Newest Project in the Northwoods

It'sbeen a long time since I have written anything on this blog, so I thought I'd bring you up to date on my latest project. Well Susie and I have succumbed to the call of the North Woods and recently bought a new Snowmobile to get around in during the winter. After all we do live in the Snowmobile capital of the world!

Presently I am in the process of winterizing all of our other toys and putting them to bed until next season. The two motor scooters all fire up fine and have been no problem at all since Jeff at Eastland Motorsports (http://www.eastlandmotorsports.com/index.htm)tuned them up, replaced a gas tank, changed gas filters and cleaned the carbs. If I take care of them right, they'll be in perfect shape for next years fun.

The fishing boat had a few hiccups recently and needed a new fuel pump. I replaced that and adjusted the carborator rich/lean mixture and it also is running fine now. Just have to remove the 18HP Evinrude I got on Ebay for $300.00, remove the seats and floor and move it outside of the garage, and cover it, so I have room for the winter toys and my truck.

Next on the list is my Motorcycle. Need to change the oil and filter, fog it, remove the battery and cover it until the spring arrives and the new riding season is on. My friend also got a bike recently, and although we haven't made any big road trips, next year is sure to have many planned.

So what's next? Well I am an avid "Craig's List" reader. Always looking for that next bargain. I thought I'd like to get another snowmobile, but I did not want to spend the money, just to have one sitting around. The new one is a "Two UP" so Susie and I can ride together, we don't really need two, but it would sure be nice to have one if we had some week-end guests during the season. To rent them for a day is about $125.00. To expensive to have my guests burden that kind of bill.

And if they bring kids with them, then we also have a sled that attaches to the back of the snowmobile for them to ride in, another great Craig's List find. From a farmer in Winnebago, IL. It had been stored in a barn for years. They said there kids ahd grown up and it had not been used for years. It was time to go and let someone else enjoy it. Got it for $250.00 cleaned it up, rebuilt the padded seats adding new pressure treated seat bottoms and backs, re-upolstered it, and it is as good as new. No kids? No problem, it also makes a good trailer for putting all of our ice fishing gear in.

I looked and looked on Craigs List. My favorite sections are the "FREE" and I especially like the Barter section. Now since I don't hunt anymore, and I had this old hunting rifle laying around, I thought I'd use it to barter and see what happened. But I had to get it back into good condition. The first thing I did was break it down separating the breech and barrel from the stock. I then removed the old finish from the metal. I used an emery cloth to sand out some cosmetic old pitting and then I cold re-blued it and polished it up. Now keep in mind that this gun is a Model 1893 Spanish Mauser. So it is pretty old, but in perfect shape. I got it from a friend more than 40 years ago by trading my Winchester Model 50 semi automatic shotgun for it. It had a Bishop Stock, which is a custom walnut stock and was never finished. I cleaned that up and put a light coat of extra virgin olive oil on it and rubbed it in for a beautiful oiled finish. It smells good too! Now we're ready for trading.

I found a guy in Iron Mountain, Michigan who had a 1993 Artic Cat Prowler 2 UP Snowmobile for trade. I saw the photos and it looked in pretty good shape. After a few texts and photos back and forth we both decided to pursue the trade further. Time for a road trip! I went to check it out and I traded the rifle for the snowmobile. Now mind you, I did not expect the snowmobile to be in perfect condition. It did start, and they threw in a stand to keep the track elevated when not in use. But it did have some issues. One of those issues was the fact that there was a problem with the electrical system. Another was that someone had cut off the luggage rack, the third was that there was a pin missing from the hood, and the forth was the hood strap was severed.

The first fix was the hood strap. I used a pipe clamp and my vise to fashion a metal sleeve. I inserted one end of the severed wire and then the other to the sleeve and using the force of the vise, I applied pressure to crimp it shut. Then I took a 20d nail and slipped it into the slot for the hood retaining pin until I could get a clevis pin that was of the right size. Now to tackle the electrical problem.

The electrical system on snowmobiles work one of two ways depending on the make, model and type. It is either a closed system, or an open system. All snowmobiles have what is known as a "kill switch" which is on the handle bars. It is for an emergency way to cut off the engine. Sometimes these switches go bad. However on mine, it is an $80.00 fix. And wouldn't you know it, my snowmobile runs on a closed system and there is an open somewhere in the electronics preventing it from starting. Yes it started when I picked it up, but that is because they bypassed the switch with a jumper and had it running. But this is not the safe way to do this. So we need to fix that first.

Now as luck would have it, when trying to start it, I broke the recoil chord. But to fix that you have to remove the resonator and the muffler to get at the bottom screw. I did that, but while I had those parts off, I decided to clean them up and give them a fresh coat of High Heat Paint. They're drying now. Today, I'll finish the job and get it all put back together tomorrow. Then I'll tackle the clouded up windshield. Instead of replacing it, I'll refurbish it with tooth paste. Yup, if you have clouded plastic, such as a head light or plastic windshield, they can be brought back to life by simply using the tooth paste as a mild abrasive and polishing compound and voila! Good as new.

The luggage rack was removed and my good friend Pat has it and will be rebuilding it using rebar as the main focus and welding it into place. We'll then replace back on the machine after painting and it will be as good, if not better and stronger, than new.

Meanwhile, I noticed on Craig's List someone had a boat trailer that they were giving away for free. Now how could I pass this up. My initial intent was to use this as the foundation of an Ice Fishing Shanty. I called and then picked it up and brought it home. It is cosmetically in disrepair, nothing that a light sanding and fresh paint would not fix. But after looking at it's construction it is not suitable for my intended purpose. But have no fear, because my good friend Al told me he was riding one of the back roads and someone had a boat leaning up against a tree and the hull had written on the bottom "FREE". Last night after going to a new restaurant "Carlin's Club Lodge" for a fish fry, we decided to check out this boat on the way back. It is a 12 foot fiberglass boat that was probably a Sears Gamefisher. The interior was completely void of any seats etc, and all of the floatation had been removed. However, we can refurbish it and make it safe and sound.

