I am sitting here musing about the recent verdict in the George Zimmerman vs the people of Florida case and I simply wonder. As the CNN news program is on in the background, I try to put myself in the place of George Zimmerman and then in the place of Trevon Martin.
First of all living in the State of Wisconsin, a state that has a conceal and carry law, you never know who is carrying a firearm, and who is not. Knowing this, it causes one, at least in my case, to treat situations differently, situations that might have been provoking in the past are now just dismissed. What I mean, as an example, is that when someone cuts you off in traffic, now I simply might shake my head, I don't get upset by it as I might have in the past. It causes you to think twice about any situation that could result in any kind of confrontation. No, I don't mean cowardly, but I do mean thinking about what the consequences might be, and what are the results that could happen worth it, on a principal, more so than simply walking away.
Now where I live it is a very private community. You get to know your neighbors and you get to observe over time things that are normal and things that are not. You think you know who should be there, and who should not. Now I know as a kid, we were always going places we were not supposed to be in. The golf course at night, the cemetery when it was closed, climbing to the top floor of a three flat and going through the access panel in the roof so we could jump between the building rooftops like you might see on commercials or in a movie. We would jump neighborhood fences and take strawberries, cherries, apples, and other fruits and vegetables from neighbors gardens. We'd climb up the walls of Manning Bowl to get free entrance to the stadium. We'd go to Flax Pond, and if you left your oars in your rowboat, we'd take it for a spin. We did a lot of things that might have deserved adult confrontation, and police intervention, but they were harmless and certainly mischievous indeed but teenage boredom in it's most visible example.
Have I been in a physical confrontation with another individual, well I must admit, the answer is yes. But I have never been in a situation where someone is on top of me, banging my head into the ground, trying to kill me. I can only ask this question. If you are on the ground and and being pummeled, at what point in your mind, do you fear for your life? At what point do you have so much survival instincts and adrenalin flowing that you try to stop the situation by any means that you can, your survival instincts, and if one of those solutions is to pull your gun, the gun that you have every right to carry and possess, and use it, would you? I don't think at this point of the confrontation that it matters who started it, why it was started, or who struck the first blow. The issue is does the person on the bottom fear for his life. How do you measure that? Each persons interpretation might be different. But to assess your threshold on someone else, is simply wrong.
Now try to put yourself into the head of the victim. He's walking in an area he is not supposed to be in. But he is a kid, they do that all the time, so what? But there have been issues in that area, a gated community I believe, and that is why the community initiated a neighborhood watch committee. So here I am, walking along going to the store, and I notice someone is following me. "I" would turn and ask him why he is following me, who wouldn't? Others might simply run. BUT, lets face it, teenagers think they are invincible, I did. So that is what I believe might have happened. Trevon simply turned and asked why he was being followed and then the confrontation ensues and escalates. Asking, can be in many different forms and does not mean verbal. Teenagers simply DO NOT know when to walk away. Did Zimmerman try to restrain Martin, and that's what started it? We'll never know. But I do know that if someone was following me, it wouldn't go without notice and question.
Simply put, in our system of justice, EVERYONE is presumed innocent until PROVEN guilty. If you look at the whole of the facts (where your only source of facts are through the media) you come away with Mr. Zimmerman being guilty and he must prove his innocence. But that is not the case. The prosecution must prove, BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT, to a jury selected by both the prosecution and the defense that Zimmerman was guilty. The jury weighed all the facts "that were presented" and found Zimmerman was not guilty "of what the charges were". We have to accept that, it is the system that we live by. The same system that let OJ Simpson go free. The process is now, that we have concluded the proceedings, the only way to make sure there might be a different outcome from this point forward would be to change the law. But even if that were to happen, there is no guarantee that a jury would vote any differently and we'd be right here where we are now.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
What's it Like to be Snowmobiling in the Northwoods of Wisconsin
There are a lot of people who will read this blog, and although they have NEVER been snowmobiling, thinking that the cold weather is a bad thing, will still never have the opportunity to go. However, if you're well prepared, dress warmly, and take the proper precautions, your experience can be wonderful!
