Grouse
Hollow Journal for July 2, 2015 by Greg Koelker
In
the words of Willie Nelson from a long time ago, “Gee ain't it
funny how time slips away?” Just like summer vacation in the
1960's, time slipped away on Cedar
Lake in Ontario already
a couple of weeks ago. We passed
it with lots of catching up with each other, discussing plans for the
rest of the summer and such, taking long boat rides and fishing
trips, sight-seeing on blue water surrounded by rocky outcrops and
pine trees topped with eagles, finding photo ops, celebrating with
fish fries, big country-style breakfasts, popcorn and movie nights,
the delicious-as-usual camp fry, and lots of visiting with Barb and
Chuck, the Ross family, our Cheese Maker friends from Broadhead and
Monroe, and of course Dave and Leanne Frostiak, the owners of
Keystone Lodge.
One afternoon highlight came when Ellen
and I were catching some perch in a clear water bay near what the
locals call Times Square. The fish were biting steadily, but were
mostly small. Nearby was another bay beyond a rocky tree lined
peninsula, and by chance we were entertained by a bald eagle swooping
down onto the surface and snatching a 30-inch northern pike out the
water. The feathered fisherman flew right at us with his catch,
suddenly dropping his flaps to flutter down gracefully on our side of
the peninsula where after checking out its kill and the area, the
huge bird started peeling off strips of sushi for lunch. I got some
pictures of it as the glutted bird stubbled up into the air and made
a leisurely pass across our bow about five feet off the water as if
to show off.
Ellen and I put some nice fish in the
boat during the week. Both of us caught and released 18-inch small
mouths, and we put some dandy walleyes in the boat. We got some
serious sun tans and much fresh air. We spent some time on rough
water in the almost never ending wind - all part of big lake fishing.
All-in-all we had good weather and never fished in the rain. After
we got back to Grouse Hollow, we heard from Leanne Frostiak that 79
year old Art Riese of Broadhead, one of the Monroe party, passed away
from an aneurism on the way home. His buddy Rich Ahrens said that
Art had told him that he had the best week of fishing since he
started coming to Keystone with Rich. I am especially glad that I
visited with Art and Rich the night of the camp fry; they were both
in high spirits from catching lots of crappies and walleyes. Art
always had a smile and good word. I think most fishermen would agree
that if one's final journey is a great fishing trip with good friend,
it would be a good way to end the last chapter. Our sympathy goes
out Art's family and Rich and their crew.
Closer to home, last week some hard
weather hit southern Wisconsin. My mom's place near Cassville was a
mess of downed limbs with some damage to the garage and house. Mom
was okay but without power. She told us to wait until Tuesday to
come down due to downed electrical wires. Brothers Del and
brother-in-law Jamie, Del's wife Sandy and my sister Carolyn and
other family members had moved the limbs off the house and covered
the hole in the garage roof the night before. So on Tuesday morning,
my brother-in-law Dan and I went to work with chainsaws trimming and
cutting limbs to dragging size. Ellen and my sisters, Diane and
Carolyn and some of Mom's neighbors helped drag away limbs and pile
them for a fire at a later date. When we stopped to get one of
Ellen's delicious homemade sandwiches, some coffee, chips, chocolate
chip bars, water and to cool off, Ellen remarked to me that the
weather was perfect. We were lucky not to be in New Orleans or
somewhere tropical with heat, humidity, and maybe more storms. We
stopped up in town to clean up a downed cedar tree at my aunt's and
then went out El's family farm. Brother Bill had texted her that he
saw his cows but not where they were supposed to be so the fence must
need fixing. It did - in multiple places. When we got there, Ellen
and her sister Barb went for a hike to check the fence line and found
a couple of places to fix. I was mostly moral support, following
around on the four wheeler with fencing gear and supplies while Bill
ran his amazing Kubota SVL skid steer grabbing and moving brush and
entire oak trees. The previous day, Bill had towed his Kubota into
town and helped a number of people get trees off of places they
weren't supposed to be. Anyway, we were glad we could help a
little.
Until next time, get out - July is
upon us. One name for tonight's full moon is the Buck Moon according
to the almanac. They say it's because people are starting to see
bucks in velvet antlers. Ellen had buck in velvet run around her
while she was riding her bike the other day. She thought it was a
six pointer maybe. Ben called from Colorado this morning and said he
got some pictures of three huge bull elk in velvet along a road in
the mountains on his way home from a wedding shoot up in Granby.
Other names for the July full moons (there are two this month)
include the Full Thunder Moon and the Full Hay Moon; easy enough to
figure out why I guess. Anyway, last night (Sunday) was a perfect
night for sitting around a campfire with friends so we did over at
Sikoras, our neighbors. Jim and Aren Picar and Cindy and Gregg and
Ellen and I caught up around an oak blaze with more problems with
romping dogs than bugs while the lightening bugs flashed over the
corn field and stars appeared above us. El and I and Scout walked
home holding hands (okay, not Scout) in moonlight. Have a great
Fourth! Enjoy.
