2014 Sand Island Journal

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Apostle Islands 2014 park volunteer log

This is a transcript of our handwritten entries during our 26-day stint as National Park Service volunteers on Sand Island in the Apostle Islands. We entered these into the "Sand Island Record" that was in our cabin, and dates back to 2007.

I would typically read a few of the past postings before entering our post each night. Dave contributed the two days that I went to the mainland for food resupply.

In the past few years, Dave has been our official "historian" while I contribute with photos. But, after 30 years of convoluted (i.e. writing for legal approval) corporate writing, I think I finally found my voice.

However, I picked a tough way to get back into writing.

This is absolutely the rawest form of journaling: pen on paper, with no autocorrect or escape or delete keys!  The main audience for these notes is the volunteers who follow behind us. While this is the actual text of what I wrote, if there's some explanation needed I'll provide that in [blue brackets]

June 13, 2014 Friday

70s and calm

Dave and I arrived to open things up today. After working LSB [Little Sand Bay] Visitors Center last summer, it's great to try island duty.

Opened  things up and organized in cabin, then trekked to the Lighthouse with Susan Mackreth [our Ranger supervisor]. Opened a few shutters and located a few key items before we needed to hike back for Susan' boat ride at 4 p.m. Nice, cool, calm day today, and SPECTACULAR full orange moon came up over the mainland at 9:25.

 

June 14, 2014 Saturday

45 degrees

Woke to waves crashing on dock.

Forgot to mention yesterday when we arrived, we noticed there was no water turned on! Seems the maintenance folks were waiting for testing to come back. Got 4 blue jugs (5 Gal) from mainland to get us through. I hope it's by Monday 'cuz we'll be in dire need of a shower. We're too wimpy to wash in the lake.

Dave getting lake water for our non-potable needs.

Lots of cleaning today - me in cabin, Dave on trail, and both at the [1881 brownstone] Lighthouse.

Thousands (millions?) of deceased fly and ladybug carcasses between the two buildings, and great progress on downed trees and limbs on the trail.

Cool and windy but little moisture. Met HARDY Living Adventures group in campsite and offered Lighthouse tour. They met us at 4 and we did OK for first tour of the season, although we may have messed up on some Sevona [1905 shipwreck] details, like the size of the crew.

Dave wants me to mention we "unshuttered" the Lighthouse, a major accomplishment.

June 15, 2014 Sunday (Happy Father's Day)

Gray, windy, choppy, rainy start to the day. Got work done around cabin, and checked on group in A; they had left in mid-morning when wind shifted from E to S. Nobody else around. Sky cleared around 1, so we hiked to Lighthouse to deliver brochures and get more set up for future tours.

Used up 1/2 of water jugs. Boat tried to deliver more around 4 p.m. Although lake looked calm, 3' swells prevented boat from mooring. In fact, several islands - and LSB - reported extraordinarily high water. Our dock had water over the end, driftwood washed atop, and virtually no beach. We wonder how the kayaks landed yesterday. 

As an aside, our home NBA team - the San Antonio Spurs - are winning NBA finals as I write this!   
(Showers tomorrow?)

[One highlight for Dave this day was Tex's Facebook posting of he and Dave at the top of Mt. Whitney in 2007, where he commented how cool his dad was!]

June 16, 2014 Monday

71 and sunny

Writing this late after rewarding day and unexpected guests. We thought we'd be sharing quarters with APIS biologists, but met Wisconsin DNR [Department of Natural Resources] ecologists instead who planned to camp. So we offered Ryan and Amy of Madison our spare room. In the midst of epic mosquitoes and flies, they were ecstatic - as were we when the water was FINALLY turned on! :-)

Dave finished heavy-duty trail cleaning with an ax. Now visitors only have to step over one felled tree. He also gave Lighthouse tours.

I did campground duty, meeting 26 campers in group sites - one was 16 in ONE Voyager canoe. We then took our long-awaited showers.

After sharing the table with new DNR friends for dinner, we asked a lot of plant and bird questions. They really know their stuff! Good day.

June 17, 2014 Tuesday

61 and sunny

Another uber-calm day. DNR folks left early for work (5:00?) and lots of boat and medical emergency chatter [on the radio] between 5:30 and 8. So not a good day to sleep in!16-person Voyager headed out around noon. What a cool sight.