Today we'll go back with the FREE trailer and bring it back to the house, and it will be the next project in line. We'll add new Mahogany seats, Styro-foam floatation, and hull paint. We'll be on the lookout for a fixer upper outboard motor and then we'll put it back on the market next spring and sell the whole package. So far that's the plan.

There is always something to do up here in the North Woods. It's nice to be able to pick and choose the projects I work on. Some of those on the back burner? I have all of the guts from an old Fender Guitar. One of these days I am going to go out in the woods and find a nice piece of Maple and shape, sand and build a new guitar, using those parts. When I get it done, we'll have someone, other than me, that knows how to play, give it a try. Then we'll see what happens. Nice to be able to have such a variety of things to do in the retirement years. See ya for now!

What's It Like, In The North Woods?

What's it like to live here in the North Woods of Wisconsin? Well, it certainly is quite different than living in an urban area, such as Chicago. Each and every morning, I can sit on my front porch, and listen to the "Quiet".

Yes, you can hear the "Quiet" up here! What is the "Quiet", you might ask? Well it is all of the sounds you normally take for granted, because unless you remove the sounds of the city, the hustle and bustle, you cannot here the "Quiet".

As I sit here in the early hours of the morning, I am surrounded by large birch and maple trees, thickly spattered throughout the forest around me. These trees reach heights of nearly a hundred feet or more. And the forest is so thick, that if there was a wind, only the tree tops would display any movement, as they sway back and forth. Today is the Fourth of July, and the flag cannot ruffle, because there is no wind. So it sits here, as if it has it's head down in sadness as it thinks about what the significance of this day really is.

It is interesting to hear the many different sounds of the birds coming from deep within the forest. Up until last week, they were noticeably absent. But now, after a very heavy downpour of large water droplets from the skies above, they are ever so present. I am still kind of a novice at deciphering the different species, but I can certainly tell a woodpecker if I hear one. But then there are the humming birds also, whose wings flap so rapidly, that they make a buzzing sound that is almost scary. When they first approach the feeder, or the hanging flower baskets spattered on the front of the porch, they sound like a menacing insect. That is until you look up and see them feed and move back and forth as they go about their business.

If you listen carefully you can distinguish many different sounds of avian creatures as they go about letting us all know the morning has arrived.

As the sun rises the forest changes color too, as the light penetrates the different voids of the tree lines. Early in the morning, as you look up at the tree top canopy, you will see a cloudy haze develop near the foliage in the tree tops. It appears this effect is from the sun evaporating the moisture after the rain has fallen and left its droplets on the leaves.

Then there is the sound of the deer. I say the sound, but the deer move so carefully through the forest, gently placing a hoof on the ground so they do not make a sound. You only know they are there because you can see them through the trees if you are careful to look, but there is no sound becuse you cannot hear them. You might hear a scratching upon a tree, only to look up and see a squirrel scurrying up the long shaft of branchless trunks.

Yesterday, I watched a spider weave its web. It was amazing, as I watched and admired his engineering expertise. Now, today, I simply watch him as he sits in a corner of the web, waiting for his next victim. I have never seen so many different species of spider, until I moved up here. There are large ones, small ones, fat ones, and the ever so common daddy long legs. But even they're not so common. Becuse now I have the time to study them carefully, and do notice differences, such as color, size and structure.

I can tell by the clear skies that it is going to be hot today, and that certainly will affect the wildlife and their planned activities. It is interesting that even up here, in the middle of nowhere, where technology hasn't fully reached yet, that I have many new friends.....even if they are not human, as I sit here and listen to the "Quiet". Enjoy your Fourth of July holiday! I am certainly starting to enjoy mine.

Dungeon Rock, The Real Story!

