Sundown on our local lake. Taken Wednesday night as Sargie and I were fishing.

July 23, 2015 - Thursday

55 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

A shower came through a bit ago, just enough to dampen the pavement then departed towards the southwest. We're getting awfully dry and there's no real significant precipitation in the long term forecast. 

Wednesday was a full day on Pentoga Road. I traveled with Sargie to Iron Mountain. Our first stop was at the hospital where we waited... then waited some more before she had her blood drawn. It appears that a computer glitch was the initial problem, then one of the lab technicians called in sick causing a longer wait. Still, we purposely went early and Sargie was to work on time.

The drive home was a good one. I called Mom and we talked for quite a while. Busy as always, Mom serves on several committees and isn't slow to hop in her car with her girl-buddies to go out to eat or attend a local play or music event.

Mark had texted saying the trailer was full of wood. I went into town where we had a good conversation and got caught up on all of life's happenings. 

I've been trying to talk Yooper Brother Mark into throwing his hat in the presidential ring for 2016. I know he'd be better than anyone who's currently running. Mark has been mayor of Caspian, served on the city council, and is now running for Commissioner. 

After, he helped me hook up the trailer and I came back home.

I had purchased a used fish finder/sonar on Ebay for $12 last week, hoping it would work for ice fishing. Discovering it wouldn't, I made plans to use it on the boat. The remainder of Wednesday morning and part of the afternoon involved high-tech installation.

The transducer was simply bolted through the helm. I used silicone caulk to ensure there'd be no leaks. Since it's an old fishing boat, exterior wiring, secured with zip ties, works just fine.

The head was mounted to the seat beside me, the wiring was run under the seat and any excess stored there.

Since I only use an electric trolling motor, the 12 volt battery was already in place. It was a matter of drilling a few holes and running wires. The unit works like a charm.

I dug and spread one load of fill yesterday afternoon until the heat ran me indoors. The sweat was running into my eyes and my shirt was soaked. I learned my lesson last week. I was time to quit.

Sargie and I had made plans to meet at a lake on her way home from work. Since it is towards Iron Mountain, she'd brought a change of clothes and we were going to fish until dark.

I arrived an hour early and was fishing when some jack ass, I mean tourist, put his huge runabout boat on the teeny lake and began pulling a large tube filled with kiddies.

He came close to me the first time. The second time, he missed my boat by mere feet causing me to almost capsize.

I was mad. No, I was livid. 

The guy and his crew finally pulled into a small beach so the kids could go swimming. I made my way over and blocked his boat so he couldn't pull out.

We had a good, old-fashioned, arctic circle, crusty, mean, nasty, it's-a-good-thing-I-don't-have-a-harpoon, kind of conversation; well at least on my part. I told him it was obvious that he wasn't from around here, that no one I know in these parts would/could be as rude as he had been. I also said a few other things, but I'll let you fill in the blanks.

My time was ruined. I couldn't get over being mad and the more I thought about it the madder I became. I don't believe I've been that upset in many many years, if ever. 

I putted over to shore, loaded the boat and came on home. I called Sargie and told her we'd go fishing at our local lake. 

Our evening together last night was wonderful. Though the fish didn't cooperate, it was just what the doctor ordered. It cooled off as the sun went down and we enjoyed watching a lone eagle overhead.

That eagle (white head) sat in the tree for the longest time watching us troll by.

It was a short evening at home. I cleaned the catch and Sargie hurriedly watered her flowers just before it turned pitch dark.

Sargie's back to work this morning, her last before a three-day reprieve. I'm going to haul fill this morning before it gets too hot. I might begin painting the brown woodshed later. There's so much to be done, but with these hot temperatures and high humidity, my enthusiasm for anything other than sitting in the shade quickly wanes during the afternoon hours.

Meanwhile, there's coffee to sip and deep thoughts to think. After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...