The Voyagers head out of Sand Island East Bay.

Dave and I got caught up in cabin, laundry, campground and trail chores. Both group campgrounds full, but still no activity in regular campgrounds.

By the way, the cultural resources crew came to the conclusion that the odd lake height reported by several islands (including us) on Sunday was that rare phenomenon known as a SEICHE. I heard about it in training the other day, but determined I'd probably never experience it - especially not on our 3rd day here! 
Finally, the lesson of the day after chat with Maintenance - don't overthink things! [Our maintenance friend Fibber nicely showed us the easy way to load the weed trimmer after we had practically taken the thing apart.]

June 18, 2014 Wednesday

50s, sunny but windy

2 groups (from one Scout group in twin cities) in A and B are windbound today. B group was here yesterday and took advantage of calm conditions to circumnavigate island in kayaks. Not today!

We took advantage of their idle time and drafted them to help get both flagpoles in working order. Afterwards they toured the Lighthouse, although it was too blustery to stay at the top too long.

There was plenty of help getting the pole down.

An official Boy Scout flag-raising ceremony at the dock. Pretty cool.

The boys celebrate the first flag raising.

The lighthouse tower provided a great view of the second flag repair/raising.

Fresh lake whitefish for dinner topped off with new discovery - Almond Joy chocolate pudding. Who knew?

We'll see if we get another day with the scouts. Looks windy tomorrow too. Thank goodness they are with an outfitter (Living Adventures).

(By the way, in reading past journal entries, I discovered that the flags haven't been flown here since July 20, 2012. Glad they're back up.)

[Today we also learned that the medical emergency on Tuesday on Oak Island was one of scout dads in our second group - glad he got off on a calm day.]

June 19, 2014 Thursday

50s Cloudy and cool

As I write this the air occasionally shudders with the BOOM of six-foot waves crashing into the dock.

Since the campsite dock was irreparably damaged in last winter's ice, I'm particularly invested in seeing this dock survive.

On that note, a reminder of this past winter (2013-2014), and the rare, extended "Polar Vortex" is in order. This event resulted in 90% of Lake Superior being iced over, and a spectacular out-of-season event for visitors to walk from Meyers Beach INTO the mainland (ice) sea caves - affectionately called the "Ice Capades" by some staff.

It overwhelmed APIS [Apostle Islands] staff and attracted 138,000 visitors or so (we typically get 150,000 visitors in A YEAR!)

So how does that affect us? Well, it should result in more summer visitors who might want to return after discovering the park. However, other effects include a higher lake level (so less beach for kayaks), cooler temperatures and more moisture - which of course means bugs, or, as one local put it, "it's the worst mosquitoes I can remember in years." Oh boy.

That said, today was so windy we had few flies or mosquitoes, and even fewer visitors, aside from the same scout group, windbound once again. They hope to sneak out to LSB if morning waves are calmer, as is forecast. If not, who knows? The boys call it "Escape from Sand Island.'

We had a nice discovery today. While cleaning up the Lighthouse, the windbound guides came up to escape their teenaged charges. We talked about local flora and one guide - Ben - told us of a Pink Lady's Slipper on the trail N of Justice Bay. We planned to try to find it on the hike back after finishing our chores, and the 4 guides headed back. Half an hour later, past the old growth pines, I looked down to see a huge arrow ---> scraped out of the trail. Sure enough, to our right, was that gorgeous orchid-like flower. (The Minnesota State Flower.) Thanks Ben!

If you look closely, the scraped arrow on left is pointing to Pink Lady slipper far right center.
Look for the big bright green basal leaves.

[As an aid to other hikers, we "re-scraped" that arrow daily the remainder of our stay on Sand.]

June 20, 2014 Friday

48 Gray and foggy ALL DAY

It's been a full week as of today. With all the opening up, cleaning and trail clearing I wonder if we'll ever get into a routine.

After yesterday's extensive post, I resolved to keep today's summary short ... that is, as long as I can relate the tale of "Rescue Ranger Dave."