Dungeon Rock The Real Story? By John Bourgeois   Copyright 2012 No part of this book may be copied or used in any format without the expressed written permission of the author. Preface When I was a child, I really didn’t appreciate the things presented to me at the time. It wasn’t until years later, that I came to find out the usefulness of the information. The things that I learned could not be taught in any classroom or school. So keeping that in mind, I dedicate this book to my Dad, who took my brothers and me to places where the average kid never gets to go, and when we did travel, we traveled in style! We did it in such a way, that what we did learn would never be forgotten. We didn’t stay in fancy hotels, or eat in any restaurants along the way either. Heck, we couldn’t have afforded them anyway. We received our education in a back to nature way, by camping in tents, sleeping on the ground, and by cooking our meals over the open campfire. We thoroughly enjoyed these trips, in a way that allowed us to explore what this country has to offer, and always with a historical perspective attached. To be given the opportunity to grow up and live in Massachusetts, with Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont, all at our doorsteps, right there within our reach. They all had their unique histories, put right there for us to grab. It was a knowledge that could never be taken away, an education that would last a lifetime. One that would never be lost, or forgotten and one that money could never buy. While most other kids our age would only be able to read about these places, we received an education that no college or university could ever supply. My Dad made sure we grasped the history of our country, by visiting such places as Fort William Henry, Fort Ticonderoga, Old Ironsides, The Freedom Trail, Lexington and Concord Battlefields, the National Sea Shore, the Old Man and the Mountain, Lake Champlain, and other great places of interest. We visited Yellow Stone National Park, Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon, and Yosemite, just to name a few. He took us too many other places throughout this great country. These road trips have left me with lifelong lasting impressions. They have given my brothers and me an appreciation for our great country, an appreciation that cannot be put into words. So I dedicate this book to my Dad. He was the boy who left High School in the tenth grade, as did many others in his home town, so he could go off, and serve his country by participating in a World War II to protect us, the citizens of the United States. After the war was over he returned as a man, one who earned many medals by helping to save this country. Yes, he left as a boy, and returned as a man. But one of his highest achievements he ever received was when his home town awarded him the High School Diploma he never got the chance to earn. Although this was bestowed many years later, by the citizens of his home town, (the people whom he fought for) it was an honor that he deeply appreciated. Thanks Dad, for without you and the education you provided, I would have never been able to put this literary work together. Chapter 1 ……… In the beginning? When I was a young boy, growing up in the small city of Lynn Massachusetts, in the late nineteen fifties and early sixties, I had the privilege of exploring and playing in a forested location of Massachusetts called the Lynn Woods Reservation. Although many years have past since I last visited there, I believe it is now known as the Lynn Woods Recreation Area. This is a public preservation area, which still to this day has been untouched by any development. It has not been developed or altered in anyway, and it still remains as it has always been for hundreds of years. The “woods”, as we referred to them, were such a fun place to go to. My brothers and I would accompany my parents on day long “car trips”, usually on a Saturday or Sunday outing, driving along the dirt roads that inter-weaved with each other as we explored what the “woods” had to offer. Sometimes we’d stop and pick wild blueberries. One of my favorite things to do was picking and chewing on the wild Wintergreen Leaves that were spattered on the forest floor. Other times we’d go exploring, as we listened to my father tell us the tails that accompanied each location. He’d tell us stories of when he trampled through the very same places as a young boy in the nineteen twenties and thirties. One generation, teaching a younger one. Today though, times have changed, and driving on those roads is no longer allowed. So if one still wants to adventure there to enjoy the same pastimes, they’ll have to do it on foot. There were many things to see and do in these woods, and I was always fascinated by the folklore, and the legends attached to the various locations my father took us to. These different sites, and attractions, were all contained within the confines of the forest. For, he too enjoyed them as a child, and his parents had taken him to the very same places, while sharing with him those very same stories. It was these fascinating tales that kept us coming back, time after time. One generation teaching another, passing down along the genealogical line the things that had not been written down. His knowledge was deeply imparted upon us, while he always made sure we understood what he said, as he took us to the different locations, pointing out the various sites, and sharing the ancient histories that accompanied each one of them. As I grew older, somewhere between the ages of eleven to fourteen, I frequently spent time in the woods with my cousins and our other friends. After all, by this time in our lives, we were full fledged Boy Scouts, and what better place to practice our scouting skills, than right there in “our” woods. Today’s urban child cannot appreciate the time frame, and will never have any opportunity to experience the enjoyment this area brought to each and every one of us. Unfortunately, because of today’s parental restrictions, the changes that have taken place in today’s world, and most importantly for the safety of the children, they’ll never get the chance to enjoy some of our most pleasurable pastimes. There were two separate and distinct avenues of direction one could venture to, for exploration of the area. Sometimes, when my family ventured out on one of these excursions, we would simply park the car at the woods entrance, and walk the path along the North side of the Reservoir, or Breeds Pond more correctly. This area of the woods on this side of the pond has a history all unto itself. Filled with folk lore such as the Wolf Pits, OX Pasture, the Meeting House Swamp, just to name a few. Other times we would simply drive right through the main entrance of the woods, located on the south side of the pond, traveling on old crumbling and rutted dirt roads that took us deep inside the confines of the mystical forest. Similar locations were there also, such as the Stone Tower, Dungeon Rock, Pirates Glen, Penny Brook Bridge, the Steel Tower, Finneys Bay, and the Powder House Foundation. Shall I not forget to include the stone walls that were dotted throughout the forest? These were used to separate different kinds of livestock, such as pigs, oxen, horses or cattle, for grazing, and containment. Within the boundaries of the woods are two city reservoirs. They were man made by damming up certain small rivers and streams. We never really knew their names at the time. We simply called them the “Big Rezzie” and the “Little Rezzie”. Their actual names are Walden Pond (Big Rezzie) and Breeds Pond (Little Rezzie). Once our car was parked along the roadside we all excitedly got out and ventured up the small narrow dirt road to the North Side of the Little Rezzie. We were looking to see what we could find, and what we hadn’t seen before. On that side, the north side, there were a couple of points of interest that always called for us to explore. If you walk about a half of a mile up the dirt road, adjacent to the reservoir, and look up on the hill there will be a large outcrop of large granite boulders. This location was just past a small grove of birch trees situated a few feet to the right of the path. My dad would tell us how the Indians would use the birch bark for making canoes, how they would also use the bark as paper, and also for covering their Wigwams. They would use the branches for bows and arrows, and the leaves to chew on for medicinal purposes. The Native American always made sure he used everything and did not waste anything he used. Dad would also tell us about the Sachem, who was the Indian leader and also the medicine man. He was careful to point out how the Sachem would use the different tree barks and plant roots as medicine to cure most anything. Somewhere also along this path there is a small cave. It is located way up on the side of a hill. The construction of this cave like structure