On Thursday, November 2, 2023, we left home about 10:20 A.M., right after the mail delivery.
After stopping at Central Freeborn we took the Bath Road going thru Ellendale onto I-35 headed north.
Just before Ellendale there was snow on the ground and until just north of Elk River. *The temp was in the high 20’s til low 30’s mid-afternoon at Walker, MN, our destination.
Traffic and construction made slow with stop and go around Minneapolis until I-94 Elk. Just before Elk River a gravel truck lost gravel with a rock off the load chipping our windshield. We proceed north onto Mille Lacs where we stop at McDonalds in Garrison.
Lannie, a Lady at McDonalds, is a customer pleaser as she takes your order. She told us part of your ability in your position you must have the ability to “Chase” and stop customers. We watch as she hustles out the door twice to catch a customer that forgot part of their order. Another time a customer ordered, got the food and headed out the door. Right behind was Lonnie as he came back to pay. We know what she meant “We must have the ability to chase and stop customers.” “Lonnie you are very good at your job.”
An interesting thing was round-about in the small town of Crosby.
On to our destination at Blue Water Lodge located on Leech Lake just outside of Walker, Minnesota.
We saw 11 turkeys and 4 deer all north of Deerwood. Three eagles were eating a road kill deer 10 miles east of Walker, Minnesota.
As we pulled into Walker needing gas, a shocker as gas was $3.49 versus $2.99 in Albert Lea!!
Friday was deer scouting and getting my old stand ready. Another shocker, very few signs. In talking to the son of the owner of the Big Fish (a well known eating place on Highway 2 at Bena, Minnesota) he informed us deer were scarce and wolves were plentiful.
Our decision was to make visiting first and deer hunting second.
We left Blue Water Resort early Saturday morning (deer hunting opening) to meet Carole Edstrom for lunch at the Northland Cafe in Audette, Minnesota.
A distance of 140 miles. (Carol lives on Lake of the Woods and she went with Genie and I many years teaching vacation Bible school in Canada.
It started snowing heavy at lunch so Genie and I left early – it turned to freezing rain at Kelliher, Minnesota and then no rain at Black Duck, Minnesota.
At interesting thing regarding seniors in northern Minnesota, (Roseau, Warroad, Williams, Baudette) for a community meal to seniors, the senior over 60 pay $5.00, under sixty the charge is $8.00.
Genie and I attended All Saints Sunday service at Trinity Lutheran Church, Cass, MN. On Sunday, November 5, 2023. The service was done by members as their pastor was gone.
The service honored the saints of writers of old well known songs that we sang (“Rock of Ages,” “Amazing Grace,” etc.)
I was honored to be one of the readers!! Wow!
P.S.: the deer population is down where I hunt – by down I mean downright scarce!! I’ve seen no deer and only one small track.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in New York. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.