evening. I am sure Bud would not mind a walk down the trail behind the cabin at lunch time. That old pine tree is looking pretty inviting, might be another grouse there that we can surprise. From a fall day here at Lake Iwanttobethere {104,812}

September 24, 2009

HIYA from Lake Iwanttobethere. Summer continues here at the lake even though the calendar says it is now fall. Orange hats and hunting vests are common around town as bird season has arrived. The booths at the Dew Drop Inn are filled in the morning with hunters looking to load up on the twelve egg omelets before taking to the field for a morning hunt. Outside of the General Store Big Earl has his cart and it is stocked with canning jars and lids and cans of wasp spray. Rakes lean against the wall next to a lawn mower with that little red tag that says "last one" A rack of pink hunting vests are also on display as Pink Flamingo season is here and the big city hunters have been finding their way to the lake. All of the 222 plastic birds are accounted for and last I heard they were in Weird Willie's yard. Something about payback for something. Now he wakes up every morning to find hunters sneaking through his woods making drives trying to kick up the birds. Seems every year more hunters are making the trip to the lake to hunt the pink birds. I do know that Hunterdown drove around town one afternoon with several geese that he had shot and had sprayed some pink food coloring on the feathers. Fingers were pointing at his boat, Betsy that the birds were laying in. Hunterdown never stopped, so all people saw were the birds and pink feathers and you could just make out the sign attached to his truck about guided trips.

Out on the highway the roadside stand now has bales of hay and corn stalks for sale and of course there is still some late sweet corn and tomatoes along with the pumpkins for sale. People driving by buy the hay and stalks and bring them home for decorations. Have to be careful when driving the back roads now, of course some people say that all the roads in and around Lake Iwanttobethere are back roads. Anyway farmers are driving tractors pulling hay wagons and them combines take up a lot of room as they move them from field to field. Four wheelers are common, driving the tote roads in search of grouse, I hear them in the dinner talking about driving a hundred miles a day and seeing only a few birds. Chuck and I looking over our coffee cubs and wink at each other as we both know if ya get off them machines and take a walk in the woods there are birds to be had. Matter of fact just the other day I was doing a little guiding for an out of towner. Elmer had a relative who wanted to do some bird hunting but Elmer was already tied up for the day. The guy had heard about Bud and wanted to borrow him for the day, Well Bud don't go out and hunt with strangers so I went along.

We drove over to a section of woods and the guy sent in Bud to flush some birds, Bud came back out with a stick in his mouth. The guy took the stick away from Bud and sent him again back into the woods. Bud again came out with a stick in his mouth and when the guy went to take it out Bud shook the stick from side to side and backed away. The guy complained to me that my dog was not as good as he had heard, because all he did was go in the woods and bring back sticks. Between puffs on my cigar I told the guy that Bud was telling him there were more birds then you could shake a stick at in the woods.

Fishing has been real good for my neighbor Chuck and I. We are still getting out and have been doing good. Chuck is a little upset at me though for what happen the other day. We were coming back from fishing from the far side of the lake and we had some nice fish in the live well as we were going to have a fish fry. The dang weigh station was open and we got waved in by the trooper and sent to the scale. Well to make a long story short we had so many big fish on board that they were going to fine us a hundred and nine dollars for being overweight! It was either the fish or leave Chuck behind, it took Chuck several hours before he could hitch a ride back home. Still it worked out for him as I had all the fish cleaned by the time he got back.

Well today finds me doing staining and then the batteries should be charged on the Puddle Humper and we will be back on the water fishing. Shotgun will be behind the back seat of the Dodge in case we see one of them dumb birds on the way to the landing. We were going to get a round of golf in but they won't let us carry the shotgun next to our putter on the course anymore. To bad as they are some nice geese out by number three. Hope to see ya here real soon, from Lake Iwanttobethere {105,100}

October 6, 2009

HIYA from the Lodge here at Lake Iwanttobethere. A dark cloudy day here with rain pelting the windows of the Lodge. A fire is crackling in the fireplace and it is not there for looks as it is needed today to take the chill out of the Lodge. An assortment of duck hunting rain gear hangs from the hooks by the door, the water dripping onto the mats covering the old wood floor. Bud and Barney both are sprawled on the rug in front of the fire. Backs to the fire they sleep and snore quietly. Looking down at the landing the parking lot is empty, no boats in sight on the lake. Two trailers are parked in the camping area, muddy atv's along side. A boat on a trailer with a tarp snug waits for a break in the weather.

No doubt about it, Fall is here! Last two weeks has found us with a lot of cold windy days. Rain has fallen, not anything heavy but just enough to make ya wet if ya stand out in it long enough. Duck hunting clothes are a common sight as that is what ya need to stay dry in the wind driven rain. Golf course is still open but no one has been seen walking it for awhile. Skinny and Hammering Hank have been seen in the work truck, they are pulling up docks and delivering loads of fire wood. The mini donut wagon was pulled out of the park just the other day. Back to the garage where I hear it is going to get a paint job over the winter. Sheriff Tim has not been around at all, been working the far side of the lake the last month. I have heard that the grouse hunting has been good there and the sheriff might be doing a little shooting with his riot gun.

Chicken Shack is closed already, seems I just wrote about it being open and it is already closed. Sign swinging in the wind says they will see you all next summer. Painted plywood covers the glass windows and door like it is ready to be in a hurricane. Windy the windmill has been spinning nonstop for the past few weeks. If there has been any thing you can depend on it has been the wind. I know putting up siding on the cabin has been an adventure. Us bigger guys have more surface area and with a twelve foot piece of siding on a ladder in a thirty mile per hour breeze it can be a challenge. Just the other day the wife made mention to Chuck and myself as we were sitting at the kitchen table that it looks like the wind has let up a little and the rain drops are not falling as quick. It was her hint that we should go back outside and work on the siding. Looking out the window I told her you just may be right.

A few minutes later as we were driving down the drive with the Puddle Humper secure to the old Dodge she yelled out asking where we were going. My reply was that if it is nice enough to go siding then it is nice enough to go fishing, and so we did. The last few times out fishing we have been driven off the water by rain. Getting to old these days to be sitting wet in a boat with no fish in the livewell. But we are still good to go for a few hours. We went to a little bay off the main lake where I have had good days and of course a few poor days. But the landing is deep and no need to put on the waders to launch the Puddle Humper. With the Dodge parked off to the side we kept an eye on the dark sky and pushed off from shore. An hour later and we had not even had so much as a bump and we could see it raining on the other side of the bay. Chuck brought up the thought of us being skunked, something that neither one of us can remember or am willing to admit. A moment later and Chuck goes quiet in the back of the boat, I turn to see his rod bent over and line cutting through the water. A flash of white and I can see he has a fish on. I watch as Chuck works the fish and we both follow the line to see what is on the other end. Maybe a minute later and a chunky bass is at the side of the boat looking upwards at us. A quick trip to the scale and with my gloves on I write in "Chuck three pound one ounce bass" in the log book and the fish is returned to the water. Chuck speaking just loud enough for me to hear announces that he is not skunked.

