As I sit here writing this column, I am watching a few snow flurries cruising past the window, being ushered along by a brisk wind. According to my calculations, and also being confirmed by the calendar, it is spring. Any hopes that I have of getting up to the cabin any time soon have been dashed.
Our cabin sits roughly 2/3 of a mile back in the woods and the drive doesn’t get plowed unless someone feels the need to go back there. An old service buddy of mine sent me a picture on Facebook of all the snow they have gotten today. He lives in Outing, MN.
I am not one to worry about the things that I can’t control, and the weather is one of those things. On my way back from the Minneapolis VA on Friday, I stopped at Fleet Farm in Owatonna to look around. The fishing section always sucks me in, but I was happy to leave there with only two new fishing jigs, which is a good thing.
While I can’t be thinking about going to the cabin any time soon, it won‘t stop me from being ready. I brought my two game cameras home because they need a little tweaking. I have taken a quick check on my tackle boxes, and I’m pretty sure I don’t need anything.
I will be bringing the trail cameras up with me on the first trip north. Over the years I have captured some great pictures of deer, martin, bobcat, coyotes, raccoons, fox and a bear or two. On each trip that I take to the cabin, I always get excited when I anticipate checking the cameras. You just never know what will pop up.
While spending time up north, I have seen many forms of wildlife. The ones that were never captured on camera were a badger, porcupine and numerous raptors. About four years ago, I arrived at the cabin in April and was greeted by the sight of many raptors on the ice close to open water. I took this as a bad sign because that many different species indicated that the lake had experienced a winter kill. There were at least four pairs of bald eagles, two pairs of golden eagles, osprey and peregrine falcons. That was a sight to behold and one that I probably won’t get to experience again.
A few years ago, myself, along with my son, Brian, and my wife, Jean, ventured to the cabin in mid-April. The weather turned out to be about the same as it was this Sunday. Although we never encountered any downed trees, there was plenty of wood to split and good meals to enjoy, thanks to my wife.
Last summer I spent a lot of time at the cabin, mostly alone. I enjoy the peaceful solitude, but I missed having my boat there. This year my boat is almost done being repaired. It just needs to be rewired and a few things hooked up again. I have a couple of sons and a grandson that will help make this a reality.
I don’t believe that there is a more exhilarating feeling than being on the lake with the wind blowing in your face and being one with nature. It makes a person feel free and gives me the feeling that I can go just about anywhere on the lake that I feel like going. This is what freedom is all about. There is nobody telling you what to do, when to do it and where you can or cannot go.
When I was stationed in Japan for a while, I was on an LCU boat for a time. Whenever I stood mid-watch, 12-4 a.m., I would sometimes stand and look out across the bay at the lights of the city. I told my shipmate that, back home, having the freedom to get in my car and drive over to check out those lights is one of the freedoms that we were serving for. Even in Japan, certain places were off limits to servicemen. Once we got to Vietnam, those rules seemed pretty petty.
Until next time: I am staying as patient as possible while waiting for Old Mother Nature to make up her mind. Once the weather settles down, I will wait a couple of days before going to Fountain Lake to see if anything is biting.
Please show your support for the troops that are serving our country today. These servicemen and women are making that sacrifice, so that we may have the many freedoms that we enjoy today.