At 8:15 our radio crackled with "505-801." [This is standard protocol for calling on the radio; our call number was 505]. Not only were we surprised to hear our call #, but from the head of protection, no less! It seems 2 kayakers were in trouble after losing their boat in the waves last night. They were scheduled for campsite 3 on Lighthouse Bay (but, what were they thinking going out on a small craft advisory day?)

Anyhow, they relayed that they were alright, but not certain where they were, only that "it was an island with a lighthouse." So we threw some snacks in Dave's pack, filled his travel coffee mug, and sent him up the trail. For the next 90 minutes, I followed the drama via my park radio. A resources boat was nearby, so he checked the Lighthouse while Dave walked the Lighthouse Bay beach, where he found the couple. They were OK and in good spirits - maybe just glad to be alive. [Resources Ranger] Coop picked them up in the handy landing boat and they recovered their gear a mile up the beach in the woods where they camped. They were then shuttled - safe and sound (minus one kayak) to LSB. Ranger Susan remarked about Dave's presence of mind and professionalism on the radio. Thus, the moniker "Rescue Ranger" - sounds better than "Rescue Volunteer Ranger."

After giving the Outward Bound folks a Lighthouse tour, we were ready to call it a day.

June 21, 2014  Saturday

44-58  STILL foggy

Dense Fog Advisory most of the day. The 39 folks in both groups got off this morning. We were going to retrieve the scrap planks from Site B's broken-up dock to put over the muddy camper trail, but when I noticed tents and boats in Site 1 we decided to head to the Lighthouse in case they wanted a tour. This was our first occupation of a "regular" site, and - boy - is there a difference!

Yes, those are cans on the ground, and a half-empty liquor bottle on the left.

I found a bag of trash, eggshells and dirty pans just sitting out. Some Hanes boxers were slung over the "Site 1" sign and there were many "dead soldiers," i.e. empty beer cans and liquor bottles strewn about. Very different from the pristine sites our several groups have maintained. So I put the food scraps and trash in the bear box and left a friendly note to PLEASE not leave anything out in the campground. On the back I wrote "did you bring any beer for us?"

Dave and I both ran into the group later and - as we expected - they were 20-somethings not accustomed to bear country rules.

Our opinions of them lightened somewhat while returning from the Lighthouse after mowing and putting up curtains. The 4 had left after some fog cleared, either to York or back to LSB. We checked the site, expecting litter. Sure enough, Dave spotted a red can under the picnic table. On further review, there were 2 cans, and they were unopened! What a nice surprise, and a nice gesture. We will savor them (the Buds). And maybe they learned something. [The next day Dave found a 3rd beer - a Summit IPA. Even better.]

At the end of the day we also saw our first anchored sailboat. Quiet day.

FIRST DAY OF SUMMER!

June 22, 2014 Sunday

44-58 Fog lifts

We are alone. No campers, probably because it's Sunday and has been foggy and uninspiring for days. Lake and bays are almost dead calm though. After group in A left I did privy chores, then mowed 1 and 2, optimistic that we will see campers there again. Then I helped Dave move 5 long salvaged dock boards to use on the muddy stretch between here and A camp.

Before

After

Dave said he feels like the professor on Gilligan's Island, jury-rigging found boards and rusty nails to improve trails and dock steps here and at Justice Bay. He also had to us the back of a hatchet to pound nails that were pushed up on our dock in the high waves the other night. (Does that make me Mary Ann or Ginger?)

The work today was muddy and hard, but rewarding. No visitors at Lighthouse today, but a few day hikers and picnickers.

One thing we miss from our from our LSB job last summer is watching the sun set over Sand Island. Tonight at 9, Dave looked out the window to see an orange stripe emanating over Raspberry. I put my shoes on and rushed to see - for the first time in days - a relatively clear sky with the beginning of a rainbow, which was reflecting off the smooth lake water with a sailboat in the foreground. The lake and sky to the left of the dock was soft pink, and to the right a pastel blue. Extraordinary how the REFLECTION of a sunset can be just as colorful. God is good.

P.S. Forgot to mention we finally made it to Gert's cabin. [Gert was the island's beloved "spinster" who lived in the lighthouse 1925-1943 and built a cabin near us.] If I were rich, I would donate  $ to NPS to bring "Plenty Charm" back. It must have been special.

