1968

Our Fellow Campers

Bob, Jon, Ralph and Cathy Zeit 4422 So. 36th St. Greenfield, Wisc

Saturday-Our vacation begins--decided to take it easy and pack slowly today and get an early start tomorrow AM. Have added a few "necessities" to our gear. Bought our tent and have done some week-end camping, but decided it is not relaxing enough. Have also added boots, a table to eat indoors on and one more cot. One more addition this year---Hilde!! Also have added a boat cover and tarp for over the kitchen. No more shower curtains! Getting to be real pros.

Sunday--got a late start as usual (about noon), but we're off. Going to spend tonight at Lake Emily with Patty, Jim and Chris Stransky. Only a short trip to Amherst Junctions, so no need to rush. Famous last words! Seems like every trip must have its hazards and this time ours came early. Got as far as Fremont and blew a trailer tire. No problem, we are wise now and carry a spare. Thought we were really great to change the tire without having to unload the boat! The tire is cut--seems like the spring has slipped again, probably because the load is so heavy or because Wally really had to step on the gas to avoid a bad accident. Well, maybe the spare will hold until we get to Stransky's and we can have it fixed.

Dreamers never win--500 yards down the road our brand new spare blew too!!! Here we go again! What to do--guess we'll leave it here (what else?) and go on ahead to the next town to see if they can fix it. Found a marina and they said they had the right size tires (swell) and might be able to fix the trailer. Wally took the rest of us to Patty and Jim's and then went back to see about bringing the trailer and our belongings too. Two and 1/2 hours later good old Dad returns with a new trailer.

Would have cost practically as much to replace tires, repair work, parts, mileage, etc.-plus the nagging worry for the rest of our trip that it would happen again--a new trailer was worth it. (Until we get home and get the bill--HaHa). Well a few geezers later and a good meal perked us up again.

Monday-- Jim is staying until Tues. AM so they talked us into staying another day. We went to the County Fair today. The kids had fun on the rides and watching the horse races. Deby won a quarter from Uncle Jim and Mom won a quarter from Deby. On the last race everyone bet a nickel (notice the stakes are getting smaller) and Chris won.

Back to the cottage--Wally decided to do some fishing and Deby and David went for a short swim. Got cleaned up and had dinner at the Tomorrow River Supper Club. Left Hilde home alone for the first time (Poor Baby) and she was still crying when we returned. (Poor Mom). Sat and yakked around the fire and drank a yummy new coffee brandy until 1 AM. and then to bed.

Tuesday- Off to camp at last. Think we'll try Lac Veauex Desert or Starrett. Got to Minaqua and Dad asked where we wanted to go. The children and Mom all wanted Starrett, of course. So we went there first because it was getting late.

Got our first pleasant surprise when we drove down to the boat landing. The Shades (our friends from 2 years ago) were camped down there. Now the children really wanted to stay. Drove around the camp and found No. 5 was just right for us this year. By the time we had camp set up everyone was pretty tired so we had beans and weiners, did the dishes, and covered up everything because it looked like (you guessed it!) rain. It really poured! We had put one end of the tent in a slight hollow and when Mom walked across the floor it sort of quooshed underneath. The water had run between our ground cloth and the tent floor. We all stayed dry this time. Hurray!

Mom's sleeping bag and air mattress got a little wet where the floor elaked, but not enough to notice.

Wednesday--Dad patched the holes in the floor today, so we shouldn't have any more trouble. Then he and David dug a run off trench on the low side--come on rain, we're ready for you now!!

The Biddicks (sp?) are camped over at Crystal-Muskie (ugh!) and Dad went fishing today with Mr. B. Later in the afternoon Mrs. B. came over and we all went to the big Musky Parade in Boulder Junction. Cute parade with lots of floats. Came back and Dad was home. Had spareibs and sourkraut we had cooked all afternoon. Yum. Nice and warm tonite. Don't need the heater.