Another half hour goes by and the hoods are up on our heads, a few rain drops drip down my glasses till I take them off and stick them in my pocket. Still have not had a bump so I figure I will change up lures, again. I tie on a jig with a big white grub and tell Chuck if there is a northern in this bay it will find this. Three casts later and a northern swims away with my grub and hook. I retie but this time add a leader, still skunked I am reminded by Chuck as I cast. I let loose with a decent cast into a still green floating Lilly pad patch when I feel a twitch on my line I set the hook and am rewarded with nothing but for some reason my line breaks right at the rod tip. The line laying on top of the water with in reach so I lean over the Puddle Humper and pick up the end. Looking for something to wrap the line around I take a pretzel rod from the bag and start wrapping the line around it. I am complaining to Chuck about having just replacing the line on that rod this spring when there is a tug on the line. Wrapping the line around the Pretzel stick quicker I realize that I have a fish on. I am at somewhat of a disadvantage as I am using a pretzel rod as a rod but I work the fish and a few minutes later an eighteen inch northern is at boat side. I release the fish and make note in the log that I to am not skunked.

With rain clouds moving closer and both of us no longer skunked we head for the landing. Coming around a small island we startle a osprey, it lumbers over head as it fly's by. A big bird and I am to slow to dig the camera out to take a picture, We watch as it fly's low over the water and away from us. The Puddle Humper is loaded on the trailer and the heater is turned on high in the Dodge. We make the drive back to the cabin and before we get there night falls. Wet leaves cover the driveway and my headlights catch a buck and then another as I make the turn. I stop with the two deer in my headlights and we watch as they look back at us. Kind of like a staring contest they finally drop their heads and move back into the brush. We follow the drive up and now the lights flash across the unfinished siding job. The Puddle Humper is backed into the boat house and the trailer unhooked. Dodge is parked and I grab the soft cooler and head for the cabin. Chuck heads for his cabin and we say goodnight, tomorrow might be a better day for siding, or maybe fishing. From Lake Iwanttobethere {106,576}

October 9, 2009

Frost, woke up today to see frost on top of the boat house and even the dock had a few white patches on it. Heard a click and then the sound of the furnace running was a second reminder that fall is here. Got dressed and slipped on a flannel jacket and let Bud and Barney outside. Grabbed a plate and cut me a wide slice of apple pie and took it out on the deck with me. Yup, apple pie for breakfast, what's wrong with that? Worked on the honey do list yesterday, trouble with that is the list seems to be getting longer and the days shorter. Picked the rest of the apples and they are in boxes in the pantry. Was not a very good year for apples spring was cool and wet and summer was not to much better. Fall has come to quick, no gradual stick your toe into it, we just kind of fell right in. Sunshine Ray has us getting some snow tonight, not going to stick but still it will snow he says. Thinking of putting the Puddle Humper up for winter but I am going to wait a while in hopes there will still be a few nice days left to go fishing.

Worked around the cabin yesterday had the fire pit burning. With the honey do list in hand I did make several check marks as I got apples picked and the last of the corn. Potatoes are all bagged and hanging in the pantry. Did some touch up staining on the new fence and a few more windows were painted. The plastic went up over the tomato patch and I hope it stays warm enough so that it keeps the frost away. With every trip past the fire pit I added some broken branches from pile gathered from the yard. Trees are heavy with leaves and they are just starting to change color, might make for some interesting pictures if we get the snow as predicted.

Did make it into the Lodge for lunch, almost had to stand in line to get my Coney's as the county road crew was there. Sections of road that have been marked by orange barrels and cones all summer now are finally being paved. Gus was ahead of everything as he had an extra sauce already made up. Seems Gus has it marked on the calendar for when the road crew is on this end of the county. Had a list of places I had to go to yesterday and the General Store was on the top. Needed more siding nails as Chuck took his tool belt with him to another job and with it my nails. Front of the store was blocked with boxes and both Junior and his dad Earl were working at sorting through them. Boxes with Halloween candy were being stacked into a display and the seasonal cart was being stripped of it's bug candles and fly swatters to be replaced with plastic pumpkins and solar walkway lights. Lawn rakes and plastic bags and assortment of tarps were stacked just outside the door. Mrs. Peabody stood in the way going through a rack of blue flannel jackets, checking the sleeve on each one, she was looking for a deal or a wrongly priced ticket.

I got my nails and a bag of kit kat candy bars and made my way out the door. I had to stop as the chain gang was passing. About a dozen preschoolers in matching hats, scarfs and gloves marched by holding on to the loops of a well worn white rope or should I say gray rope. Each one eyed the bag of candy bars and then gave me the look that only a three year old can. The rear was taken up by a young gal who was holding on for dear life as the gang pulled her on down the sidewalk. I just gave her the bag of candy bars for the kids, I didn't really need them anyway.

Inside Dug's garage found Dug hard at work on a snow thrower, a row of them waiting on parts were another warning that snow was in the forecast. I picked up a couple of oil filters and some lower unit oil and marked that off my list. Hammering Hank drove by and gave me a wave, Skinny was riding in the back sitting on top of a long plank that was hanging out the back. He looked a little cold back there. Doc Burriems car was tied to the parking meter out front of his office and the office was open. A small sign in the window said that Doc would be giving free flu shots all this week. Reed the Realtor was also in his office. Sitting in his chair with his feet on his desk he waved as he puffed on his cigar and blew smoke rings. The phone resting on his shoulder and the other hand twirling a pencil as spoke to someone on the other end.

I could hear the jingle of the bell over the door at Ma and Pa's grocery store, Tess, Hammering Hanks wife was just going in. I thought of following but my nose detected the smell of apple pie coming from the direction of Amy's bakery. Even though I just had lunch I did not have any dessert and with this cooler weather one needs to keep the furnace stoked. At least that was my reason for buying the candy bars that I gave away. A little pie seemed like a good idea at the time.