So here I'll try to paint you a picture of an evening of pristine conditions, great weather, and the perfect ride. But before we go, we have to get dressed in our warm snowmobiling outfits. Boots, Bib style snowmobile pants, warm jacket, the important Balaclava, safety helmet, and gloves. Once this is done, it's time to check out the sled. Just like a pilot checks out his air plane before take off, you too should check out the snowmobile before departing. Not a good idea to get stranded out in the middle of nowhere because you ran out of gas, or broke a drive belt. So, gas tank is full, spare belt is secured in it's place and a complete set of tools are tucked neatly in their carrying case. Now for additional safety, I also carry a survival kit. This is a small bag containing many essentials that might be required should the snowmobile break down and I am stranded in the middle of nowhere. What do I put into this kit? Well for starters, I have the following, survival knife, waterproof matches, Bic lighter, tow strap, hand warmers body warmers, survival blanket, small fire starter kindling, trail maps, compass, fishing kit, sewing kit, dry socks, extra gloves and a flashlight. These are just a few of the basic items you should carry. Now my sled also has a large storage rack, so I also carry extra gas, large flashlight, jump starter battery, and funnel.
When you are on the trails, gas stations are not as prevalent as there are when you are in a car, so check your trail map, plan your route, and know your sled. In other words if you only get 10 miles to the gallon, and you only have a 10 gallon tank, you better have planned on locating a gas station somewhere along the trail BEFORE you run out of gas. It's also a good idea to plan other areas along the way to stop, such as where to eat, scenic areas to stop and rest. Something to always keep in mind. If point A to point B by car is ten miles, it is, in a lot of cases, much farther by snowmobile because of the winding trails and the right of ways that the trails must traverse.
Also, there can be opportunities for overnight rides. Such as riding a hundred miles or so, staying overnight, enjoying the local area, and returning to your place of origin the next day.
So now that we're all suited up, made our safety check, fired up the sled, we're ready to go. Now in my opinion there are three kinds of snowmobile trails. A) The ones that ARE NOT on any publicy traveled roadway or trail, meaning you do not have to worry about automobile traffic. B) There are snowmobile routes that use public streets, which ARE traveled by automobiles. C) There are trails out in the woods that have logging activities going on, so there might be large trucks crossing the trails. You need to be aware of all of these.
Leaving our home at about 4:30PM the temperature is about 33 degrees. The sky is clear with a few clouds spattered about, and we are now driving on one of the local roads to pick up our companions for this trip. The road is snow covered. The previous day we had about four inches of fresh fallen snow drop on us. Dry snow, not wet. A good base of fresh powder. Now one thing that you must be very careful of when traveling on public roads is the intersections. Snowmobiles cannot stop as easily as a car can, but under snow covered conditions both are just as unsure when it comes to an emergency stop. So when you approach an intersection, slow down, look both ways, before you proceed. Also, when crossing a road way that is paved and there is no snow on it, presents an additional problem as your steering is impaired and you do not have the same control because the skis cannot bite into the pavement.
So here we are moving, gently along the winding and twisting trails, as the sun goes down and our head lights illuminate the forest floor. We're the second sled in the caravan of two, and we constantly make sure we are a safe distance behind our leader. The passenger has some driving responsibilities too. There are times when you are not alone on the trails, and other parties will approach you as oncoming traffic. In some cases the trails are very narrow. So you have to slow down. The passenger on the first sled holds up their hand with one finger to indicate to oncoming traffic that there is one sled behind them. The passenger on the last sled will hold up their fist, indicating that they are the last sled in the caravan. This is another example of practiced safety on the part of the snowmobiler.
We have been traveling for about ten miles now, and the lighting has turned from daylight to dusk. This is always an eerie time as the shadows from the forest take on additional shapes, casting doubt as to what you are looking at. It take a reactionary second to decipher what it really is. Such as is that a piece of snow on the trail, or a large rock. Are those snowmobile tracks or branches that have fallen? This slows your progress, because you have to be careful and make sure you see what you think you see.
The driver on the other hand is watching other things as well. Speed, fuel consumption, trail conditions, and most importantly, the sled in front of them. Occasionally, there will be deer in the forest, this particular night we saw a huge Buck, running through the forest, parallel to our path. Was it going to cross our path at some point? Yup, that's what happened! Fortunately, it was far enough in front of us that it was more of a beautiful sight that presenting a dangerous situation. Continuing on, there are instances of slippage on the trails. This is where you are rounding a corner, and you lose traction and control, because you have hit a patch of ice. You have to back off on the throttle and re-grab the trail and continue your turn.
Upon entering town we realized our fuel was down to a quarter of a tank, so we'll have to fill up after having our dinner. Now there are some riders who like to have a few libations with their meal, by as for myself, I prefer to wait so that my driving abilities are not impaired. There are those riders who will disagree with this position, but that is the choice they have to make for themselves. I prefer an alternate choice.