June 23, 2014 Monday

50-62 Pleasant and calm

"The Lord in His wisdom made the fly; and then forgot to tell us why." - Ogden Nash.

We are alone again ... if you count campers or Lighthouse visitors. But THE 2014 SWARM HAS ARRIVED! On this still, cool, sunny day, we weren't the only ones who wanted to get outside. I attempted to clear Lighthouse windows from the outside, and Dave finished mowing, and the flies had their way with us.

If we could count them as park visitors, I'm sure we'd get more funding from Congress. Maybe fog and wind isn't so bad after all...

On the subject of wild things, this is our 11th day and the only wildlife we've seen is those beer-drinking campers from Saturday! Each evening I read excerpts from this journal that mention frolicking otters on the Lighthouse rocks, soaring eagles, playful bear cubs on the trail, and 10-pt bucks crashing through the woods. Until today, we've seen a few loons, mergansers, and ONE red squirrel.  Where is everyone?

I did see (I'm pretty sure) a bald eagle and hawk at the Lighthouse today. so things might be picking up. Also, a Voyager group showed up this eve. (I'm off to the mainland to re-supply so wonder if Dave will pick up the journal duty. Hopefully his entries will be shorter.)

June 24, 2014 Tuesday

50-46 20k NE wind/ cold and damp

[Dave writing this day]

Betsy left for LSB before Morning Roundup and things got busier.[Morning Roundup is the radio update with HQ for offshore weather that we post for campers, as well as an individual report from the 5 staffed locations.] The 6 teen girls and 2 guides in A stayed by permit, the 13 young adults in the Voyager canoe stayed because of wind, and 8 Boy Scouts and 1 guide and 1 leader paddled in with a permit for the Voyager spot. Meanwhile, I was at the lighthouse giving tours. Every time I packed up/locked up and started down the trail, another slug of campers came up for tours. By the time I got back at 5 p.m. after 3 tours/28 people (at Lighthouse.) The camping issues had been self-resolved - PERFECT!

Don't tell anyone at NPS, but I let the girls eat lunch inside the Lighthouse (it was very cold and windy.) and the Boy Scouts are camped at Site 2 (instead of the lawn at the cabin.)

The Boy Scouts lowered the flag for me and every one of them had shivers and chattering teeth. With the NE wind and dampness it has been a bone-chilling day.

On a positive note, very few flies or mosquitoes. :-)

There was some excitement on York Island today (heard via radio chatter). Apparently a boat ran aground and the occupants will have to spend the night on the island until the weather calms enough to allow evacuation. No one hurt but I did hear the word "salvage" used in regard to the boat.

Also Natural Resources staff confirmed that "professional" hunters have been on the island the last two winters attempting to eradicate all of the deer to allow recovery of the Canadian Yew. Apparently a wiley buck has eluded them but there are now less than 1/2 dozen deer left on the island.

June 25, 2014 Wednesday

55 Clouds and winds turning to bright sun, blue sky, calm winds

[Dave writing this day]

Sand Island is definitely a 2-person job. For the 4th straight time I had to turn back and unlock the Lighthouse for a tour (8-mile hike for one tour!) Once again I had an unpermitted group and 315 [the park's permit coordinator] was AWOL*. But, again, it seems to have worked out.

The hike back to the Lighthouse was worth it because it was a spectacular, clear, sunny evening. Earlier in the day I weed-whacked the trail until the string broke, the explored the Hansen Farm.

What potential!! Sad to see it rotting away. It also reinforced the notion that - if we come back to open the station - the first thing to do is explore every building and inventory tools and equipment. In week #2 I have discovered several items that I would have loved to have in week #1. 

 *I don't understand why we are not told which campsites are permitted. So much angst could be easily avoided. And then my radio call goes unanswered - aargh.

June 26, 2014 Wednesday

45-60 Clear and cool

I had a nice few days on the mainland to "re-supply", but was surprised how anxious I was to get here, away from civilization and back to "island time."

The LSB dock is out there somewhere.

My boat ride on Tuesday was more interesting than necessary, what with a pea-soup fog that all the radar and GPS on Don's boat couldn't overcome.With about a 200-yard visibility we toured the E and W sides of Sand Bay before finally - after 30 minutes - finding LSB dock.

