Good morning Happy Campers from Sultry northern Wisconsin. As we pass the hump of Mid-July, we also have officially started State Stupid here in the US. As you know, the Corona is out of control in almost every state and there seems to be no end in sight. As it goes up, more people have not followed the simple guidelines to slow this, and the border will be closed.
PM Trudeau clearly stated a day ago that the border will remain closed until late August and then they will review it. But since all of Canada has about 300 cases per day, there is no way that they will let visitors from the south in the midst of Stage Stupid into their country.
So the best we can hope for is to have a miracle and have the border open for Labor day and then get up to Happy Camp for our Moose season, time will tell.
In the meantime, we are wearing masks, practicing social distancing and trying our best to keep busy in the northwoods. While it has been nice to retrace some steps from years gone by, the area has changed forever and not for my liking. As any Happy Camper knows, a few people who love nature are great, but having all kinds of people all over the place just doesn’t cut it for me, that is why Happy Camp is such a special place for me. For example, as we fished a weed edge the other day, I thought wow in the far north of Happy Camp, there would be fish sprinkled all thru the coontail and cabbage, but not in the northwoods, just few fish left which is sad, very sad but realistic because of the amount of pressure the lakes get as well as how technology allows almost any fisherman to locate and catch fish. I can not stress enough people, take a couple for a meal, and let the rest go to grow. Also, let the fish go quickly, the water temps at 80 are hard enough on the fish, net, unhook and let go forget the pictures, only take a mental snapshot! Fish are just too precious to worry about taking a photo of yourself with the fish and putting it out for social media.
Speaking of precious, a few bright sides of this mess are some nice sightings. To sart with, there are 5 Phoebe’s that are crammed into a nest built along the rocks at the front of the house. It is amazing how those little eggs have hatched and they mouths open waiting for bugs from momma.
We have a night visitor who shows up to eat some suet and birdseed. The Bloke is maybe 130 pounds, but has a nice white Spirit mark developing. I guess he is lounging down in the swamp near the mudhole that used to be a lake before irrigation tool the water away. As the berry crops are coming along, he will soon be devouring those with corn in the fields. But for now, as along as he keeps up his manners and does not wreck anything, he is welcome at our feeder. But our hope is that he gets here earlier, showing up at 1 a.m. is quite late, unless he is just closing down the bar?
Finally, as I wrote, near the wood edge an odd creature walked thru the edge. A Ferrell Cat(NO), a Lynx(NO), but a young Bobcat with muddy feet from coming out of the swamp. He walked along the wood edge, so beautiful and at the edge of the woods, he turned and went north, vanishing into the woods. Now that is a first for me, only seen pictures of them before! As I recollect on animals I have seen, just this week I have seen Bear, many Deer with Fawns, Geese, Eagles, Loons, Bobcat, Water Moccasin, and a huge Snapping Turtle on the south end of Little John the other night. Interesting how the turtle seemed to be swimming near the young Geese but the adults honked and it disappeared.
The bugs certainly seem to be much less here, but perhaps we have found a solution and hope to try it in 2021 at Happy Camp Ontario. As I think of bugs, I also miss the wilderness, freedom, our campers and all they bring to the area and the excitement I would be having this day as we greet new campers but also the adventure of Bear baiting and travels. We do hear that a bear is tearing up the barrels at Happy Camp, but there is nothing we can do but hope he doesn’t get a piece of plastic stuck in his mouth!!
The sun is out, heat and humidity are here as well as storms later today. Time to get rumbling for the day, take care and Please be Smart not Stupid!