occurred thousands of years ago and had been placed there by glacial activity. I challenge you to go there and try to find it. I am most certain it is still there today. Look for where there are two large boulders, each weighing many tons positioned so that one sits atop of the other in such a fashion that they appear to be constructing a cave, or at least that’s what we pretended them to be. Once we even stacked rocks on one side of the entrance to give it the illusion of being totally enclosed. When I last visited there, as an adult, the rocks we gathered and placed were still there, undisturbed. Within this small cave like structure is evidence of many visits by exploring children who enjoyed hours upon hours of play. Whether it was “Army” “Cowboys and Indians” “Camping” or even “Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men”, these hills and rocky structures supported many rounds of children’s play activity. The type of children’s play activity that is seldom seen practiced and discouraged by today’s parents. Today there are no hero’s like we had back then. On one visit, we tried to carve into the rock, cave carvings to add to the mystery, but the hardness of the granite prevented us from making such a lasting impression. We would use our Boy Scout hatchets and knives to fashion bows and arrows. We were always on the lookout for big game. Our imaginations took over our realities, as we entered into a world of fantasy for hours on end. Our Boy Scout survival kits contained fishing line, a Porcupine quill, and a hook. Sometimes we would go down to the Rezzie, and see what we could catch, which of course was always and usually, nothing! So fearing starvation, we learned to bring our own food, robbing our home refrigerators, and stuffing our knap sacks with much more food than we required. We couldn’t wait to use our mess kits, and our official Boy Scout fork, knife and spoon set, that all snapped together and fit in its neat little case. This was when we explored alone, without our parents. One of the first things we did was to gather our fire wood. We had our official Boy Scout hatchets, and of course we made sure we brought our water proof matches. Once we made camp, and our camp fire, the rest of the day was ours to enjoy. Of course our parents were totally unaware of these activities, and even though there was no camping, no fishing, no hunting, no swimming, no trapping, and especially no campfires allowed in the woods, as was evidenced by the posted signs on what seemed to be just about every other tree, that didn’t stop us. Because we never really felt that it applied to us. After all, we were Boy Scouts, and trained explorers! Walking further along the same road, perhaps a couple of hundred yards just off of the path, you will come to what is commonly known as the Wolf Pits. As far as I remember there were three of them. They were large pits dug into the ground and lined with precisely cut granite blocks of stone. The dimensions of the pits were about three feet wide and about eight feet long. Originally they were dug deep, probably around eight feet or more. Legend says they were built to capture the many wolves, which were plentiful in the early days. There was even a bounty placed on the wolf, placed by the Commonwealth. Simply put, you catch and kill a wolf, cut off his ears, turn them in, and collect your reward. As children we always wondered, “Where there still wolves in this forest?” If not, then how come we never saw any deer, fox, rabbit, or beaver? Is this because there still were wolves and the wolves still hunted these animals, depleting the forest completely of any wildlife, we wondered? Our imaginations were filled with all kinds of suppositions and theories that we constantly tried to resolve. There may be another explanation for these pits, and I will put herein further on my suggestion as to what they really are. But in present time, and through the years, these pits have been filled in with debris and fallen leaves. This residue composted year after year and over time started to fill the pits in. Now they’re just big compost pits, but we’ll discuss that further along in our story. Traveling further on down the path, about a mile or so, there will be a fork in the road. At this point the road really narrows and is more of a path than a road. If you take the right path, you will come upon a wooded foot bridge that traverses a swampy area, this is called “Meeting House Swamp”. This is way up on the north end of Breeds pond. Walking over the bridge and a bit farther the trail finally ends at what is now Route One, but prior to that highway being built, the path continued further West into the Camp Nihan Reservation where the Boy Scouts maintained a camp, the Conservation Workers also during the 1930’s, and probably the local Indians before them. All of this is well within walking distance to the Saugus Iron Works, a National Historic site, and also a main focal point of our story. Turning around and returning back to the beginning of this road, where we parked the car, there were the remnants of a building that had long ago burned down. We always understood that this was a log cabin, and the only thing left was the stone fireplace. I believe this still stands today. What really was this structure one might ask? My research has concluded the following. Back around the turn of the century, the preservationists of the time wanted all of the residents to enjoy the nature and beauty of the Lynn Woods.   Hiram Marble, who originally dug Dungeon Rock and then his son after him, would give tourists tours of their cave. People came from all around to enjoy the area, and see for themselves where the pirate treasure might lie. Later, after Mr. Marble’s and his son’s death, and in order to make the woods easily accessible to everyone, by providing easy access, a station house was built, and a trolley line was constructed to transport visitors to the woods entrance from the city center. As a child, I do kind of remember remnants of the tracks in the road surface, close to where the front of the building might have been. However, all that remains today is a stone chimney due to a fire that burned the building down. It is said that one night vandals broke into the building and torched it to the ground, and it was never rebuilt or replaced. Something the historical society should consider rebuilding. The road on the south side of the reservoir, the main entrance, had two large stone columns to guard the entrance. These were built in the thirties by the Works Progress Administration or WPA. The columns seemed to be held together by a long chain that traversed one column to the other dangling across the road. This chain was removed daily by the caretaker of the woods, the Ranger as we called him. He would unlock and replaced the chains on the entrances each day at sunrise and sunset. Those were the times that the woods were open to visitors. Lined up on each side of the dirt road, when entering the park, were many large granite boulders place in at an imaginary curb on both sides of the road outlining the roads surface area. This entrance road led to our first point of interest, or the “Stone Tower”. This structure was also built by the WPA. The WPA was formed by the government to put men back to work and help get the country back on its feet after the Great Depression that ensued after the crash of 1929. Our next stop on this road is the focal point of our story and the location of what is known to most everyone and called Dungeon Rock. Anyone who has ever lived in Lynn Massachusetts has probably paid a visit to this historic and fascinating cave. Once you visit it, and see it for yourself, you have to wonder, was there really a Pirate treasure? Was there really a Pirate cave? Was this place it? Was there any basis in fact to this tale, or was someone just fabricating these stories with another goal in mind? Was Hiram Marble actually correct? Was this the right location to begin his exploration? If not, then what ever happened to the real cave, if there ever was one, and this one isn’t it? Did anyone ever find it, the real treasure I mean? Well this story will not only try to answer those questions, but will more than likely raise some new ones. The treasure might still be out there, or maybe it’s not. Why, once you read this tale, it might also promote a whole new generation of explorers, who will participate in a new adventure and look for the treasure themselves. But what I am trying to do here, in this document, is put together a fictional story based on some historical fact. I want to bring to life all of the characters within the legend, and also introduce some new ones. The reader will have to use their own imagination to figure out if what I state herein has any possibility of ever having happened or they may begin their own research to poke holes in mine, or use mine to complete theirs. I welcome the excitement.

