Grandma Sargie, Hambome, Pawpaw, and a Pinkerton's detective.

October 6, 2019 - Sunday morning

45 degrees/sunny/windy

Pentoga Road

What? No rain? Yeah, well, you chuckle, especially if you are down south and dying for relief from the heat and drought. I see there's the possibility of snow in the forecast for a week from today. 

You may get the last laugh.

Saturday was lousy in the weather department, but hit on all cylinders when it came to having fun. Hambone, Macrea, and Mel, arrived shortly after 9 AM and we left for Laona, Wisconsin, for a day of rootin', tootin', old fashioned, shoot 'em up, entertainment at the old Camp Five Museum.

We especially enjoyed the ride on an authentic old train pulled by a steam locomotive. It was wonderful.

As usual, when I have eighty or a hundred Grandma Sargie/Pawpaw pictures, I'll let them tell the story.

Hands against the wall!
Passengers were getting held up even before we boarded the train!

We were warned it could be a wild and wooly train ride

We knew there might be trouble ahead when the wanted posters were distributed on the train

 

Suddenly, the train began to slow and eventually came to a complete halt.

Oh no! Robbers!!

The bad guys were taking passengers from the train and putting them in a covered wagon!

Everyone! Get your hands up!

 I've never seen Hambone move so fast in his young life. The boy's hands shot straight into the air.

Suddenly, the good guys came riding in.

It was quite the gun battle!

In the end, the good guys won and we were allowed to go on our way with wallets and little boys in place. 

We eventually arrived at the Logging Camp Five museum and farm. We saw old tools, a blacksmith, walked a corn maze, rang bells, and had all kinds of fun, despite the rain, wind, and cold conditions.

I told Mommy and Daddy that I thought, possibly, I'd buy Grady a bell like this one to hang on their front porch. What a fun toy that would be.

The bell could be heard all over the logging camp

A rural mail delivery sleigh

I'm getting Macrea in shape to haul maple sap next spring

My sons and I used to eat at long tables like these at Maibec's Lumber Camp in northern Maine while deep in the big woods. Friends of the caretakers, we often stayed in the bunk rooms at the camp. I'm glad we were able to be a part of history that is quickly fading away.

Hambone led us through a large corn maze

This slaughtered pig got up and chased people around in the dark! I'm not sure who screamed, Grady or Macrea. Mel and Sargie turned around and ran back to the entrance.

We were cold and wet and it was time to board the train for the journey back to the station.

With an overflow crowd, we rode in the cattle car.

Riding directly behind the locomotive, we were soon covered in coal dust.

The five of us stopped at a tavern in Laona for a bite to eat before coming home. Last night was spent playing Name That Tune with Alexa. We laughed the entire evening.

It was getting late before the kids departed for Iron Mountain. Sargie and I watched television for a while before climbing those long, steep, steps, to bed.

Evidently, I was tired as I managed to sleep in until 7 this morning.

Today... The sun's out which means I'll be outside. I'd like to finish the fascia on the garden house if possible. I know Sargie would like to mow the yard if the sun stays out and the wind remains strong. Right now, the yard has the consistency of a wet sponge.

I'll be heading to Florence Elementary in the morning to meet with the new kindergarten cop and get him started. Hopefully, I'll be back home mid to late morning.

Meanwhile, it's time to get this day started. That garden house ain't gonna finish itself.

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

"... one of these things is not like the others"
I hopped in the middle saying that I wanted to tell all my friends that I'd been surrounded by beautiful women while in Laona. They accused me of being full of you-know-what.
Geesh, a guy can't even give a compliment anymore.