Later that afternoon I found myself back at the cabin and back to work on the do list. As luck would have it while I was away the wife had baked some pies, apple to be exact and I am not complaining because one can never have enough pie. I made a few casts from the dock and was rewarded with not one but two walleyes that decide for some reason to commit suicide on my rapala. They were soon joined in the frying pan with some tatters and onions from the garden and for desert I had apple pie of course. Sitting, relaxing at the table I looked over to see the wife with pen in hand adding to the Honey Do List. Today I find myself looking at another page of things to do. From a crisp fall day here at Lake Iwanttobethere. {106,741}

October 12, 2009

Color, fall is here when the colors start to show up and today the colors are here. The lake is calm this morning but along the shore line you can see the reflection of colors from the turning trees. The shoreline across the way is getting some yellows mixed in with all the green and the tell tale blue of tarps covering pontoon boats and wood piles can be seen. Even a splash of bright red of turning Maples dots the landscape. But there is still a lot of green to be seen. The weird summer has turned into fall but the season is not in sync. Cold enough in the morning to find the five gallon pail on the deck with ice in it but the grass is still a deep green and trees are filled with leaves. Apple trees have been picked clean by me, not a very good year for apples and I am not going to share them any more with Ed or Eddie. You have read before about Ed and Eddie, they are the two gray squirrels who spend a lot of time getting themselves in trouble here on this end of the lake. The grand daughter this summer named them as we have to call them something, that is what she told me. I don't know who Ed is nor do I have a clue which one is Eddie but when they are both out together we call them Ed and Eddie.

The gray soldiers have also returned, that is what I call the deer that move through the yard at night. Maybe because the hunters are in the woods now and the leaves have started to fall we notice the deer on the move more. I know at dusk you drive with a little more caution and check out the curves for deer in the ditches. Never is there one as there is always a few more ahead or behind of the one you see. I came home late last night and was sitting on the deck, not ready to head to bed and just taking in the moment when I heard a twig snap at the edge of the yard. Sitting quietly I turn my head and watched as a doe stepped out from the brush to walk across the yard. Head down she made her way to the apple trees and walked around the base slowly. She raised her head and looked back towards Elmers cabin. Following her gaze I watched as a column of ghost soldiers walked in single file down the path to the apple trees. With a sentry out in the yard the rest began eating what was left of the apples that were on the ground.

I sat on the swing and watched, tails twitching the deer moved across the yard, heads down eating crushed apples and small ones that Ed and Eddie and knocked down but had not yet carried away. The sentry traded places with the first doe and checked out the stalks of corn that were tied around a bird feeder for decorations. Finding an ear of corn she pulled it off, a young doe joined her and I could hear them tugging at the stalks on the pole. I shifted a little in my seat and the sentry doe looked in my direction. With a signal that I could not hear or see the deer moved back into the brush in single file. Heading in the direction of Chuck's cabin and his garden they were gone as quietly as they came. The sentry doe gave me a passing look over her shoulder as she stepped into the brush, I think I heard a quiet snort like she was saying she knew I was there all along. I stood up and brushed the leaves off my pants from the swing. Just another day here at Lake Iwanttobethere {107,082}

October 13, 2009

The days of fall are here and unlike summer there is a constant change taking place now. Even spring has it's surprises with things turning green and growing, but that is more subtle I think. In Fall things happen quicker. This morning I had to go in the shed and find my spray deicer for the Dodge's windsheild. With the bass thermometers red needed stuck below thirty this morning we had a hard frost and the windshield was white as was the deck. The grass had a crunch to it when I walked on it and when you turned you could see your boot marks. Blue sky and bright sunshine was rising in the East. Of course that is kind of a stupid thing to say, have you ever seen dull sunshine?

Have a long list of errands to do, some are left over from yesterday. Finally gave up on the tomato patch and took the plastic cover off and picked all the tomatoes that still looked good. They went inside of the cabin and the wife started doing her thing to them for storage. Ripe ones were canned and the bigger green ones were set in the window to ripen. Cherry tomatoes are in the bowl on the counter and I find myself grabbing a few every time I walk by. I spent some time and peeled apples as if I want apple pie I have to peel and then the wife will bake. The apple cores and peelings went out to join the pile of pulled tomato vines for the gray solders to find later. I did turn the small heater on in the greenhouse, I still have more cherry tomato plants out there along with several green pepper plants. The heater is set to keep the greenhouse at sixty which does not seem all that warm until you walk in from outside where it is only in the mid thirties. The warm air and lack of wind feels good and the smell of plants and tomatoes keeps summer going for a little while longer for me.

Elmer and Marv were at Elmer's yesterday afternoon. They had the blue tarp up at the end of the dock and were sitting behind it out of the wind. For awhile there the sun was out and they might have even had their coats unzipped for awhile. I knew they were there because I could see pipe smoke rising from behind the tarp and I also saw the two big bobbers floating off the end of the dock. Pepper was coming and going running out from under the tarp to chase Ed and Eddie who treated her as a mild inconvenience in their gathering of apple cores. Elmer has been spending a lot of time with Marv this past summer and the two have become fast friends. I have been out fishing with Elmer a few times and Marv has joined us. I feel like a kid around the two of them as they tell stories of the good old days and remind me to enjoy the moment. They are good reinforcement for taking time to enjoy yourself and to not worry over spilled milk.

Down at the Lodge the first load of orange barrels have arrived for winter storage. The county truck made two trips and already there is a pile out on the edge of the parking area. Skinny and Hammering Hank have them stacked up in a kind of a semi circle with a fire pit in the center. Last I saw of them they were moving the Lodges BBQ to the center and were fixing to make lunch there. Surprisingly the orange barrels do get pretty warm in the sunshine, they to are not willing to give up on summer yet. A few boats are out off Root Beer Island, a crappie bite is on out that way and the Masterbaiters shop is open during the afternoon so minnows can still be bought. Linda will be going on vacation here soon and then only those in the know will know to go in to the back porch and get their minnows from the tank there.

Del's pizza cannon is down for service, looking to make some improvements. Del is still trying to find a way to shoot of them sub sandwiches without denting boats and there is always the problem of sending out pop with your order as it gets shaken pretty rough in the launch. There is some good news in the food world as the Chicken Shack has found a store front in town and is offering it's famous Boasting Broasted chicken year round. There might be a small problem as the store front is located right next to the ladies health spa. Did I ever mention that the Chicken Shack also has a specialty snack? They sell a lot of chocolate covered chicken hearts, kind of their answer to the health crazed tourist they get.