While at the Visitor Center, I learned more about the family stranded on York. The boat they took out was a PONTOON boat. Our rangers were incredulous. They paid a high price - especially for the salvage operation - but all got back safely.

In a brief chat with Susan I showed her a pic of the trail between A and B before our attempted improvements of dockboards over the mud. She remarked "It looks like a herd of cattle went through there." I corrected her - SCOUTS, not cattle! It looks much better now, and things seem to be drying out a bit.

Both groups - B and #4 - showed up at the same time today for Dave, so he gave one tour to all 17. Also he noticed fresh bear scat and scrapes S of the Lighthouse!

After dinner, we treated ourselves to Apple Wine Bread from the Candy Shop in Bayfield. Amazing. It's great to be back.

June 27, 2014 Thursday

54-65 Nice, then rain

After a picture-perfect day, fog, rain and a bit of thunder arrived around 7:30. Campers in B, #2 and - for the first time we think  - #3. Dave gave a Lighthouse tour to a father/daughter on a last-trip-before college outing. Their boat was docked on the right side when a water taxi pulled up and 3 men got off with backpacks that must have weighed 100 lbs each - or so it seemed. Nick, Kyle and Ryan from the Chicago area wanted to "get away," and I told them site #3 was a god choice. Other than some cans of OFF, I'm not sure they were prepared for our bugs, and I had to encourage them to switch from tennis shoes to boots right away, what with all the mud still on the trail. I think they appreciated my tips. Off they went.

Dave showed me Hansen house today. Really cool. We also attempted to visit Noring Farm [near the campgrounds], but after a half hour of what felt like bushwhacking, we gave up. Very unrewarding.

On his way back from Lighthouse this afternoon, Dave saw OUR FIRST BEAR (on Day 15) near Hansen Farm. Of course, I was elsewhere :-( at the Lighthouse.

By the way, it's 9:30 and we can't see the lake. I guess the fog is back.

June 28, 2014 Friday

72-84 Muggy

Flies and skeeters and BEARS - oh my! Finally, on Day 16, a young bear appeared in our yard. We saw him/her through the kitchen window while doing our dinner dishes. Dave went out the door, and he (the bear) scooted away. We're naming him "Privy" since we saw him by that structure.

Last night's rain brought 0.4 inches, 2 more kayakers (Billy & Kirsten) in #2, and - most importantly - our 2nd swarm of the season. The air was thick with humidity and biting flies.

The couple in #2 knew they were leaving LSB late (7 p.m. or so) but didn't realize that rain and fog would detour them to the east. They saw stairs at Justice Bay, left one boat there, and hiked back up with the other boat and camping gear. It was a trip to celebrate Billy's birthday. They were in good spirits this morning.

The "3 4-letter Musketeers" - as I'm calling them - had an equally memorable time in site #3. Nick, Kyle and Ryan were visiting with Dave when I arrived at the Lighthouse. They were obviously unprepared and stupefied by the influx of flies today. They too will have stories to tell! We ran 4 tours of 21 folks today. 84 degrees tomorrow? REALLY?

June 29, 2014 Saturday

(82? NOT) 60-72 Some storms

I've determined that we are NOT at the top of the food chain. No, not the shy bear from yesterday, but instead the buzzing mosquitoes, pesky ants, biting flies and ticks in unexpected places - and this is INSIDE the cabin!

Another pretty day with more swarms. In the afternoon we had 3 storm cells go over us. Little rain in East Bay but more noise and excitement at the Lighthouse. This was only the 2nd day Dave didn't pack his fleece jacket for the Lighthouse, and we both traded our bug-net hats for full-upper-body screens. They help a lot, but are very hot in these muggy conditions. One Lighthouse tour with 13 wet kayakers.

While the 1st squall seemed headed our way, I heard about an inflatable dinghy heading our way from LSB, where they were concerned the visitors would get lost. I saw a faint dot in the water with my binoculars, moving V-E-R-Y S-L-O-W. In the meantime, dark clouds are approaching, and I am joined on the dock by the 3 21-year-old Musketeers from Chicago, a water taxi with a family of 5, Mike he taxi driver, and a small boat with 3 passengers. We guided the dinghy in safely, although I reminded the group that this wasn't an ideal craft for Lake Superior, and they were lucky it was a calm day. They are from NEPAL and staying in #2.

