A different paradise

Hello all, Kerm here,

We're up at the cabin about 50 miles south of Canada near Voyagers National Park in northern Minnesota.  Ah, to wear jeans and sweatshirts again.  70's during the day and 50's at night.  What a relief after the hot weather in Florida. 

This is indeed God's country up here.  This morning there is a slight fog on the lake and as calm as can be.  Later I'm going up to the point and cast for a bit in hopes of catching a sunny or maybe a bass if they are biting.  If nothing has the hunger to bit my hook so be it, as fish cleaning before breakfast is not my cup of tea. 

Today is a tourist day.  We will drive over to see Vermillion Falls, visit the park and probably eat lunch at Melgeorges Resort on Elephant Lake.  We'll bring the fishing rods perhaps wet a lure at the stops along the way.  Unless there is some sort of spectacular catch we'll throw them all back as I don't want those smelly things in my truck.  Tough duty, eh? 

We're boatless up here right now.  Chris's fishing boat was crushed by a falling tree a couple of years ago and with as much time as we spend up here it probably isn't worth it to buy a new one, although I'm keeping an eye on craigs list.  You never know. 

What visit to the cabin would be complete without doing maintenance.  Some people call these places a work farm.  The nice thing is that the quality of fit and finish does not have to match what we try to aim for on the Belle.  Yesterday we replaced some railings and supports for the deck and Chris thought it was a bit of overkill when I brought out the level.  Perhaps, but my sister and her husband are visiting here in a couple days and they are sure to inspect the work.  They know cabin quality but hey, level is level.

When we came up here a couple of days ago the first night temperatures fell into the low 40's and the house was below 60 when we woke up.  Burrrrr.  Nuf of that, start the furnace.  I have never liked starting that furnace,  Scares the hell out of me.  Ok, read the instructions,  call brother Greg to confirm the instructions and give it a light.  It doesn't light.  Call brother again.  It doesn't light.  Too embarrassed  to call brother again.  Re-read instructions.  It lights and furnace comes on.  Yea.  Furnace quits and fire alarm goes on.  Crap.  Call brother.  Troubleshoot.  The squirrel cage fan at the top of the furnace is jammed with the tail of a dead squirrel.  Does anyone see the irony here... squirrel cage fan, dead squirrel, get it?

So, pull out TWO dead cooked squirrels, reassemble and yea it works. Call brother.