Well I ain't getting anything done and the honey do list is not getting any shorter. Was hoping the sun would get a little higher quicker and the air a little warmer. Still can see where I walked in the grass this morning so I guess it is cold enough that I had better put some socks on. The wife the other day took and packed all my shorts away, the drawer is now filled with long sleeve shirts and the sock drawer is also filled. Just another reminder that summer is gone and fall is here. Of course I could be writing about winter but I hope that takes some time to get here. We still have a lot of bird hunting to do and deer to chase and I hope some time fishing off the dock. From Lake Iwanttobethere {107,371}

October 15, 2009

It might not have been the best day but I got a big hint yesterday morning that it was time to go out and do some bird hunting. You see I have partner that won't take no for an answer. So when Bud brought over my hunting boot in his mouth I took it as a big hint he wanted to go out. I pretend to ignore him but he just sat looking at me with my leather boot in his mouth and then he just dropped it at my feet. I figured I had out waited him till he returned a moment later with the other boot. Dropping that one next to the first he sat and looked at me with them big lab eyes. I tried to ignore him and he got up and slowly walked away. Looking over his shoulder to see if I was watching him he went to the gun cabinet and making a big deal of turning around and sitting down next to the door. We looked at each other from across the room, I teased him a little by shifting in my seat, His head came up and his tail bounced off the side of the gun cabinet then went still again as he saw I was not moving.

He had me, I could not tease him any more and as soon as I said " Bud, you want to chase birds?" He was up and bounding across the floor, tail wagging and talking to me in that low lab bark growl bark whine. He was acting up so bad you think he was Lassie trying to tell me that Timmy was in trouble, again. Boots went on and were laced up, pants legs pulled down over the top. I grabbed a coat and the orange vest was next. A handful of shells went into the right pocket and a few dog bones into the left. A bottle of water from the fridge found it's way into the big game pocket and with a hat on my head we were out the door.

Takes but a moment to walk across the wet grass to the edge of the woods and the trail that goes out from behind the cabin. Bud was already at the edge as he had ran across the yard. As soon as we both stepped into the woods it started. With each passing step deeper the two of us took steps back into time, as least that is the way it feels. The old dog who is now nine acts like a puppy when he is in the woods, but now he has years of experience. I watched as he walks in front of me, nose to the ground head going from side to side. He stops at branches laying across the well worn trail. It looks like he is checking to see of a grouse has been on the branch but I think he is making sure that the old man following him sees it and won't trip on it. The old man being me feels younger to, it takes a while but the old hunting boots are starting to feel good on the feet. I stop and loosed the laces a tad and Bud sits and waits for me. I wave him on when I am done and we continue down the trail.

We walk at a relaxed pace, stopping often and looking, From time to time Bud will go off the trail and I will stop and watch, gun at ready. He will come back to the trail and give me a shake of us his head and lets me know that there is nothing there, now. The trees are heavy with leaves and still pretty green. Some yellow is showing and every now and then a maple with red turning leaves sticks out. We walk the path and like always we are surprised by a grouse that burst up off to our right and is gone before either one of us can do anything. Bud bounces on his front legs and wants to give chase, I look into the thick tangle of brush and tall grass and think another day for that one. I wave him to continue down the trail and he starts off, Looking over his shoulder from time to time he gives me that look that says it all, We could have gone after him boss, he didn't fly that far. I chuckle to myself and calling Bud to my side I give him a rub behind his ear and a pat on his rump and sent him back down the trail. He wags his tail and goes back to work.

We come to a small clearing and take a break, I pour water in my cupped hand from the water bottle and Bud drinks from it. I take a few sips myself and then ask Bud if he wants a bone, He of course has never said no. I give him a bone and wait while he breaks it into pieces and chews it. He sniffs the grass making sure he didn't miss any and is ready to go back to hunting. I take a moment with the water bottle in hand and look around at the cleaning, I do it every time. I remember walking into the clearing years ago and Bud kicking up a covey of birds that were sunning themselves. The rest of that year every time we came to the clearing we would sneak up, always waiting for that covey to be there again, but they never were.

We turn to go back down the trail to the cabin when I see a grouse sitting in a tree watching us, well more likely watching Bud. I hang back as Bud walks under the tree and the bird with neck stretched out tries to look down and around the trunk. Bud stops and looks back at me, I point upwards toward the bird, of course Bud being a dog has not a clue that I am pointing out a bird to him. He just continues to wag his tail and looks back at me. To him this is a new hand signal and he is pretends to know what I am saying. The bird is about to fall out of the tree watching Bud and I am still pointing at the bird. I walk toward the bird and Bud and the bird are now both looking at me. Bud still does not see the bird and the bird is refusing to fly. So there the three of us are now standing or in the birds case sitting and watching each other.

Well after a minute or so of this I reach down and grab a stick and throw it at the bird, It sails past the bird who is now looking at me with his head cocked to one side, Bud is trying to figure why I want to play fetch when we are hunting. I pick up a bigger stick and this time I hit the tree trunk, the bird has had enough and with a thunderous roar takes off from the tree to fly over head. A lone feather falls from the sky and lands in front of a barking Bud who now decides to point out to me that there is or was a bird in that tree. I pick up the feather and put it in my pocket, I pat Bud on the rump and we go back down the trail. Later we sit in the den, Bud at my feet and the tail sitting on my desk, for me another successful bird hunt. From Lake Iwanttobethere (107,808)

October 19, 2009

Yesterday day was not all that bad of a day for a change. The red needle on the Bass thermometer hung right around the fifty degree mark and the sun was out for a change. Now normally fifty in mid October would be no big deal but the way the past month has gone here at the lake it might have been a high point weather wise. There lies the problem, what to do on a decent day, The honey do list is crowded with jobs that need to be done and there is only so much sunshine in the shorting days. With painting and some siding left to do and the Puddle Humper has still not been winterize yet. Grass should be mowed and gardens tilled. Apple trees are picked clean and potatoes are all harvested so that is a good thing. Wood should be stacked in the rack by the cabin and greenhouse cleaned. Boat house, well I think you get the picture, just a lot of work to be done. I am sure you have the same things on your list and it never ever seems to get where you can put that pencil line through the last thing on the list, sit it down and say out loud "Now what do I do"

So while taking a break from all the things that need to be done on the list I strolled down to the dock to see what Barney was up to. Sitting on the dock he was looking out over the waters of Lake Iwanttobethere and just looking. I stood and did the same, some small waves were lapping up against the shore and the reeds were sticking high out of the water, brown on the bottom and starting to fall over. A few yellow leaves floated by and one big red maple leaf riding the small waves like a raft drifted by. The sun came out from behind the clouds and I pulled up the old wood chair and sat down, face pointed towards the sunshine I tugged my hat down a tad to cover my eyes and crossed my legs out in front of me. Barney gave up his spot to move closer to me and doing that circle thing that dogs do moved closer to lay up against my feet. Arms resting on the arms of the chair I put my hands in my pockets and looked out over the lake. Sunshine felt good on my face and I was actually feeling a little heat. A little breeze on my face but nothing that could take the warming of the sunshine away, actually it was bring me smells from across the water. With my eyes closed I took in the smell of the water, well they say you are not suppose to be able to smell water but we all know you can. Just like you can smell fish when you come into a bay and you know there are fish there. Now you can smell fall in the air, leaves and grass and of course the smell of when you walk off the dirt road onto the trail and as soon as you pass from the field into the woods. That smell that your hunting boots kick up as you walk down the trail.