In #1 are the 3 sailboat passengers, including a blind girl.

What's a little rain after 3 days of bugs?

I asked the 3 guys from site #3 if they would do anything different next time. "Not come back?" was Nick' answer. They had a 9-hour drive home.

We had our 1st drink here in 17 days tonight. I loaned a corkscrew to Billy (40th birthday) last night, and he returned it with a 1/2 bottle of red wine.

Good stuff (and a nice trade.)

June 30, 2014 Sunday

68-76 DRY!

Today was a continuation of "The Dinghy Incident of 2014."

It features 3 young Nepalese in that comically underpowered boat, a caring sailor and his 2 adopted Chinese daughters, a Minneapolis camper/kayaker and his Belgian wife, a few NPS boats, and me.

Not long after Dave left to attempt the sawing of the newly-fallen tree over the trail, I noticed the dinghy had left for LSB. Susan had asked us to keep an eye out, as they remained concerned. Also, site #1 Sailor John (dad of the adopted girls) told me he tried to give guidance on the best route into some tough SW winds. It seemed they were slowly making their way toward LSB when I came in to work on laundry. I heard a knock on the door - it was John's girls telling me he was going out because the dinghy was in trouble. It was around noon.

I looked through my binoculars and - indeed - they seemed to be drifting. John said we'd talk on Marine 68 and he headed out of East Bay. I radioed the status to 812 [the enforcement Ranger]. (Ironically, LSB power went out around 11 so I couldn't update Susan).

I tracked John's sailboat and the dinghy past Point Detour where I lost them. All this time the girls (Kaitlyn, 12 and Hannah, 11) were on the dock with me. Around 1 p.m. I heard on the radio the dinghy and passengers landed safely at Point Detour, so the girls and I expected to see the sailboat coming back. As we waited, we chatted about everything - including blind Kaitlyn's favorite colors (!), instruments the girls play (Kaitlyn piano and Hannah violin), books about

American Indians, and how old I was. It was a relatively dry, breezy, almost bug-free day. I started getting anxious around 2, when Mike and Michelle [The Minnesota/Belgium couple] walked up from their camp in a zone on Lighthouse Bay.

The campers share lunch with the girls while dad is looking for the dinghy.

They had food and lunched with the girls when I decided to express my concerns to Bayfield, since it had been 90 minutes since I last saw John. For about an hour they led a full-blown "incident" until finally spotting his boat west of York, and escorting him in. Boy was I relieved. It was 3:30.

The girls never expressed worry about their dad. He was fine - but he couldn't get his radio to work and didn't know the dinghy was safe, so he positioned on the leeward side of York in case they got pushed out.

Long story, but lots of lessons: Strangers who care for each other. Lack of sight is not a disability but a strength for some. Sisters don't have to be related by blood. Adoption is a gift. It's good to carry too much food on a hike; some kids waiting for their dad might need it. And clothes dry a lot faster in cool, dry, 41% humidity weather. (Oh, and check your radio!)

I hope tomorrow is boring!

July 1, 2014 Tuesday

54-64 Sunny

I got my wish. Today WAS boring and productive.

First, some unfinished business from yesterday that got drowned out by the Dinghy Incident:

Dave saw a large (18") woodpecker in the morning working on the tree by the flagpole. And I spotted my 2nd bald eagle, who soared over me and their girls on the dock.

Also, an indication of the strong winds yesterday: the cruises and ferries didn't run all day, and there were NO campers on Stockton, per the Morning Report. [With 20 sites, Stockton is by far the busiest camping spot in the park.]

Today it's just us and Sailor John and the girls in #1. I went to the Lighthouse and left Dave with "cabin duty" - laundry, mowing, trimming, etc. John and the girls arrived an hour later and we had a nice tour. By the way, they made great time on the trail. There's not much Kaitlyn won't do, with her cane and her sister's shoulder at hand. They all did great on the stairs and tower. I am SO impressed with these girls. As they left, I encouraged them to sign the book. I heard Kaitlyn say "can I sign it?" Later, I checked. Each had signed their name, Kaitlyn's in her sister Hannah's handwriting. Under comments, she wrote "It feels ancient." I hope she means the Lighthouse and not me!

