7-30-19 Solon Springs, WI

Well, I WAS going to take a few days off from the t-log biz but here I am in Wisconsin and thus, being “badgered” into story-telling by the pushy natives.

Upon departure from Eagle River, the route westward took us through the Duluth-Superior area.  It’s not possible to pass this way without a small detour south to Solon Springs to pay a visit to brothers and sisters who own seasonal cabins in the “north woods.”  Brother Dick (call him “George,” it’s a long story) and his wife Carol (call her “Ray,” another long one) are situated on the banks of St. Croix Lake where we were able to park Noobee and hook up to 50 amp.

Noobee parked at George and Ray's
in Solon Springs, WI

  Another older brother Jim (call him “Beep,” and yet another story) and his wife Dixie (call her “Dixie”) live 11 miles north of town in their lodge on what was my Dad and Mom’s and grand-Kraus’s property.  It’s more into the woods where decades of hunting and gathering have taken place.  Sister Carol came up to join in the fun and that made us seven, perfect for a party.

Bbq chef, Beep

The Beepster

This party began Thursday with a bbq.  Beep and Dixie served up hamburgers, brats, sauerkraut and beer, what else?  The hamburgers were so big you could ride them into town.  Fridays are always fish fry day here in the north woods and this one was no exception.  As advertised, “all you can eat” chunks of fish were indeed all you could eat and we seven did our best to deplete the supply!  Meanwhile, on the lake, I had to get up on a paddle board to check it off the “gotta try that” list.  After many baptisms by total immersion, I finally succeeded!  The sun shone on us and the breeze blew in our faces on the pontoon boat rides around the lake courtesy of George and Ray.  These rides are a party of beer, laughter and soft, symphonic music such as, “I Don’t Look Good Naked Anymore,” “Get Outta Your Clothes Or Get Outta My Car” and another song, something about Alice. 

The White Sidewalls concert
at Lucius Woods County
Park Amphitheater

On Saturday evening, we carried our chairs and hiked a short distance into the park for an oldies concert given by a fantastic local group, “The White Sidewalls.”  Beep raised a point.  “Why no senior discount here?”    Ha!  There would have been no profits judging by the average age of the crowd.  All the old gray-haired geezers were singing all the words to “Little Deuce Coupe” and “Wake Up Little Suzy,” snapping their fingers, tapping their toes and finally, they were standing and hoppin’ and rockin’ ‘round with their canes.  Then, everyone doddered on home to take their evening meds.  No time on the lake would be complete without several pontoon trips to the Lakeview Lodge where loaded bloody marys with a beer chaser and cold Spotted Cow are served up.  On one morning, Ray’s and my transportation to the tavern (via the route around the lake) was kayaks.  (How to disembark a kayak:  you throw your legs over the side, then you lie down and roll out into the water sort of like a sea lion.)  All the way around, it was a great four-day party for Carol, Beep, Dixie, George, Ray, Rob and Lucky Lindy.  I have a wonderful family and the time we spend together is golden.

The rockin' oldie, my big brother

Carol and Dixie and a loaded
bloody mary at the
Lakeview Lodge

Carol, Lindy & Dixie on the pontoon
boat.  Party down!

Carol Annie J

Cubby & Sunny out on the water

Relax, Dixie!

Big brother George

Cubby & Sunny in good hands
pontooning with George & Ray

Relax, George!

Lindy gets vertical on a paddleboard!

Relax, Lindy!

"There's gotta be a saloon around
here, somewhere!"

Relax, Ray!

Relax, Roberto!

Doin' the pony geezer-style!

Rob, Ray and a loaded
bloody mary with chaser

Ray and George - breakfast at
The Little Gift House

It came time to say, “Good bye,” at last.  Once again, Rob and I hopscotch around the green, yellow and red storm cells as we continue the trek westward.  Carol called while we were traveling this morning to warn us about “baseball-sized hail,” where we were heading.  So far, the sky is blue, the clouds are fluffy white and the sun shines on us.  The meteorologists got it wrong again but in this case, nobody minds!