I sit in the chair, eyes closed and sniff the air, I listen to the sound of waves lapping up against the old row boat tied to the dock, Honks of geese flying from right to left. I don't open my eyes but follow them with my ears. They call out to each other and I wonder what they are saying. I chuckle at the thought as for some reason I picture them as a family heading south with the kids honking to the parents asking if they are there yet. Barney shifts and I open my eyes, Ed and Eddie are running down the shoreline, in the new fallen leaves they sound like a couple of deer. They spot me in the chair and are not sure what I am, Barney sits up and Ed and Eddie take a sharp turn and head towards the woods. Barney like me is not to willing to give up his spot and returns to the warm wood of the dock. I close my eyes again and search with my ears for more sounds. Now the trouble with being comfortable sitting in the sunshine with your eyes closed is that you sometimes take naps. That is not a bad thing at all and so I did, take a nap that is. I was woke by the sound of my name being carried in the wind from the direction of the cabin. At least I think it was my name being called, then the sharp bang of a closing screen door. Guess the wife was looking for me.

So I got up from the cooling chair, a cloud had come between me and the sun. Stretched a little and with Barney at my side made the walk up the path to the cabin. I patted Barney on the rump and stepped over a sleeping Bud on the deck to go into the cabin. Looking in the kitchen it was quiet. I made my way through the dinning room to see my wife sitting in the easy chair, Buff the cat in her lap, both sleeping. I went into the den and on the bottom of the Honey do list I wrote NAP then I put a pencil line through it. From Lake Iwanttobethere

{108,547}

October 21, 2009

Had to zipper up my coat and tug my Lodge hat down tight on my head as I made my way out to the Dodge this morning. Wind blown rain has gotten everything that can get wet, wet outside. The Dodge was coated with a layer of heavy yellow and red wet leaves that covered the truck like static clings. After starting the truck I had to go back outside and clear the windshield of leaves so the wiper blades could work. Waiting for the blower to clear the windows of fog I had a kit kat from the stash I keep in the console and watched the falling rain and leaves. A few of the leaves looked like they were being tossed by college Frisbee players as they zipped on by. The lake has some big water on it today as the wind is coming from the other side. The waves building as they come to crash against my shoreline. As the glass on the Dodge clears I can see a little better and no signs of any birds. I think everything is riding out the weather as best as they can.

I lite a cigar and turn on the headlights as I pull out the drive and head for the Lodge. The side window is just cracked just enough for the smoke from the cigar to escape but every now and then a gust of wind finds it's way into the cab and I get a few drops of rain on my glasses. Lot of green leaves hanging on to the trees but a lot of the changing leaves are being pulled off by the driving wind and rain to be blown across the dirt road. I had to go a few miles before the leaves on the Dodge's hood were finally swept away. Good thing today is not garbage day on this end of the lake as I am sure cans would be toppled by the wind. With the wind stripping away leaves you can see down the driveways as you pass cabins. Boats sit under covers and even a few ice houses sit out in front of garages. Gardens can be seen as the whitish brown cornstalks stand out in rows and I even pass a few pumpkin patches, the orange globes bright on the barren ground. Several big round bales of hay stand in a field, the blue tarp covering them flapping in the breeze. A tractor sits by itself at the edge of the field, no driver in sight.

I pull into the Lodges parking lot and the usual assortment of pickups and cars are in their spots. A Lund boat with a travel cover behind a car sits off to one side. I go in through the back door and the wind blows the screen door into my back side and helps me in. Hanging my coat up in the office I come out behind the bar and Gus yells at me to stir the chili in the big crock pot. Lifting the lid I take the wood spoon and stir the fixings inside, steam rises and I get that whiff of peppers and beans. Putting the lid back down I turn to check out the Lodge. Hammering Hank is down at the end of the bar talking business I am guessing with a young fellow. The guy has been in here before. A part time resident he bought a cabin from Reed the Realtor I am thinking. They seem to come to a agreement and Hammering Hank spits on his hand and offers to shake hands with the young fellow. The young fellow looks at Hank and just shakes his head yes he then pulls out his wallet and taking out a credit card offers it to Hank, Hank shakes his head no and then the young fellow leaves pulling on his hood as he goes out the front door.

Hank slides on down to the end of the bar that I am at and shakes his head. " Young people "he says. "They don't have a clue about your handshake sealing a deal eh Hank" I say "Nope and then he wanted to pay me with a credit card, like I walk around with one of them credit machines in my back pocket" Hank shakes his head and then turns away as Skinny looking wet comes in the front door and heads for the fireplace. Hank nods at me and heads over to talk with his buddy. A few more guys follow Skinny into the Lodge and soon several hooks by the door are holding dripping rain coats. I grab and apron and decide to help Gus out with the lunch crowd. I am just sprinkling some salt on a row of connies when I notice an older gent and I am guessing his wife sitting at the table over by the fireplace. Don't know how I missed them, but I am guessing they are the owners of the Lund parked outside. Their coffee looks a little low so I grab the pot and make my way over. "Refill" I ask, they both nod their heads yes. "You own the Lund?" I ask, the gent says " Yup, she is mine and the misses" I bite my tongue not asking any questions about fishing. A gust of wind rattles the Lodge windows and we all look out at the waters of Lake Iwanttobethere.

The lady looks up at me and says "Are you Bobby Bass?" I take her offered hand and shake it

"Yes, Yes I am" "Well it is so good to meet you, my friends call me Borgie and this is my husband Lee. I shake hands with Lee and we chat some. Lee tells me they set out this morning to do some fishing, but the weather has made them think twice about going out. They decide to see if they could find a better spot on the lake and kept driving till they saw the Lodge here. Ordering up some coffee and apple pie they have been sitting by the fire waiting to see if the weather would break. Looking around their surroundings they put it together that they had found the Lodge at Lake Iwanttobethere. Not trying they had overheard several conversations and of course they heard Gus welcoming customers or Lodge members they were now thinking as they came through the door. Hammering Hank, Skinny of course Big Earl and Mark the mailman. Frank the plow driver looks just like they imagined him and Jessie the paperboy is a lot older than they thought. Mindy had made a delivery and Lee said he got an elbow in the ribs from Borgie, guess he was staring a little to much.

Well I told them they were right, they were on Lake Iwanttobethere and this is the Lodge. See you have been fishing here and you did not even know it. I told them I had to get back to the counter but told them they are of course welcome to stay as long as they like. When I walked away I think Borgie might have winked at me, or maybe she just had something in her eye. From a rainy day here at Lake Iwanttobethere.