Thursday--Sunny, but coolish. Kind of laid around camp and read. Dad and the kids went looking for firewood. Took a drive to Land-O-Lakes toward eveing and had dinner there--saw lots of deer on the way and a skunk and 2 frogs on the way home.

Friday-Nice and warm today. Dad went fishing again with Mr. B. and we went blueberry picking, but only got a handful. We'll have to go down the road further when we have the car. So nice and warm, Deby and I decided to wash our hair and take a bath in the lake. We're getting pretty grubby. David wanted to swim too, but over at the boat landing. Meanie Mom said "No" because they had lost a lure there earlier and David decided by order to stay in the tent.

Dad got back--no luck. At least no fish to eat. Had a poopy campfire and went to bed. Have to find some dryer wood.

Saturday---Up this AM. and it's cloudy and cold. Decide this is a good day to go into town and do the laundry, shop and stuff. Dad is out of underwear so we have to. Good thing it's a bad day.

The goofey hippie looking boys left today, so we let the kids go down the path, where they always went to fish alone. David met Ralph (camped next door) and they all had fun fishing. Deby caught some little perch and a cat fish. Some excitement. Invited the Zeits to share our campfire while the kids fished. Dad really built a beauty tonite. It actually burned! Hated to put it out.

We were all snuggled in our sleeping bags when we heard a clanking in the kitchen. Our friend the huge, huge raccoon was back. He makes his nightly rounds and must own this area he's so fat.

Our visitor neatly removed one green apple of the two I had left on top of the kitchen. Apparently he didn't like it tho, we found it on the path to the pump with only one bite missing. Heard he got half a banana cream pie next door!

David was up fishing at 7:30AM. He was all excited! Just like Daddy gets up early to go fishing, (Editor's note: I think Mom meant "she"...) he was going to go too, but got up a little later and Dave didn't wait for anyone. They each came back with a bass. Going to cook them for the kids tonite.

Kind of cool, but sunny and windy today. Deby wants to fish here and Mom is feeling lazy, so Dad and David decided to try their luck at Papoose Lake.

Guess I'll sweep out the tent and then make some pudding before the boys get back.

Dad and Dave are back. They Were completely ed. Some fishermen! Saw a deer in the camp on the way in and we all went up to see it. Just stood and grazed and then walked slowly up the hill.

Took a dump ride after supper. The animals up here must really be selective. Dumps are not good enough any more. Only saw 2 skunks and 1 raccoon. Our own raccoon was back again tonite. What a racket. Tipped over everything on the table and ate the grease out of the can after getting the plastic lid off. Also ate Deby's 2 bass she had buried in a plastic bag under some brush.

Monday-Rained a little last night, but was quite warm. Beautiful warm day today. After we clean up camp, we're going to rent 2 canoes and paddle around the lake. Thank goodness it's warm today. We all need baths--especially Daddy!!

They only had one canoe, so we all got in and away we went. Dad in back, Mom in front and the kids and dog in the middle. Since Mom had never paddled a canoe before, we went a little goofey before she figured it out. We then skimmed across the silent lake feeling like Indians stealing across the water. Found a small sandy beach where we stopped to bathe and swim. The water was wonderful, but cool, and it took some coaxing until Mom got wet. Dad was surprised Mom still knew how to swim. Oh--Daddy--. We put Hilde in and she swam right away. Looked like a drowned rat when she got out tho. Had lots of fun, but then the sky started to cloud up again and we headed back to camp quickly because all our sleeping bags were out airing. Made it just in time. Just a drizzle, so Dad and the kids decided to take the canoe out again and fish for awhile. Mom stayed home with the dog.

Mom was sitting quietly doing crossword puzzles when she looked up and saw a doe and fawn feeding just down the path. They stayed for quite a while and Mom turned Hilde around so she wouldn't see them and bark and scare them away. Soon they trotted down the path.

Getting pretty dark in the west and starting to thunder. The gang is back and Mom better get dinner going before it rains. Super Cook does it again!!! No sooner got the food in the door when it really started to pour. Marble size hail too. Floor is getting quishey again, but we're holding strong.