Something to be said for eating at home........sometimes.

It's interesting, you travel out of town, you are staying in hotels, and you have to eat, so where do you go? Well first thing is to ask for recommendations from friends. Other ways are to ask for recommendations from hotel staff, because if it turns out bad, it's the staff who sees you when you return and you'll surely tell them about your experiences.

Another way might be to look up local restaurants on restaurant.com. Restaurant.com has many listings, and can even provide you with some very interesting coupon discounts to the local eateries. But don't stop there. Once you get your recommendation, look it up on Yelp.com, and READ the reviews. They can be very informative and save you some headaches, before you purchase your restaurant.com coupon.

Recently we visited a very small restaurant in St. Germain WI called the Wolf Pack Cafe. It is in a small North Woodsie strip mall and seems very uninviting and nothing special about it. The interior is also a North Woods decorated atmosphere, with plenty of sports memorabilia, and of course, photos of Wolves.....duh! But the big surprise at this place was the food. Actually, darn good gourmet food to say the least. We started off our meal with a cup of soup. The flavor was called "Darn Good Soup", and it certainly was. It was very similar to Italian Wedding Soup, but with a tomato base, yesterday's left over hamburgers, shell noodles, and vegetables, along with some very interesting spices. DELICIOUS!!!

Our next course was split between the two of us and was a salad that consisted of Spinach, fresh blueberries, sliced strawberries and walnuts, covered in a dressing that was familiar in taste but I simply could not put my finger on exactly what it was made of, although I did suspect a touch of miracle whip dressing. Our sandwich was the best of all. It was served on sliced home made toasted Asiago baked bread, and filled with fresh basil, mozzarella cheese, and fresh tomato. Again DELICIOUS!
This was followed by Home Made Banana Cream Pie, and a slice of Home Made Coconut Cream Pie, and deliciously tasting fresh coffee.....

Now you have to get there early if you want to try the food here, because they are only open from 6:00AM to 1:30PM. We were pleasantly surprised at the creativity of the chef's creations, and the quality and tast of the food. I'd give it five stars, and it is the best place we have eaten, so far, on our Northern WI adventure so far.

Our evening meal was at a restaurant in Minocqua WI called "Matt Morgans". We started off our evening with Bloody Mary. Our table was situated on a windowed porch like area over looking beautiful Lake Minocqua. At first the service was quite quick. Our Drinks were served promptly. They did not expect so many customers for a Monday evening, according to the waiter. Our appetizer consisted of chicken wings, and they were served with our choice of sauces. We chose the Sweet Baby Rays Barbecue, an Asian Sesame Seed, and a Buffalo Spicy. Later, as we were eating, he also brought a ranch and a blue cheese. All of them were very good, but the Buffalo was not very spicy or hot to the taste.

Our next course was a cup of Broccolli and Cheddar Cheese soup and a cup of Spicy Mexican Bean. Both were very good also. So far, so good. We were well on our way to enjoying our meal. However, we over heard a trio at the next table complain of the wine they ordered. They had ordered a Shiraz, and I heard the gentleman state that he though it was old, and wanted to know if it came from a "fresh" bottle. The waiter apologized and checked with the bar tender and ensured him it was a fresh bottle and would he like to choose another selection. The gentleman switched to a Chardonnay and I never heard him complain after that.

We waited a long time for our main course. The waiter was certainly overwelmed, and I am sure the kitchen was the same. I ordered the Barbecued Ribs, and my companion ordered the Baked Walleye, with a cream sauce. The ribs were obviously not freshly made, and were somewhat cold. They did fall off the bone, but were not up to our expectations. The walleye would have been good, although somewhat slightly on the cold side, if the chef had not over salted it. Needless to say, we did not stay for desert. Now I must mention that even with our $25.00 off coupon, we still paid an additional $48.00. Way over priced for the service, taste and quality.

Now the best place we have found for evening dinner was "Sister's Saloon" in Arbor Vitae WI. There steaks are great, and their ribs were the best ever. Our host, Heidi, said she and her husband are the new owners and have had it for three years. The Bloody Mary's were terrific, and Heidi made sure they were filled with the local accompaniments of olives, pickle, mushrooms, and pickled brussel sprouts. The steak was a broiled prime rib, plentiful in size. The barbecued ribs were also a half rack, but I swear they gave me a full rack, or I dread what the size of a full rack might be. The portion was huge. I also had a garlic mashed potatoes, and a beef barley soup. We would always go back there for the food, great hosts, and atmousphere.

All in all, we are continuing our tour of the Northwoods, and will continue to explore the many fine restaurants as we travel about.

Pinstripes!

Sometimes your not looking, and you just happen to come across something really fantastic! Such was the case yesterday, as we left the Lake and Cabin Show being held at the Schaumburg Convention Center. I wanted to kill some time before going back to Chicago, because it was a Friday afternoon, it was the beginning of rush hour, and we certainly did not want to get caught in the traffic snarl that was about start.

So I took a short ride over to Cabelas Sporting Goods to kill some time. This was the first of our treasure finds. They have an area of the store they call the "Bargain Cave". It is the end of the winter season and the bargains were fantastic. Picked up a Columbia 100% Goose Down vest. Originally $79.95, now on sale $19.00. Got a nice sport shirt, originally 39.00, now 12.00. Pretty good haul for an unexpected trip. Looked at all of the other deals in the cave, and although there were many, just couldn't bring myself to load up. But we did make out pretty good with what we did buy.

HUNGRY!

Next stop, find a place to eat. We drove drove down Higgans Road to a fairly new mall. I had been there before with our friends Kathy and Pat at a restaurant called Cooper's Hawk, and that was where I was headed, when I spotted a bowling alley in the mall. It was called "Pinstripes". Now you have to understand where we were. The Mall is in a location called Barrington. This particular town boast million dollar homes. So the area is kind of mid to higher end on the economic income scale.

The sign on the outside of Pinstripes says "Bowling, Bocce, and Bistro". It was the Bistro that caught my attention, and I convinced my companion that we should go in and check it out. AND WE'RE GLAD WE DID!

As you enter the building there is a huge bar, to the left are about six Bocce Courts, and to the right is a bowling alley of about twenty or so lanes. But where is the Bistro part? As we walked around checking every thing out, we happened upon an entrance way behind the bar that led us into the eatery. It was very well decorated with many booths and tables, but it was done with class and style.

We were immediately met by a member of their team, sat in our booth, and menus provided. Our waiter, Christopher, took our drink order and also took the time to explain all about the establishment. As a former restaurant owner, I could not help but notice how well the staff got along. The all seemed to really enjoy what they were doing. The helped each other out in ways unimaginable for a restaurant. Now don't get me wrong, this IS NOT a fast food place, nor would I call it a chain, but it is a very up scale restaurant with very reasonable pricing. And you know what? The food was fantastic, the service was terrific, and we'd go back in a heartbeat.

I'll bet that during our stay we had as many as six or seven team members take care of us. The first thing they brought to the table was a vessel filled with fresh brick oven baked bread slices, with a dish of spiced olive oil. Our first course was the Louisiana Barbecued Shrimp. FANTASTIC! I ordered a bowl of their Wild Rice and Chicken soup. It was also great. Now here is what made them stand out. When the soup was delivered, my companion asked for an extra spoon so she could taste my soup. What did the waitress do? She said "why certainly", and came back with the spoon, but she also came back with a small cup of soup for my friend to enjoy of her very own. Great service huh? But it gets even better. Christopher came over and asked us how we enjoyed the soup. I told him it was great.... So what did he do.....he then came back with three small dished, each one containing a small sample of their other soups. They were also very, very good soups.