{108,924}

October 25, 2009

What can I say, it's raining, again or should I say still. For a few hours on Saturday the sun was out. I had let the dogs out to do there thing and I notice no clouds in the sky and the sun coming up. This of course brought a hope that I might be able to get some outside chores done around the cabin. I went to remove cushions from deck chairs to move them to a better spot where they would get some sunshine and found them frozen to the chairs. Thinking I would wait till later I returned back inside the cabin to work on the Honey do list. Well that was a mistake as in the matter of maybe an hour the sun was again hidden behind clouds and the drizzle returned.

I am making a pretty good dent on the inside do list, what else has there been to do. Of course I am always getting sidetracked as it seems you can never just do a project without finding something else that needs to be done. I have been down to see Earl at the General store just about everyday this week and sometimes twice. Ever notice that shop keepers never say good-bye to you? They always just say see you later because they know you will be back. With no sunshine the days are really growing shorter quicker, or so it seems. Pretty much a dark drive at seven in the morning and again by six in the evening. The waters of Lake Iwanttobethere have been dark and gloomy as of late also. The wind and rain falling have not given her anything to smile about. Conversations at the Dew Drop Inn are of course mainly about the weather, no one is happy about it. Farmers are having a tuff time trying to get crops in and the ones they do get are to wet. Hunters are a fickle bunch as they to are complaining. For every one that boast they love sitting in a dripping wet blind are ten more looking for some warn southern breezes.

Grouse hunters are finally getting their wish as the leaves are coming down. They have not changed color but are loosing the battle of fighting the wind and rain while they hang on. The roads are slowly being covered with yellow and a lot of green leaves mixed in. Branches are getting bare and they add to the bleak scene. Fall is suppose to be bursting with color but this fall I would say the color is gray. Sitting in the den I don't even have a single red apple to look at in my trees. I did a good job of picking every one I could get to and Ed and Eddie have cleaned up behind me. Deer have been through and the ground has been picked clean. Normally I would have the deer in the yard till Christmas but the trees had a poor crop and I think the deer will have to look elsewhere this winter. The only good thing is if there is a good thing is that it has been to warm for the rain to turn to snow. I don't want to think how buried we would be if this all fell as snow.

Pretty quiet up at the roadside stand. Not many people want to shop for pumpkins and get their cornstalks for decorations in the rain. A chilly job at best and I wave at the guy working it. He usually waves back but I see his hand is not coming up very far now that he sees it is me several times a day and knows I am not going to stop and buy anything. Below the Lodge the county trucks have brought in several loads of orange barrels. Hammering Hank and Skinny when they have time have been stacking them back where the picnic tables are usually stored. With no sunshine and no warm days the firewood business has been brisk. People are getting an extra load in and the common thought around the lake is that it is going to be a long winter. At the Lodge we do have the sign up at the entrance that when you enter bring a piece of firewood with ya. Guys are good about it and there is a good size pile outside the door and the racks inside are both full. The fireplace has been burning and it is about the only bright thing to look at right now.

Fishing Challenge is coming to an end and there has not been much movement on the scoreboard for the past several weeks. Guys will give the board a passing look but most are just waiting till the end of the month when prizes will be awarded and the board will be wiped clean. We are in the lull where no fishing is being done and not quite where we will start talking about ice fishing. Hunting usually fills in that nitch but with the rain it has been quiet. Funny how everything keeps coming back to the weather. Guess everyone would rather have anything but rain. We were joking about building an ark, sitting at one of the big round tables sipping on Hamms. Sunshine Ray came in and was asked about the forecast. "Seven more days of rain" he replied. Gus asked Elmer " So just how long is a cubit" from Lake Iwanttobethere {109,657}

October 29, 2009

oh my goodness. will the endless days of clouds and cool rainy weather ever end. i know i know its not like me to be so negitive. however even i find the weather of late a tad bit redundent.

i sit here back at my computer. done lookin for a job for the day. and after a return from the lake. i was up for an extended weekend. i have the hobie cat under tarp. the pink flamingoes have been removed from my point and relocated as the season is closed on them for another year. it was a nice agreement i had with hunterdown this year as he and i had made a deal on some side work for each of us. and he could set up a few of his clients there for the hunt. as i arrived last friday the last weekend of the pink flamingo season i did notice a few pink wings hanging out of the back of hunter's truck. i believe he had just set up another group for the day there. hehehhe

welll not being able to do any work on the point for the next two days. i took a page out of bobby's book and strolled the town. it was a very pleasureable day.the cafe was abound with blaze orange. and the talk of the latest hunts or hunts for the day. i have heard that the grouse season has been prosperous for those that actually get off of their four wheelers and do a drive or two. i also heard that the deer harvests from the early hunts have been welll too. the butcher shops have been doing a brisk business with the venison processing. and the smoke houses leave a very inviting smell in the calm of the evening air.

welll from the cafe i headed to the hardware store. needed one more tarp and some ground spikes to finish up some work on the point. past the smoke shop/library. and went down to the park to sit and relax a bit as the sky was still a bit cloudy but the pestering rain had stopped for a bit. there were some geese and ducks that had found sanctuary from the fowlers, in the water in front of me. heheheh cant blame them.

well time had passed and a bit of lunch was callin me from within and now it was to decide between amy's loosemeat sandwich or coneys and a cold water from the lodge. i figgered i would hit the lodge and then on my way back to the point this eve would grab a sammi at amy's for dinner.

i got to the lodge and bud and barney were streached out in the front of the fireplace and a few people in orange vests were warming hands up, the dampness of their clothing not only steaming upward, but giving the tell tale sign of their recent arrival at the lodge. there were a few people at the tables but what more caught my attention was the chatter and laughing at the bar. so i pulled up one of the only empty stools and soon was clued in on the current buzz. the guys were giving bobby a bit of grief. it seems that his thumb and a five pound hammer had a meeting and apperently it was not a good thing. the honey dew list may be put on hold and the grouse out across the raod may have a respet from bobby's birdshot. i didnt get all of the details of the incurrence but i could telll it was pretty serious as in place of the usual tapped hamms, was a tall glass of ice water. must be some good meds and common sense working there.

welll i caught up on my past dues at the lodge. and after a quick stop at amy's i headed back out to the point. started a little fire in the pit. turned on the radio and settled into a calming sunset at the lake. the air quickly turned cool as the sun felll behind the tree line and as the fire warmed me i followed the sun across the water, to the far shore and as the last rays of it had cleared the tops of the trees i had finished my dinner. i grabbed my eye stick and made a few casts from the shoreline. fishing from shore on a fall night has always been good for me as the walleyes come in to feed on the frogs hitting the water for their winter nap. pullin my favorite rap. i did manage a couple of eaters for the breakfast fry pan. and missing a couple of other hits. soon after cleaning the fish and getting them into the cooler i found the comfort of my bunk and slept soundly.