One of the great things about going to places that are frequented by other riders is the camaraderie that is developed. There are stories that are shared, current trail condition reports, and many other things that riders have in common. After dinner it was time to wam up the sleds. Did you know that today's modern sleds have such luxuries as heated hand grips for passenger and driver, heated seats, remote starters. Yup, today it is possible to be completely comfortable with your ride. Some sleds such as mine get around 20 miles per gallon, while others get much less. What this means is you'll need to make more frequent stops to refuel between destinations. After filling the tanks with gas though, it was time to start heading back. We were going to take a different route though, and we also were going to avoid crossing any of the many lakes at night. This was for a couple of reasons. 1. The trails across the lakes are not groomed. 2. During the night time you cannot necessarily tell the difference between black ice and open water. 3. Sometimes there are permanent ice fishing shacks on the ice that DO NOT have proper reflectors on their shacks to warn you they are there, and you don't see them until you are right on top of them. 4. Although there are some markers placed on the ice to indicate a safe path, they are NOT put there by the State or any reputable organization, so you travel at your own risk. This is why we avoid the lakes at night.
But tonight the conditions for travel were perfect. We were lucky enough on the way back to have had a groomer travel the same trails before us. Again we were the first to travel these newly groomed trails. We did see a herd of deer in the woods on the way back. They are quite a spectacle to see, with their winter, dark colored, coats. The moon was shining, and there was a slight cloud cover. The ride home was much quicker, mainly because it was also a lot shorter. But overall, a great ride, and a great night with great friends. We did get to put on about forty miles or so, and we all got home safe, had no problems with equipment, and stayed warm the entire way.
Want to try this experience for yourself? There are many hotels, and motels that cater to the winter visitor. Some places have packages that include a snowmobile rental in your package rate, complete with helmets. You'll have to provide your own outer clothing though. So come on up to the Northwoods of Wisconsin, try your hand at the sport of snowmobiling.......I'm sure you'll never regret it!!!
So here I'll try to paint you a picture of an evening of pristine conditions, great weather, and the perfect ride. But before we go, we have to get dressed in our warm snowmobiling outfits. Boots, Bib style snowmobile pants, warm jacket, the important Balaclava, safety helmet, and gloves. Once this is done, it's time to check out the sled. Just like a pilot checks out his air plane before take off, you too should check out the snowmobile before departing. Not a good idea to get stranded out in the middle of nowhere because you ran out of gas, or broke a drive belt. So, gas tank is full, spare belt is secured in it's place and a complete set of tools are tucked neatly in their carrying case. Now for additional safety, I also carry a survival kit. This is a small bag containing many essentials that might be required should the snowmobile break down and I am stranded in the middle of nowhere. What do I put into this kit? Well for starters, I have the following, survival knife, waterproof matches, Bic lighter, tow strap, hand warmers body warmers, survival blanket, small fire starter kindling, trail maps, compass, fishing kit, sewing kit, dry socks, extra gloves and a flashlight. These are just a few of the basic items you should carry. Now my sled also has a large storage rack, so I also carry extra gas, large flashlight, jump starter battery, and funnel.
When you are on the trails, gas stations are not as prevalent as there are when you are in a car, so check your trail map, plan your route, and know your sled. In other words if you only get 10 miles to the gallon, and you only have a 10 gallon tank, you better have planned on locating a gas station somewhere along the trail BEFORE you run out of gas. It's also a good idea to plan other areas along the way to stop, such as where to eat, scenic areas to stop and rest. Something to always keep in mind. If point A to point B by car is ten miles, it is, in a lot of cases, much farther by snowmobile because of the winding trails and the right of ways that the trails must traverse.
Also, there can be opportunities for overnight rides. Such as riding a hundred miles or so, staying overnight, enjoying the local area, and returning to your place of origin the next day.
So now that we're all suited up, made our safety check, fired up the sled, we're ready to go. Now in my opinion there are three kinds of snowmobile trails. A) The ones that ARE NOT on any publicy traveled roadway or trail, meaning you do not have to worry about automobile traffic. B) There are snowmobile routes that use public streets, which ARE traveled by automobiles. C) There are trails out in the woods that have logging activities going on, so there might be large trucks crossing the trails. You need to be aware of all of these.