Our main course was to follow. I had the Ahi Tuna salad and my friend had the chopped salad. Both were fantastic. Christopher had suggested some wine for dinner. But since I was driving, I ordered Ginger Ale, but my friend ordered a flight. This consisted of a large board, upon which were four glasses. One each of different wines. They were generous portions to say the least. And each and every one of them were excellent. Of course I had to take a taste.

As we finished we both said that we were full, the portions were right, and the food was great. Christopher came back and asked us how every thing was, and said he would be back with dessert. I thought that meant a menu, but no, he did better than that. He came back to the table and had in his hand another large plank. On it were two small pieces of cheese cake, a dollop of whipped cream with a huge strawberry, a dollop of whipped cream with a cherry, some sliced grapes and two small pieces of flour less chocolate cake. UNBELIEVABLE!!!! Great Service, good food, great atmosphere. BUT IT WASN'T OVER YET!

When Christopher came back with the check he had two other items with him. They were two wrist bands. He said if we came back and wore them we would be greeted with a complimentary glass of wine. This free complimentary wine service was good for life. He also had a couple of cards that said "Thanks" and if we provided them with our email they would let us know about upcoming events and specials. BUT WE'RE STILL NOT DONE!

As we were leaving, we noticed a gentleman setting up a keyboard and equipment. I looked up and noticed a sign that said "Every Friday and Saturday Evening, Live Blues and Jazz". Although we could not stay for the music, I thought, "You've got to be kidding, great food, great service, live entertainment, fun activities, great staff. What more could you ask for? And was it expensive? Not for what we got, the total bill was $62.00, and of course, Christopher got a well deserved tip. What more can I say, but great, great, great!

Now I have traveled all over the world in my lifetime, and I have eaten in some of the best restaurants. But this place, Pinstripes, by far, tops my list. I only wish there were some of them out East for my New England friends to try. But they'll just have to suffer, unless they have a chance to visit the Midwest. But my Blues Friend Mikey, at www.boundarywatersradio.com, well Mikey, you are in luck because there is one in Edina MN. I don't know where that is but I am sure you'll find it. For the rest of you, I highly recommend you check out Pinstripes at www.pinstripes.com surely you won't regret it.........

You Can't Taste the Glass

The shape, the size, and the handle on the vessel, do nothing to enhance or add to the taste of a Bloody Mary! But, depending on where you go, there is a marked difference between establishments and taste. And so it goes as I spent this past week on my quest to find the perfect Bloody Mary.

Traveling far up north into the wilderness of Northern Wisconsin, I landed at the Chantecleer Resort in Eagle River. In some ways I fully expected to see Jack Nicholson come out from around a corner, as we quickly nicknamed this place the "Shining Hotel". But how were we to know that we would be the only registered guests in the place for our wintery stay? And although they do put out a very attractive website, it's probably better to ask around and read reviews before committing to a stay.

Our host (Jake) was very quick to grab our deposit, prior to our arrival, and just as quick to charge off the rest as soon as we arrived. This stopped us in our tracks from checking out due to NO possibility of a refund. It would appear that the first week of March is NOT a good time to travel up "North" as it is in between seasons.

The suite we had was accomodating, and certainly well worth the price, but due to the lack of customers, there was no maid service for the entire ten days we were here, the restaurant was closed down the Monday after we arrived, and we had to call the office for additional toilet paper, along with being expected to empty our own room garbage cans. This certainly is not the Marriott or Hilton, but it did serve as our base of operations for the time we were here. The Snomobiling in the area was terrific though.

The local restaurants we visited were also very accomodating. We went to places like the White Tail Inn, Lumpy's, Sayner Pub, DJs Family Restaurant, Brayward Resort, 3c's, Pitliks Resort, Chi's Red Steer, and The Granery, just to name a few. And we did spend some time at Trigs, the local grocery store chain.

A lot of our time was spent traveling between Eagle River, St. Germain, and Minocqua, checking out everything there was to offer. We just wanted to get familiar with the area. And you know what? It's pretty nice up here. The people were so exceptionally friendly that there could be a move up here in the very near future, but we'll have to wait and see.

Now as long as you are up in the North Woods, you have to partake in some of the local traditions, and this is what started us on our quest for the perfect Bloody Mary. We had snowmobiled from St. Germain through the North Woods to our first stop, which was Pitlik's Resort. It was while sitting at the bar, that I noticed a woman at the end, with a huge glass, filled with a red mystery juice. I asked the bartender what it was, and low and behold it was the biggest Bloody Mary I had ever seen. SO____I just had to have one, and with the typical line from the Billy Crystal movie, I said, "I'll have what she's having". It was delicious. A huge goblet with a spicy mix of juices that went down to pallette ever so smoothly. When it was presented, there was another tiny mug filled with beer. THIS, was the "Chaser". But the bloody mary had a whole host of additives to compliment the experience. A jumbo shrimp resting on the rim of the glass, along with a pickled mushroom, large olive, spiced asparagus speer, pickle, and a celery stalk. The rim had been salted with celery salt, deeeelicious! I also got a punch card. For each one I ordered, they would punch the card. Ten punches and the next drink was free.

And so it started, the quest was on.

My next encounter was at the Sayner Pub, in where else but Sayner WI. Our waiter was quick to state, "Our Bloddy Mary's were voted the sixth best in the state. And they too were very good. A huge 22 once stove pipe glass with a mug handle filled with the magical elixir, along with an olive, pickled mushroom, pickle, spiced stringbean, whole celery stalk, a beef stick and also the celery salt. And don't forget the Beer Chaser in the little mug. Excellent and it did live up to the quality the waiter preached. Four stars!

Next on our stop was the Brayward Resort. Here the Bloody Mary is served in a Mason Jar with a handle. I am only going to give this one a one star rating. Although the owner was the most gracious and friendly of hosts, the elixir was complemented with the usual array of salad fixings, but I thought it was kind of tacky to be served a chaser in a three once plastic cup. Taste was ok, but not up to my high standards of pleasure. Also, the salad fixins seemed not to be the freshest.

