Happy holidays to all.
Just wanted to share a highlight from this last summer. Wife and I have a camper at a seasonal spot near Hayward, WI, and have met some very nice folks up there.
Bill and Marilyn winter in Texas, and have been coming up north for the last 30 plus years, 2023 will be the final summer for them, as the travel is getting very tough on them. Bill turned 86 this last year, and his lovely wife is a few years his junior. Bill LOVES to fish, and the last couple years have been very difficult for him to get out as his wife won’t let him go alone any more. I have done my best to get him out to musky fish as much as I can. And tell you what, I have never regretted one minute of it. Sometimes we chat, sometimes we just fish, and he loves it when I bring my dog with.
This last summer, Bill had one of his NASA buddies, and his wife, come up to stay for a few weeks the end of August. I scheduled some time off of work, made some plans with my BIL to bring Bill and Frank over to go bass fishing on a pontoon (for their safety). When I mentioned this to Bill (some time in July), to get a day scheduled. Bill and Frank could do nothing else except talk about the upcoming trip, and Marilyn didn’t think she’d hear the end of it, she said they were like a couple of little boys.
The day comes, planning on leaving the resort 7:30, Bill insisted we use his vehicle, as using mine “didn’t sit well with him”. Well they show up at 7:00 ready to roll, no problem, I was ready too. Drive is a little over an hour, we get there, get the pontoon started, loaded, and we’re out fishing around 9:00. Beautiful day, guys each have their own seat, and I am their “guide” for the day, we have food, beverages, easy access to a restroom if needed, pontoon with a Bimini. I just shuttled Bill and Frank around from spot to spot, told them what to use, where to cast, etc. I think between the three of us, 25 bass C&R.
I just sat in the captains chair, in the shade and watched these two guys fish and chat about the “good old days at NASA”, wow, what an experience this was for me. These guys were able to fish for a solid six hours before they called it a day. Docked the pontoon, loaded up the truck, Frank was nice enough to pony up $20.00 for gas (on top of the $20.00 I had already secretly left for my BIL), and we had only used about 24 Oz’s of gas anyway. Had an enjoyable trip back to the resort, and the best day of my summer. I sincerely hope that Bill and Frank had a nice day as well (I think they did).
Picture on the boat, Frank on left, Bill on Right. Picture when we returned, me on left, Frank, Bill. Bill is one of the nicest men I have ever met, and I will miss him. I will make it a point to get him out fishing again for his last summer in the north woods.
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