The 'sort of' annual Fishing trip was last weekend and yet again adding to the worlds greatest summer.Carl, Timmy and Charlie arrived Wednesday night and the anticipation and stories began. We have been going fishing together for more years than I can count and have been taking the kids since they turned 5. We have gone to several different lakes, resorts and campgrounds and this year was our third trip to Life of Riley, on lake Vermillion just outside of Cook, MN.
We left late morning on Thursday and with a few needed and a couple not needed stops we arrived to the camp around 3:00 in the afternoon. We spent the next couple hours unloading gear, setting up tents and the rest of the camp and finally hit the lake about 5:50. The fish were waiting for us and we proceeded to hammer them as they say. We had a few issues getting our Mojo back as Kay said but once a couple of mechanicals were fixed, a couple of crossed lines and one reel, and a pole were dropped into the lake, things took a turn for the better. We got back to camp around 9:30 with a bunch of fish and a great attitude. Dinner was hamburgers, corn, and chips and we all hit the hay about 11:00 tired and happy.
Friday Carl, Tom, Kay and Timmy got up early and headed out fishing. Kay had Carl and Timmy in the palm of her hand and she carried put a fishing clinic on how to catch fish and talk non-stop for a couple of hours. Carl commented on Kay by saying " my she can carry on", as well as she out fished him. We had a fabulous day fishing riding in the boat and swimming. Kay and Tom made a crockpot pork roast with salsa verdi sauce and we headed out to fish some more. When we returned to camp the feast was on. Timmy and Charlie couldn't stop eating and were in hog heaven along with Carl, the Loudamericans are used to this kind of fare! Kay was bound and determined to make a peach cobbler however after dinner, which was around 10:30 she was already laying spread eagle asleep on her bed :), a good day as had by all.
Saturday morning was a repeat and of course the fishing rocked. Jimmy, Charlie and Timmy had a great time hanging out and shooting the breeze talking trash, sports and other teenage stuff. Kay and Billy were busy around the camp playing with new born kittens, finding turtles and other camp activities. Kay even got Carl into arts and crafts. Lunch brought out another one of Kay's skills, homemade tortillas, an instant hit we used them with the left over pork, yum! That night we had a huge bonfire told stories and had several belly laughs, all good.
The Loudamericans spent all their time fishing together and it was quite interesting. Kay and Jimmy talking about middle school, maybe taking classes together and debating about how the first day will go. Billy was intent with watching the clouds go by, occasionally adding some thing to the conversation along the lines of, "I'm pretty sure that isn't how it works Jimmy" you are insightful Bill. He had fun catching fish but the bigger pole was a bit of a challenge, Jimmy was heard to say several times " I would really like fishing if it didn't require this much patience", all you heard from Kay was " Fish On!!" Saturday we also took a hike to Vermillion Falls to see the falls, the rapids and hike around, it was really cool.
Sunday was a bit of a challenge, when the weather changed from 75 and sunny to 55 and rainy, however much to my delight the kids wanted to go out and fish, so that's what we did. Shore lunch had to be held as camp lunch because of wind and rain. The batter Tom made for the fish has gone down as the best fish fry ever, period. The comment was made from Carl to his son Timmy " look at the dry coating you can stack the fish pieces and they don't stick together, genius! The texture is perfect, it's brown and flaky and not burned, wow!
The evening ended with a fire in the gazebo at the lodge and Billy being the only person any of us know who has actually won the ring toss game and for sure the only person who did it back to back times!The trip was super fun, we caught more fish than we ever had, had great weather, found a new pet, Myrtle the turtle, saw some baby cats and even watch a momma snapping turtle try to dig a hole to lay her eggs! Kay was the only one to get up on the knee board and she stayed on the whole way and NEVER fell off!!!( Video to follow)
Next up Baseball road trip for Tracy and Jimmy and the other three are Toronto bound for more camping and catching up with their Toronto friends....