Lumpy's in Eagle River was also not on a par with some of the others. No attempt here was made to enhance their Bloody Mary presentation, nor was any chaser even offered. Taste also was just OK, nothing to write about, so we'll give it two stars.

And then there is always the unexpected. The little surprise that comes along every once in a while, and that was the Minocqua restaurant called Chy's Red Steer. www.chysredsteer.com

Our host, Tom, (one of the owners) was very friendly, talkative and gracious. There was nothing fancy in his choice of recepticle or presentation, but he did have all of the accompaniments of pickled mushroom, spiced bean spear, beef stick, huge olive, and pickle. But what made Tom's Bloody Mary stand out was the taste. It was made with a top shelf vodka, and it also was made with his OWN mixture of tomato juice and selected spices. It was so good, I couldn't help but have a second one. I wanted a third, but I was driving and did not want to drink and drive. It would be a couple of hours for dinner, and I would be ok by then, coke with the meal followed by the best coffee I had tasted on my trip. Kudos to you Tom and I am giving you five stars. Your Bloody Mary proves, it is not the glass it is served in, it is not the fancyness of the restaurant, but it is the taste that really counts!

So if your ever in the North Woods area of Wisconsin, and especially in the Minocqua area, you have to check out Chy's Red Steer Supper Club. Old world charm, and great food too! I also should mention for a moment about their food. We had their "all you can eat" fish fry, which is only served on Friday night. You get your choice of perch or white fish. They also supply an assortment of crackers and a cheese spread, rolls and butter, and water without asking. We chose the white fish, and there was no need for any second helpings as the three pieces that were placed in front of us were huge in size and certainly filled our palates. The chefs are right there in front of you preparing your meal on a huge butcher block table, so you can see all of your food being prepared. And the desert is to die for. We ordered the seven layer chocolate cake. But better than cake, each layer was a desert on it's own. The bottom layer was a moist devils food, followed by a dark chocolate mousse, white chocolate mousse and other layers that were simply delicious. I can't wait to go back and try one of their aged steaks, which I will certainly do in the near future......hmmmm, maybe today!

Moving Day is Finally Here!

Ever sell a house? Well tomorrow is closing day, and the home I built, mostly with my own hands, will be gone for me, forever. The only thing left will be the memories it contained. Mostly good, while some were trying, but overall the last fifteen years in this home were times that will never be forgotten. And I can fondly reflect on them, just by closing my eyes and remembering.

It's amazing how much "stuff" one can accumulate over a fifteen year period. It's also amazing how much money collects in the cracks and crevices of furniture voids. Found three bucks in change in an old chair and in the couch. Also found a remote control for a Cannon Video camera, need one? I'm sure the owner no longer has the camera or has replaced the control by now. Maybe I'll put it on Ebay, and see what happens?

And then there's all of the packing to do. So far, I have filled three storage lockers with my "stuff", but it's just a temporary place to keep them, until my new place is finished with construction. I'm sure when the time comes, I'll downsize that stuff too. Did I mention that the closing is tomorrow? Final walk through today for the new owners, hope I didn't leave the place too messy. Tried my best to vaccuum and clean, but everyone has their own standards for neatness and being tidy. Besides, I'm getting old, and it's tough to do this all by yourself. Hope I measure up. I can't believe how many mattresses and box springs I have. But....still have to go there early tomorrow, before the final closing, and remove a few more items and get rid of all of the filled garbage bags I left on the deck. Disposal of these things are cumbersome when you live in a rural setting and cancelled the garbage pickup. But it's all in bags and I do have a place in a dumpster, (friend of mines) to dispose of them.

When I stand here and look around at all the empty rooms, I can't help but wonder and think about all the guests that have stayed here over the years. From small groups to large crowds, there were many fun times had here. When I think of it, it's actually a very big house. Five bedrooms, and three baths, in fact! Way to big for me now. There was a time that this house had actually slept 18 people. I remember it well, it was for a New Years Eve party. Plenty of good food and drink, and I never had to worry about anyone driving home, 'cause they all stayed here.

There are so many things that have collected over the years. Right now I am cleaning and packing, cleaning and packing. What do I do with all of the open liquor? Didn't really know, so I offered it to my friend Tim, all of the booze from the bar, and he gladly accepted. Fifteen bottles of everything imaginable from Rums to Tequila, to Wiskeys. Don't need it anymore. I'm not much of a drinker, just had it on hand for guests.

As I look around, there are many memories and fun times that took place here. But then again, that's life. We reflect on the good times in our lives, hopefully much more so than the bad, and move on. It's those good memories that make us feel good, and undo the sadness in our lives. But now it's time to build a new chapter in this book called life, and move on by building a new future, and leaving the past behind.

I only hope the new owners will also build a great future in this house, and will be able to share many similar fond memories of their own. For me, it's time to downsize. Right now, the future looks very exciting, and I anxiously look forward to what it has bring with it. I'm kinda looking forward to going back to my roots, and I will be enjoying some of the things I haven't done in years! I'm reconnecting with old friends, making some new ones, and have a new partner to enjoy the future, and all that it has to bring with it. Soon, I'll only have one more move to make, and that's from storage to the new place. The summer will be exciting, and the future will be too! Hope to see you there!

A Day in the Life of a Nobody: Children, and The Joy They Are!

A Day in the Life of a Nobody: Children, and The Joy They Are!: Well it's been a long time since I've had the pleasure of spending time with my grandaughter. She is such a joy to be with, and, alth...

Children, and The Joy They Are!

Well it's been a long time since I've had the pleasure of spending time with my grandaughter. She is such a joy to be with, and, although I know many, many of my friends have grandchildren of their own, and feel pretty much the same way as I, when it comes to spending time with them, I can't help but feel she is the best of all of them, as I am sure they feel the same about theirs.

It is quite an interesting observation when you watch and observe, over time, a child develop and grow their own unique personalities, how they change from a baby face to a face that really distinguishes them from all others, and how they mature as they learn new things, especially things that you have trouble understanding and learning.