the morning found me at rootbeer island getting the float thru dock pulled and stacked and helping do the same with mindy and mandy's dock it was again noon and we had a small picnic and a few of the remaining cold root beers. we were back on our way to town.

i did manage to accomplish a few more of the falll things on the point and made my way back to my home away from the lake. it had been a long and somewhat difficult summer. and i did not get up to the lake quite as much as my mind, or being, needed to. but like always the times i spent there were, as always, unforgettable. the trip dad and i made there shortly after mom passed away. the forth of july fireworks show. the sailing on the big bay of the lake with mandy...

and now the hard water season closes in on us. the time to get the "taj ma paul" (my fishhouse) ready for another year. it has recieved a new coat of paint. and i have already sent in my entry for this years fishhouse fling. willl be asking for a full pull again this year. now that i have gotten the "wild thing" ride down from my catamaran sailing, i willl again apply this to my tecnique. in the launching of the fishhouse to again get out past rootbeer island. well i should get a few things done around the house today, have leaves to bag but i think the rain will again put that off for another day. will have to see about some indoor things. i do want to sent out a mendwelll to bobby as he willl probably be trying to figger out how to type with one hand. i wish the best to all of the readers of this forum and hope the flu avoids the most of us. have a nice day and remember to smile at someone today and greet them with a nice warm "hiya". ... paul

October 29, 2009

Elmer has always told me that there are only two tools you need in this world. One is a hammer and the other is a bigger hammer! Well I guess I should have used the smaller hammer. I was putting the drop down ramp back on the work trailer and I was using the big hammer when I missed the trailer and nailed the base of my thumb with it. Well it was like the 4th of July, at least in my eyes as I saw stars and fireworks and had a surge of intense feeling go up my hand and arm. I uttered a few colorful words and the ducks in the bay took flight as they, the words echoed around the bay. Dropping the hammer, and just missing my foot I stuck the hand under my armpit and took it like a man. I went to find the wife.

After distracting me with a slice of apple pie she got a look at the thumb. It was not all that bad she said, hardly even a mark on it and looks like it is not swelling that bad. I thought maybe she should take the glove off and have a closer look. "O that must have hurt" she said as she turned my hand over in hers. " Perhaps you should have Doc Burriem take a look at it" finishing my pie I found the keys to the Dodge and asked if she would drive me into town. She looked up from her magazine and said "Geeze it's just your hand, you can drive with the other" Nodding I went out the door and turn back to say something witty when the screen door slammed on my hand. Why is it when you hurt something that you now will repeatedly hit that same area. Tucking my hand in my pocket I made it to the Dodge and drove into town. Funny how the road seem to be filled with potholes and as hard as I tried to miss I hit everyone bouncing my hand against the door or steering wheel.

I was lucky and found Doc Burriems car tied to the parking meter outside of his office, he was in. Making my way inside the office I had to wait in line as Doc and his part-time nurse were giving out flu shots. Doc seeing me in some discomfort came and took me to the small exam room. There is a word there to, Doc asked me how much "Discomfort I was in" I told him when I hit it, it hurt like hell now I just feel a throb. Then he did that Doctor thing and squeezed my hand. I swear there was a twinkle in his eyes when my knees hit the floor. "Well I don't think it's broke, good thing you had your glove on" He said. He then gave me a prescription for pain and I went to go fill it.

So here I am at the Lodge on my second day of therapy. I am typing with my right hand and I have my left hand wrapped around a frosty Hamms to keep the swelling down. Actually this morning when I woke up the hand was feeling a lot better but shortly after breakfast I felt a twinge and I thought I better get down to the Lodge and continue therapy. Hand is getting a little color to it and I am lucky I hit the fleshy part. Sitting behind the end of the bar here I am getting some paper work out of the way and even I am getting tired telling fellow Lodge members how I banged my hand. Of course I don't tell them that I actually hit my hand with a hammer I tell them a different story completely. They get to hear about how I was bird hunting and a huge grouse got up and flew straight at me, I empty both barrels of my shotgun and still it came at me, I was lucky enough to reach out and swat it with my hand as it went by. The grouse got away but here look at my hand, you can see the mark it left! From Lake Iwanttobethere {110,379}

October 30, 2009

Dense fog here at Lake Iwanttobethere. Busy weekend ahead as tomorrow night is Halloween and daylight savings time ends. Just what we need, it getting dark even earlier. On the ride into the Lodge this morning I had to take it slow, fog was thick around the lake and even with headlights on it was hard to see approaching cars or in Franks case his grader. I came around a corner and was met with the yellow grader coming out of the fog. Frank looking down from his seat gave me a wave and continued on by. Rolling my window down all the way I leaned out the window some now driving as much using my ears as my eyes. The crunch of gravel under the tires of the Dodge was somewhat quiet as the Dodge was driving over the leaf covered road. I don't know if Frank was plowing gravel or just moving leaves but you could see where he had been as the road was clear of leaves and just the wet ribbon of gravel could be seen.

I knew I entered town in the thick fog when I went from the gravel to pavement. Kind of quiet and Eire with the fog and now rain starting to fall. I drove by the General Store and Big Earl was standing outside his door. Orange apron on and broom in hand he gave me a slow wave of his hand. Fog was really thick around his feet till I notice he had his fog machine on blowing out the stores door. Then I noticed he was waving really slow. I chuckled some to myself as I figured out he was just practicing for tomorrow night. He does a really good zombie shop keeper impression. Mark the mailman was loading his van as I drove by, he was wearing his knee high black mud boots. Guess all of this rain is getting old for everyone. I was going to stop and talk but I had to avoid Hammering Hanks work truck coming my way. At first all I saw was a couple of orange glowing lights then the truck appeared. Hank had secured orange plastic jack o lanterns over his head lights, Don't know how legal they are but it went well with the bloody hatchet he had sticking out of his head. He waved and drove on by. I was wondering were Skinny was till I saw the coffin in the bed of the truck. Skinny waved from the prone position and I waved back.

Blinking orange lights in the windows at Amys bakery and the window was filled with orange muffins and cookies. At Del's Pizza and sub shop I see he has an offer for his pumpkin pizza shaped in of course that of a pumpkin. I pulled into my parking space at the Lodge and getting out making sure I don't bump my thumb on anything I went in the back door. Gus is hard at work in the kitchen peeling potatoes as today we are offering a new lunch special. Shore lunch will now be a regular item on the Friday menu. Deep fried walleye, fried american potatoes slice thin with onions and of course baked beans and a hard roll. It all comes served on a paper plate with a couple of napkins. We have tried a few test offering and it has gone over well. A lot of the guys like to carry their meal outside and eat it standing up. Reminds them of shore lunch so we decide to add it to the menu. Tourists ordering it are a little surprised that it comes on a paper plate and sometimes the beans burn their way through. It takes a little practice but you can hold your plate and beer in one hand while using your fork in the other.