Soon as Mom gets up the energy, we'll clear the table and play some games. (If we don't drown first). It's really raining!

The rain let up before Mom got up the energy so the kids hot-footed it down to the lake to fish. They are really getting to be pros. Can bait their own hooks and even take off the fish.

Checked around for water damage and found only a few puddles where the floor leaked a bit. Nothing serious. And so to bed.

Tuesday-Awoke to a beautiful, sunny, warm day. Still have the canoe, so we decided to go across to our beach and swim awhile. What a change from our side of the lake! The children paddled us over and the closer to the beach we got, the windier it got. It was a tail wind tho and they did a beautiful job. Too cool for chickens (Mom and Dad) to swim, but not for our water babies. They played around awhile with an old plank they found floating in the water, while Mom and Dad soaked up some sun. Then the "old folks" had to paddle back. It really took some muscles to move a few feet and Mom's will surely be sore tomorrow. It is tons of fun, tho and we all enjoyed every minute.

Decided to pick up a few things in Sayner (Editor's Note: would you believe the Saynor Historical Society Museum is online? http://www.northern-wisconsin.com/museum/tour.htm) and then Dad and David went fishing at Tenderfoot Lake late in the afternoon. Deby fished at the dock and Mom just sat around enjoying the quiet and the beautiful scenery.

After a while when the lake was calm, Mom and Deby decided to try the canoe alone. Didn't do too badly. A few wrong turns and we still can't go in a straight line, but we're learning! Can you imagine having a whole lake to yourself? This is really living!!!

As of yesterday morning, there were only 6 campsites occupied. A few came in last nite and this morning, but it still is practically empty.

The boys aren't coming back until after dark, so Mom and Deby took a hike around the camp and then had sandwiches for supper. Deby then fished some more. She'll be stuck to the end of that rod pretty soon.

We girls built a beautiful campfire, hoping the boys would come home and see it, but they didn't. Better bring home some good fish for being gone so long. We haven't had a fish dinner yet!

Mom was not brave enough to light the lantern, so she rigged up a candle in an empty cake can and we awaited Dad and David (and our nightly visitor--Rockey the Raccoon).

11PM.--Good thing Mom didn't look at her watch or she would be spastic by now. The boys are back.

DAVID CAUGHT A GOOD SIZE WALLEYE!!!

What excitement!!! Here is the fish story of th trip!

Dad and David motored from Palmer Lake thru the river into Tenderfoot Lake, the motor ran out of gas. That fixed and they continued out into the lake. David got the first bite, but lost him at the surface. Then Dad cast into the weed bed. He got a weed! No, it's a Northern. No it's a Muskie!!! What a battle! Under the boat 4 times! Finally got him in the boat. He flopped around awhile and finally was still so Dad openned his tackle box to get a measurer. Then he jumped again and with one flap of his huge body, tossed all Dad's spinners over the boat. Dad measured him once, twice, three, and FOUR times to make sure! 30 1/2 inches a keeper!!!

They decided to fish the shoreline then for more musky, but started catching walleyes instead. David caught one dinky one first, then Dad started catching some, then David pulled in a nice 12 " walleye. By then, it was getting dark and they decided they'd better be getting back.

By the time they got to the river channel it was really dark and scary. David was in the front of the boat with the flashlight (shaking) and Dad was working the motor and shouting instructions to David, so they wouldn't run aground.

Davey was scared a bear would get him. In the middle of the water?

Afraid of a Porcupine?

Then he was afraid of being sprung by a porcupine they had seen on the shore on the way over.

Or the Porcupine Fish--which actually does swim?

Made it thru the river, then got caught in a weed bed until Super Navigator David found a way out. Back to shore at last and home.

Everyone was so excited we stayed up until 1 AM. talking.

Our friend Rocky, in the meantime, couldn't wait for us to go to bed. He was really bold and came right up to snatch the fish Deby had left for him by the tree in front of our door. Sleep at last.