Recently, I was at a Christmas party the building was hosting for all of the tenants. One of the families that came down from the 35th floor was a mother and her three young ones. Two girls and a boy. The oldest daughter, about ten, was dressed so elegant for a young lady her age. Not overly flamboyant, but just enough dressiness to attend a party. But the really interesting thing about this family was the young boy. He was about three. He was being held in his mothers arms as she straddled him on her hip, and in his hands he was holding his mothers smart phone.

I watched with interest as he cradled it, while prodding its face with his tiny little fingers. He tapped and swiped, searched, and swiped some more, and then all of a sudden he was watching a video of Sponge Bob, on HULU. Simply Amazing! Three years old and already he had mastered a device that when relating to me, my own grandson posted on his Facebook page, "Is it illegal to give a Smart Phone, to a dumb person" as he humorously poked fun of me, when I first got my Blackberry, and was having trouble using it.

So it was with no surprise that when my Grandaughter, seven years old, came over and took control of our Nintendo Wii game. I observed the mastery of knowledge that the youth of today possess. She first created a unique caricature of me, she called it a Mii, and to her own amusement, and without any effort, she started to unlock games and find new, that I didn't even know were there. And you know what? While she did this, she took the time to explain the inner workings of the Wii game and how it worked. It was like attending a seminar for the Wii, being led by a seven year old, as lectured to two people in their sixties. SIMPLY AMAZING, AND A LOT OF FUN TOO!

Then to top it off, she showed us how we could get Netflix videos on the thing, how we could get the weather reports and news, and a host of other features, we didn't even know existed. While she was talking, she started one of the bowling games. She told us we needed "Numchucks" for certain games, like tennis, and when showing us the features on the bowling game, she showed us how to put spin on the ball, angle the shots, and stylize our approach when delivering the ball for the shot. SEVEN YEARS OLD!!!

WHAT NEXT? Well how about lessons on how to use your new HTC Smart Phone? Yep, she then started to show us how to do different things on that too. I think the difference between adults using all of these new technologies, and children, is that they are not afraid to fail, while we are afraid of screwing something up, or breaking something. The one thing that they have come to learn, it that all you have to do is shut it off, and reboot........ Wouldn't it be wonderful if the mistakes you made in your life were that simple, I.E. all you have to do is shut down and reboot, and everything would go back to the way it was before?

Pretty soon it was time to depart, time to regroup her with her mom until we meet again the next time. I look forward to seeing what surprises she'll bring with her? What new things will she have learned? I simply cannot wait. This child has a bright future ahead of her. I just hope old grandpa sticks around long enough to see it all unfold........... I love you MAC!

HOMELESS!!!!

In my last blog, I talked about my observations of the "Cup Guys". But since then I was seriously thinking about what it must really be like to be "Homeless". I mean just think of it. What if you were at a friends home visiting, it was time to leave, and YOU had nowhere to go? No home to go to, no furniture, no apartment, no personal items except what you could carry on your back, and certainly NO mailing address, no TV, no heat, no electric, no shower, no bathroom, nowhere to wash your face, brush your teeth, NOTHING!!!

WHAT WOULD YOU DO? A better question would be what goes on in your mind. How do you cope? How in today's world did you get in this dilema in the first place?

I know a lot of folks might think that when they see a homeless person, there is something wrong with the person, a mental deficiency, they must be criminals, alcoholics, or druggies, PTSD Vets, etc. OR....... could it be as simple as they are the byproducts of today's poor economic times????

I really think today's sociologists are collecting the wrong data. In other words, what percentage of those that are homeless are simply because they lost their jobs, looked and looked, but meanwhile their unemployment ran out, they could no longer pay their bills, lost their homes, and are now out in the cold, as opposed to the other reasons previously mentioned above.

Even among the homless we have a couple of social levels of hierarchy. What are they you might ask? Well..... there are those who might have a car, or those who still have a job. How can someone be homeless and have a car or a job? Because when they became homeless, the car was an asset that was already paid for, so they already had it before the travesty hit them or they were downsized in the workplace with a cut in pay. Are they more better off that those who don't have a car or a job.....well somewhat. How so, you state? Because it provides them with some mobility, provided they can put gas in it, insure it, etc. Now if we are talking about the person with a job, it might provide them with some perks like insurance, dental, or other benefits, but not enough income to provide enough financial stability. Remember, homeless might mean that one does not have a home, but it does not necessesarily mean they have no income whatsoever.

There are the elderly who might be on Social Security. They get a monthly income, but it's not enough to afford an apartment or room, or there are others who might be on SSI, but it still isn't enough to completely make ends meet. Did you know there are those who lost their homes due to the simple fact that their income has not kept up with the economy cost of living increases, or real estate taxes, food costs, mortgage payments, etc.

This evening, while in the car, I was listening to one of Chcago's Alderman on the radio. He is running for Clerk of the Courts. It was interesting to note that one of the things he was saying was that in his Ward there are 56 forclosed and vacant home in a four block radius. There are many instances of four to six families living in the same apartment. Is this what America is all about, he said? He also said one of his main goals was to enlist the aid of the community to help out and get these homes occupied. Otherwise the neghborhood will certainly be reduced to decay. When that happens crime increases too. Is this what America is all about? Certainly not! But right now, it's what we have to deal with.

So what can we do? It has become appearant to me that, there might be less homeless in other cultural societies where they have very strong family units, and strong family ties. They would think nothing of taking in their kinfolk and providing them with shelter. They would not ask themselves whether it was a long term or short term committment they are making, they just do it, and don't ask any questions when asked to commit. However, conversly it also seems to me that in some third generation American family units, that concept, of making that family sharing committment, seems to have eluded them. Although they might sympathize with the plight of their relative in the beginning, they would never share their home with them on a long term basis. Evntually there would be the development of stress on th, who might become homeless, e head of household, or other members of the original family unit, and the new family tenant would simply have to go.

There is no real solution to the points that I bring up. At least not at this time. All I can do here is to try to raise awareness of the plight of the homeless and how you might be able to help members of your own family if the situation should arise. I am hoping to get you to think differently about making the committment to helping a family member out, if there ever becomes an opportunity for you to do so, and you would be one of the champions of helping to avoid another person from living on the streets........