Leaving our home at about 4:30PM the temperature is about 33 degrees. The sky is clear with a few clouds spattered about, and we are now driving on one of the local roads to pick up our companions for this trip. The road is snow covered. The previous day we had about four inches of fresh fallen snow drop on us. Dry snow, not wet. A good base of fresh powder. Now one thing that you must be very careful of when traveling on public roads is the intersections. Snowmobiles cannot stop as easily as a car can, but under snow covered conditions both are just as unsure when it comes to an emergency stop. So when you approach an intersection, slow down, look both ways, before you proceed. Also, when crossing a road way that is paved and there is no snow on it, presents an additional problem as your steering is impaired and you do not have the same control because the skis cannot bite into the pavement.
So here we are moving, gently along the winding and twisting trails, as the sun goes down and our head lights illuminate the forest floor. We're the second sled in the caravan of two, and we constantly make sure we are a safe distance behind our leader. The passenger has some driving responsibilities too. There are times when you are not alone on the trails, and other parties will approach you as oncoming traffic. In some cases the trails are very narrow. So you have to slow down. The passenger on the first sled holds up their hand with one finger to indicate to oncoming traffic that there is one sled behind them. The passenger on the last sled will hold up their fist, indicating that they are the last sled in the caravan. This is another example of practiced safety on the part of the snowmobiler.
We have been traveling for about ten miles now, and the lighting has turned from daylight to dusk. This is always an eerie time as the shadows from the forest take on additional shapes, casting doubt as to what you are looking at. It take a reactionary second to decipher what it really is. Such as is that a piece of snow on the trail, or a large rock. Are those snowmobile tracks or branches that have fallen? This slows your progress, because you have to be careful and make sure you see what you think you see.
The driver on the other hand is watching other things as well. Speed, fuel consumption, trail conditions, and most importantly, the sled in front of them. Occasionally, there will be deer in the forest, this particular night we saw a huge Buck, running through the forest, parallel to our path. Was it going to cross our path at some point? Yup, that's what happened! Fortunately, it was far enough in front of us that it was more of a beautiful sight that presenting a dangerous situation. Continuing on, there are instances of slippage on the trails. This is where you are rounding a corner, and you lose traction and control, because you have hit a patch of ice. You have to back off on the throttle and re-grab the trail and continue your turn.
Upon entering town we realized our fuel was down to a quarter of a tank, so we'll have to fill up after having our dinner. Now there are some riders who like to have a few libations with their meal, by as for myself, I prefer to wait so that my driving abilities are not impaired. There are those riders who will disagree with this position, but that is the choice they have to make for themselves. I prefer an alternate choice.
One of the great things about going to places that are frequented by other riders is the camaraderie that is developed. There are stories that are shared, current trail condition reports, and many other things that riders have in common. After dinner it was time to wam up the sleds. Did you know that today's modern sleds have such luxuries as heated hand grips for passenger and driver, heated seats, remote starters. Yup, today it is possible to be completely comfortable with your ride. Some sleds such as mine get around 20 miles per gallon, while others get much less. What this means is you'll need to make more frequent stops to refuel between destinations. After filling the tanks with gas though, it was time to start heading back. We were going to take a different route though, and we also were going to avoid crossing any of the many lakes at night. This was for a couple of reasons. 1. The trails across the lakes are not groomed. 2. During the night time you cannot necessarily tell the difference between black ice and open water. 3. Sometimes there are permanent ice fishing shacks on the ice that DO NOT have proper reflectors on their shacks to warn you they are there, and you don't see them until you are right on top of them. 4. Although there are some markers placed on the ice to indicate a safe path, they are NOT put there by the State or any reputable organization, so you travel at your own risk. This is why we avoid the lakes at night.
But tonight the conditions for travel were perfect. We were lucky enough on the way back to have had a groomer travel the same trails before us. Again we were the first to travel these newly groomed trails. We did see a herd of deer in the woods on the way back. They are quite a spectacle to see, with their winter, dark colored, coats. The moon was shining, and there was a slight cloud cover. The ride home was much quicker, mainly because it was also a lot shorter. But overall, a great ride, and a great night with great friends. We did get to put on about forty miles or so, and we all got home safe, had no problems with equipment, and stayed warm the entire way.
Want to try this experience for yourself? There are many hotels, and motels that cater to the winter visitor. Some places have packages that include a snowmobile rental in your package rate, complete with helmets. You'll have to provide your own outer clothing though. So come on up to the Northwoods of Wisconsin, try your hand at the sport of snowmobiling.......I'm sure you'll never regret it!!!
Saturday, October 13, 2012
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!
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!
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
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.
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.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
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.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
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.
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.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
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.........
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.........
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