Wednesday--Awoke this morning to a windy, rainy, nasty day. We're all going to go fishing, but decided it was too icky and Deby and Mom would go into Sayner for their free day. First we took the Muskie over to Long's to see about having it mounted. Costs $2 an inch, but you don't pay until it's delivered. Just a $5 down deal. Since we won't get it until Feb., we decided to have it done. It being Dad's first keeper. They freeze all the meat for you too and we're going to take it home with us Friday so we can have a big Muskie fry with Grandma and Grandpa.

Dropped Dad, Dave, and Hilde off at camp and then Deby and Mom took off for Sayner. Did the laundry, visited the museum, Grandma's Kitchen, the grocery and Sport Shop. That about takes care of the town of Sayner.

Got back to camp and fried up the fish Dad & Dave had caught and had a yummy meal.

While we were gone the sun came out and it got hot, so Dad and deby decided to try Tenderfoot again and Dave and Mom stayed home and took a last canoe ride and built a fire. Started to thunder and rain again about 8PM so we headed for the tent to await the fishers. Hope they got off the lake quickly. George Shade came over this evening with a huge bass he caught out of Starrett Lake. He was still shaking he was so excited. Are awaiting the particulars on it. He's taking it over to Long's. Dad and Deb are back, thank goodness! We had quite a storm with lightning and thunder and Mom was getting a bit nervous. They had gotten off the lake just as it started to rain and only had drizzle on the way back. Deby caught a beautiful wallleye and a small mouth bass. They had lots of fun and saw 10 deer. That really helps the deer count this year! Everyone is pooped. David is already asleep and it won't take the rest of us long.

Mom's Fried Walleye Recipe One Mess of Walleye Filets A big scoop of flour Lotsa shakes of salt and pepper Roll fish around in flour, salt, pepper Dump a gob of Crisco Shortening into pan Fry in a cast iron skillet Serve with tartar sauce, baked beans, cole slaw and rye bread (to wash out any fish bones you get stuck in your throat.

Thursday-Hot and humid today. Good day for swimming. Put our bags out to air and took off for one of the little beaches on Musky Lake. Stayed about 4 hours it was so nice. Besides Dad took off walking along the shore fishing and didn't come back until then. Put Hilde in again to cool her off. She still isn't sure she likes all that water.

Back to camp--everyone starved and tired. Got a few things together while dinner was cooking. Took the tarps down and cleaned up some of the little stuff. Everyone hates to think of going home and yet we're anxious to go and see Loie and Danny and Todd.

Took our last canoe ride around the lake. The lake was beautiful! Just like glass, as it is every evening. Carried the canoe up the hill so Walt could pick it up easier. Dad couldn't understand why Mom was having such a hard time. It wasn't at all heavy. Then they switched ends!. Shows what novices we are--don't know the heavy end from the light end on a canoe. Or maybe Dad planned it that way?

Dad wanted to get rid of some extra gas he had in the boat can so drove over to Walt's and then had ice cream cones on the way back. Mom thought that Hilde should have a treat too, so we got her one too. She really loved it. Then proceeded to get sick when we got home. Mom felt just terrible. Never again! Nothing but dog food from now on.

Stopped at the Shade's campfire when we got back and chatted awhile. Just crossing the boat landing on our way back to our campsite, looked up and saw the Northern Lights. They didn't last long, but the children got to see them for the first time. George Shade said it was unusual to see them on such a warm night. Sure is warm and sticky. No heater tonite.

Friday-Talk about humid! Can't even see across or to the lake it's so foggy this AM. Mom was up early as usual to have her coffee before anyone else got up. Disocvered she had picked up some poison ivy. Good thing it's our last day. Mom can suffer at home. Not bad tho. Deby woke next and we opened everyone's air mattress to wake them. Have to get busy packing to leave our little wonderland. Rats----have all sorts of things planned for next year when we come again.

Got everything packed by 10:30 and took a swim to cool off. Ohhhhhhhh....is that great water. We could have stayed in all day. On the road at 11:30.

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