The hike and boardwalks were as dry as I've seen since we arrived.

July 2, 2014 Wednesday

57-67 Gorgeous!

I now know why Ella Luik left. Of course, we are all schooled in the story of Ella leaving her Sand Island lightkeeper husband behind on May 19, 1905 after 10 years. It could have been the boredom or lack of services, but I think it's the culmination of opening that place up for 10 seasons. That's a lot of dead bugs, spiders and flies on all those windowsills! If I were her, I would have left in March.

Of course, I know this because I've spent the last 2 days really going over all the first-floor windows inside and out and it's pretty gross.

A cleaned-up Lighthouse ready for the 4th of July.

However, it looks really nice now, in case anyone shows up for the holiday weekend. Household hint: the old Park newspapers make great "rags" for cleaning windows.

More mowing for Dave and 2 Lighthouse tours. Only campsites #1 and #4 occupied tonight.We gave our monthly report today: since June 13 - 490 visitors, 217 interp, 17 Lighthouse tours for 165 people - and 1 dinghy.

July 3, 2014 Thursday

62-72 Pleasant

Nice day, but not enough wind to repel mosquitoes, so no drinks on the dock tonight :-(.

Susan and an LSB volunteer came out to update our campground Bulletin Board, insert an interp sign a Hansen Farm Apple Tree, and wet-mop the Lighthouse tower stairs.

Susan saw so much lead paint chips on June 13 that she discouraged us from sweeping the steps. With the clean tower, windows, and Dave's trimming today, the place looks pretty good. Two tours of 14 people. [We discovered later from Susan the chips were tested and were mostly plaster. That's a relief.]

Lake is DEAD CALM, so lots of boats are appearing now.

July 4, 2014 Friday

59-72 Mild

Well, I no longer have "descendent envy." It seems that every season chronicled in this journal, a Volunteer is surprised by an Island family member who shares stories of the halcyon days. Today was our day

But first, the other happy event occurred right at 9 during Morning Roundup. I heard a knock on our door, and it was  Hannah and her blind sister Kaitlyn (11 and 12) turning in their Junior Ranger books.

Betsy reviews the Jr. Ranger books submitted by Hannah and Kaitlyn.

After the 4 hours on the dock during the "Dinghy Incident" Monday and the Lighthouse tour Tuesday, I've become quite attached to theses intelligent, precocious girls. Their answers were insightful in the books, and it was a joy to "swear them in" and give them badges. It was sad to say goodbye to them and Sailor John, but I am better off knowing them.

As Dave headed to the lighthouse I talked with 3 large groups, including Wilderness Inquiry on a day trip, a 19-person group in A, and the guide for 18 in B. These were inner-city kids in a summer program with the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. They were scheduled for 4 nights at San, but the mosquitoes were epic and unrelenting. "We want these kids to have fun," the guide said. "we don't want to torture them!" So they paddled the sea caves and headed back to LSB. Hardly any flies though.)

I headed to the Lighthouse to help Dave - right in time. It was so calm we had 23 kayaks, 2 boats, and a dinghy pull up on the rocks. We gave 5 tours to 37 people. At about 5 we were about to take down the flag when a boat with 6 people pulled up. It was descendents of Ludwig PALM, brother of Magnus and Carl [Sand Island residents in the early 1900s] and owner of the house that used to exist where Group site B is now!

They were from the Twin Cities and truly excited to be back. We chatted and took pictures for about an hour. Late day, but what a joy!

[Forgot to mention, but Dave saw his first bald eagle at the Lighthouse - on July 4!]

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!  103 visitors on Sand today

(Tomorrow may try a "Diary of a Norwegian Fisherman"-type entry.)

The Palm family took this pic of us.

July 5, 2014 Saturday

60-78 PC to gray and cool

Privied, Mowed, Toured 26. Dave turned 59 today.

July 6, 2014 Sunday

58-80 Nice!

Storms around us last night, but no rain here, so trail keeps drying up.

Clouds make for an interesting view of Minnesota's North Shore from the lighthouse tower.