I see the fish bowl on the bar is almost full of candy. Guys will come in and buy candy bars and then donate them to the fish bowl for trick or treaters that will come by tomorrow night. Later on tonight Lodge members will start trick or shot weekend here at the Lodge. Each member is allowed one free shot a night as long as it is Wild Turkey. I pour myself a mug of hot apple cider and grab a cinnamon stick from the jar to stir it with. Making my way over to the deck windows I can't see past the bird feeders in the fog. I sip on my cider and watch a lonely sparrow going from one to another to the third bird feeder. Gus must have filled them this morning and the sparrow is the first to find the now full feeders. The bird is at a loss as to which feeder to go to as he keeps going from one to another like that one has something better.

The main lodge door opens and a couple of hunters come in, dripping coats go on the hooks by the door and I hear for the first time the line I will hear the rest of the day " Pretty foggy out eh" I nod yes and ask "What can I get for ya" from Lake Iwanttobethere {110,541}

October 30, 2009

Where does the time go? We are already looking at November 1st and still have plenty to do. Seems this time of year I have so much going on, that I have little time to jot down my thoughts……

The pink flamingo season was a boom this year. Many new clients wanted their chance at bagging one of them long necked critters. Nytlyter let me use his point a few times for the overflow of eager hunters. Paul moved the “decoys” around for me to keep the spread interesting. I gave him some extra cash for his efforts, cause I couldn’t keep up on it on my own. City hunters are a fun breed….they can’t tell the difference between a food colored goose and a pink flamingo. To keep the locals talking, I put some pink geese in the back of the truck and drove around town, that way, the word gets around…and more income for me! HaHaHa

Bear season didn’t go as planned; we set baits and few where hit. Cameras were placed on the sites and the ones that were hit, were at night. The day old doughnuts that Big Earl gave me, didn’t go to waste though, cause the bears that did hit, cleaned out the site pretty good. And, while you are baiting, you got something to chew on when you get hungry….they were only day old right?

Deer season is going well, (for bow season) I have a few clients that have had success filling there tags with large does, and a couple bucks. The deer have been processed and made into summer sausage, jerky and beer sticks. I expect that the rifle season will bring more in. Last season we processed 465 deer, (a little lower than the year before) but, we are hopeful, as this is the bulk of our income for my family and friends to live on.

On to the farming portion………….it sucks!

Most of the fields have been to wet to harvest our corn. Muddy as all get out, and hard to get the tractors in or out of the fields. What we could get at has been chopped for silage to feed the livestock. I’m thinking that anybody that can get the corn picked will be doing well if they don’t have to spend a fortune drying it with propane. We usually use the stocks for bedding, but this year we might be hard pressed and be looking for other means. The bean fields have been so-so, they needed to come in before the corn cause the pods pop open at a certain point and the beans end up on the ground if not harvested in time.

Tomorrow night, is all hollows eve…and the Old Mill is decorated as usual with all the skeletons, carved pumpkins, ghosts and goblins. And, we have to keep up with the myth that some hooked hand criminal lives there just waiting to jab his claw into your jugular. (I wonder why we don’t get any trick or treaters?) Well? What did you expect? It is Halloween……

Well, I hope everything is good in your neck of the woods!

From the Old Mill on Lake Iwanttobethere,

Hunter

November 3, 2009

October is now behind us and we move into November here at the lake. Suddenly almost overnight it seems the trees have given up their leaves. Brisk winds and the never ending rain have taken the trees down to their knees and only the hardest ones still hang on to their leaves. This of course made for a decent Halloween for the kids as they marched from house to house dragging their feet through the leaves. The weather was not all that bad here at the lake. Not real cold so costumes were worn with out winter jackets hiding them. My grand kids were all here as we had a birthday party for the youngest grand daughter who turn this many fingers..( She would hold up three of them) so the day started early for them. Shortly after dark they were all back on the living room floor in front of the fireplace sorting candy and trading. Parents went through and removed anything that there may be a question about. Seems my oldest son removed all the milk duds, saying you can't trust them little boxes. He was later caught by his oldest daughter eating the said milk duds in the kitchen.

Sunday brought a little drier weather and with so many adults on hand it was good that I had thought ahead of time and borrowed rakes from Chuck and Elmer. Under my direction the drafted army of rakers worked their way down the yard moving waves of leaves to the area of the fire pit. Here the youngsters played with the pile several feet over their heads. Number two grandson can be double dared to do anything and on a dare he crawled through the pile from one side to the other. He disappeared to the delight of his cousin and the dismay of his mother. Reappearing wearing enough leaves that he looked like he had on an expensive sniper suit he was taken away by his mother to search for spiders and other crawly things. My sons made a few complaints about the raking but I had found their stash of milk duds and just kept tossing them a few of the small boxes from time to time with the threat that I would tell their kids.

Late afternoon brought us all inside to watch the big football game and to again sort through candy and some more trading. Half time brought hot dogs and apple pie and of course apple cider. When the game ended the kids all had to head back home. I set out to start a fire in the pit and do one of the more enjoyable things in the fall, burning leaves. With a good base of coals going I started to scoop leaves into the fire. A little flash and the leaves would catch on fire and a puff of smoke would rise skyward. The fire would burn brightly for a minute or so and then it would be time to add another scoop. Not the best fire as I have had better. These leaves were a little damp and not as crispy as in years past. The sun set on me and I was left with just the fire pit and the rising smoke. A few more pieces of wood were added to keep the fire going strong and I started adding a couple of scoops with the old coal shovel at a time.

Standing out of the way of the smoke I stood back and watched the colors in the fire. Not many sparks but the different leaves each burned a little different. I heard a snap of a branch behind me and Elmer was coming over from his cabin. Walking the path he was dragging a branch behind him. Pausing at the fire for a moment he tossed the broken branch into the fire. Looking at me he said "You don't think I would come empty handed do ya?" And with that he hands me the flask that was in his other hand. Home made blackberry wine crossed my lips, I took a nice gulp and then realized it was blackberry brandy! Not to let him think he fooled me I took a second gulp and wiping my lips with the back of my hand and simply said " Smooth" Elmer took the flask from my hand and pointed at the pile of leaves. " Fire needs another scoop kido" from Lake Iwanttobethere {111,394}

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