You already live in the serene wilderness!

The Japanese have a saying – “Every man should own a forest”. It is a reference to a bonsai planting of several trees bringing the idea of serene wilderness into your home or small urban garden. Well I’ve done the Japanese one better – I own a forested mountain range.

I collected the “mountains” last year while getting the foundation stones for the new cabins and paving stones for stoop in front of cabin #9. I took some time a few days back to collect the small trees and moss to plant “the mountain range” and the result is pictured above. I think its pretty damn cool!

It’s another delightful crystalline day in the boreal forest. It was in the 70’s with just a small breeze and an occasional cloud. I brought the docks over and got the east dock almost completely set. The mother fox and her two exuberant Kitts were out and about romping and sunning no more than 30 feet from me. The Kitts are grayish and the mother is a healthy bright red. I got a picture of the mother and one of the Kitts but they were too far away for blog purposes – so I will hold off in hopes of better pictures. I tried to get a closer shot of them but mamma vixen gave me a yip warning! When I went around the cabin she had taken off and the babies went to ground.

The black flies were fierce but it was fun getting the docks over and set up. I placed the thermometer in its usual position and will have lake temperatures to report soon. We came up to camp about a week later than last year but it’s a late spring and things are not as far along as they were last year. Janet cut some grass getting a jump on the season. She loves her new lawn tractor. Paul and Bob got cabin # 10 wired into the Sportsmen’s Camp power grid today too. Progress is being made.

Be afraid be very afraid!

Yes we’re back in our natural element! The generator started immediately after I bled the lines of air. It only took about 10 minutes – Dr John! Nyaah Nyaah! The throbbing heart of the camp is running like a fine swiss watch albeit a rather LOUD swiss watch. I tracked down the oil leak and manufactured a new gasket and replaced it and presto the oil leak is gone! The docks are not yet in place – I am waiting for a calm day to bring them over and set them into place.

The weather has been rainy and in the 50’s and upper 40’s all week. But today is warm – 60’s – and crystalline clear. In short beautiful. We have our first group of guests in and I have just concluded my clerical tasks (writing licenses).

Aside from the Zollingers we have some new guests in camp – a vixen has a litter of fox kitts under cabin #3! When Sled went down to the cabins last night she came out and barked at him, staying within about 10 feet of him until he left the area! Kirby is not exactly happy with this situation!

Janet and I went fishing yesterday in breezy mid forties overcast conditions. I don’t know what the water temperature is – but I can assure you that its cold! We caught several nice bass and a small pike. I also got several walleye type bites but was unable to hook the danty little bastards! We had fish for supper – our first beer battered masterpiece of the season. As in any fishing in cold water conditions the lures had to be retrieved very slowly to get hits. It was delightful even if my hands and feet were numb.

Black Fly Report: With today’s warmer temperatures the Black flies are out in full “bloom”. They are really friendly too! Hey its not as bad as rush hour in Pittsburgh!

I shot a groundhog in my pajamas…

How he got there I have no idea! Janet and I were eating our last breakfast/lunch prior to going north when I spied a groundhog in the back yard. I deftly slipped upstairs (in my flannel PJs) via the back stair case grabbed the 22 WRF and stealthily crept to the window above the back yard. Now for the tricky part – opening the window. As I eased the screen off of the sash and began to lift the window he got wise, scampering under the nearest blue spruce. Then it was a waiting game. He eventually thought all was well when a squirrel bounded into the middle of the yard. The last bad decision he ever made! After the deed I put the safety on and replaced the rifle to its location and went back to eat my now cold brunch.

Today we translate to the far north. Janet has been complaining about the heat all week (except for the day of the picnic) and will now be getting relief in the form of a typical spring in the northern boreal forest.

The next blog will be presented from Sportsmen’s Camp with an up date on the lake conditions and our nefarious doings there. Translation to the northland in T-minus – 10 – 9 – 8 – 7 – 6….