Yesterday's post was an experiment, but unsatisfactory for me. After reading a lot of [Sand Island resident and fisherman] Fred Hansen's diary, I realize he's the Rodney Dangerfield of journal writers - 25 years of one liners! That's more than 9,000 entries of mainly verbs like "Lifted, Mended, Salted," etc. My favorite? Oct. 13, 1918: "Sunday. Quiet day. War ended." Talk about understatement.

So let me catch up from Saturday.

Dave talked with a couple in #1. They had arrived at MIDNIGHT on July 4, after first paddling to Shaw Point around 10 and being shooed away by the residents. Then they overshot us and ended up at Justice Bay. Finally they decided to split the difference and found us. Sunday they wanted to change their site, but had left their permit in the car. Luckily the girl had written the number on her leg! We found them a spot on York.

Also, Dave saw his first bald eagle at the Lighthouse Saturday, then again today. After privy duty I hiked to Lighthouse where we had NO VISITORS on this July 4 weekend Sunday. so Dave hiked out to check site #3. W. wind started gusting. On my way up I saw some Group Site A folks walking slowly and counting Pink Lady Slippers - they were up to 54. Inspired, I slowed down up and back with Dave, and we got to 38, mainly between Justice Bay steps and Big Pine on W side of trail.

Bugs were light, so we relaxed on dock. I set up a tripod and timer remote for my camera to get a pic of us, and on one exposure - right on cue - a bald eagle flew over us.
He's a small dot but in the picture. What a memory!

We also saw a mom Merganser with 2 fluffy babes on her back, then off on their own swimming. Fun to watch. 

  "Residual" sunset was terrific.Beautiful end to a glorious, serene day.

 

Only one full day left :-(

July 8, 2014

60-72 Mild

Now that we have our Lighthouse tour down pat - NO TOURS our last two days here. Odd, because it was a beautiful day, but W. winds made waves at Lighthouse and Lighthouse Bay choppy.

I cleaned, packed and mowed the mound in prep for our VIP transfer tomorrow. While listening to multiple radio dramas - including what to do with a dead bald eagle on Raspberry Island, I was again reminded of the odd nature of these one-to-one conversations over a public network. We hear about needing restocking of Junior Ranger badges, what bands to use on the Piping Plover chicks, and even a (friendly) over-the-air battle about who gets to do the Living History that day on Raspberry. It seems the equivalent of reading my co-workers e-mail conversations.

Who ever thought a Budweiser would taste so good?

But, alas, no more audio voyeurism. Our 26 days are up.

To these folks, thanks for the memories: Living Adventure guides Ben, Jamiah and Mike, those poor windbound scouts, the always cheery Voyagers, the (generous) beer-drinkers in site #1, Billy and Kirsten, Mike the taxi driver, the unprepared Nepalese dinghy drivers, the equally unprepared 3 Muskateers from Chicago, and Sailor John and his loveable daughters.

To Sand Island, thanks for the bear, eagles, loons, mergansers, red squirrels, and Pink Lady Slippers - not so much the bugs.

To the residents - goodbye Emmanuel, Ella, Oramill, Ludwig, Fred, Bert, and Gert. It's been an honor to share your stories and be stewards of such a beautiful, historic building. Maybe we'll be back.

We'll miss the view from our cabin.

Dave engages in the daily spraying of Off outside the cabin.

Betsy and Dave Pasley, San Antonio, TX

Totals in 26 days: 733 day visitors. 34 Lighthouse tours of 256 people.

P.S. July 8, 2014 While training new VIP Gina we talked to three campers from Pennsylvania in #1. They had seen pictures of Sand on Pinterest and decided to drive 20 hours to kayak out here. The mosquitoes were TERRIBLE last night and this morning, and only one camper had a head net. 

The Penn campers, in matching outfits,
find the only respite from bugs.

We helped them find a spot on York, hoping against hope the bugs weren't as bad, and just before the Black Duck took off to take us back to the mainland, I jogged down the beach and handed them my head net. Dave would have done the same had he not left his at the Lighthouse. At least now only one of them will be miserable. My wish for them is breezy, sunny beach time with few pests on York.

Our replacements watch our boat leaves the dock, wondering what they got themselves into!