A Manito-wish Strory Revised

 Two hours in on a 3 hour portage, mostly along highway 51, my shoulders were aching and legs a little wobbly from carrying a 17 foot gruman 75 lb aluminum canoe. I yelled out "Break" for like the firth time and finally fellow paddler and camp Manito Wish staffer, Dick Lidington, cross country runner of thin wiry build with curly lightcolored hair begrudgingly said okay. After 5 minutes he said up and at em we gotta get to south Trout lake before dark. And why is that I asked to which he replied sos we can rest up for tomorrow which will be as bad or worse than today. Although I was the only one carrying the canoe, Dick had it just as bad or worse with the duluth grub/personal bag. Those packs had no frames just canvas with leather straps. The two of us, best of friends since camper days and now in our third year together as staff had done several overnighters on days off before. And we had been together on a trip to the upper penisula Sylvania forest with foreign exchange counselor Herb when we were campers. That is the trek we became great friends as a result of Herb, a middle aged school teacher letting the guys from his cabin totally goof off the whole week. Which meant us two were stuck with doing all of the heavy stuff on portages, setting up the tents, getting the fire going and making the meals. His guys were too tired to do anything becuase each night they would sneak out and hitchhike to nearby towns for smokes. 

First summer as staff we were the dishwashers for both 3 week boy sessions and pot and pan cleaners during August Girls camp. The dishwasher room had a sign above its door from Dante that read Abandon all hope ye who enter here. That was the truth our first week or so. You have to work super fast to get dishes, flatwear, cups cleaned before the hot water runs out which it did on us a few times.  Elmer started coming in to watch and give tips on how to get the racks filled faster. They worked.

At least by the third summer Dick had progressed to be horse master, but I was still in the kitchen for August, after being a counselor during boys sessions taking 11 year olds out on the trail as much as could get them motivated to do so. That summer of 69 we both knew it could be our last and the desire was there to try and do something to get the girl counselors to finally take notice. So we came up with the idea to do what is typically a 4 to 5 dayTrout Lake circle paddle starting from camp's boulder Lake boat dock to south Trout lake campsite and then back up north via the west side. The plan was for on the seond day out to dock the boat right around dinner time at thier campsite on what was referred to as lower dam where all 30 of them would be finishing up their training week trip. To make a grand entrance like that meant we would have to cover 44 or so miles in two days, with half that on the first and a good portion ot which would be along side beaver dam infested shallow water Stevensons creek. Dick figured we could save an hour or two if we by passed the creek altogether by portaging along the highway. After our break and another 2 miles of walking we got where could paddle again for awhile then some more portaging which led to getting to the camp site. Too exhausted to put up a tent or cook food we propped up alongside the canoe and ate our extra trail lunches.

After listening to the lonely loons cry we got to talking. "Hey man, is this like the dumbest thing we've done up here I asked." 

"Hell no, I got three or more on you alone can top this easy."  

"Remember Elmer catching you stuffing scoops from his favorite ice creme flavor tub down your throat as he opened the freezer door?"

"You wearing  that  WW1 helmet on back of the honda is another. That cop pulled us over remember he said what the hell on your head boy, and you said a helmet.  He took a look at it and spit and then turned to me and said your helmet don't look so hot either. And then he said "I ought a throw you boys in jail how you think old Elmer would like that un? having to bail youse sorry  punks out?"

'"Yes and I know you replied what! as you grabbed your headgear and went over to highway and pounded it 3 times as hard as you could and then held it up to him and said see that. You were so mad I thought you were gonna call him a mother..........? "

Good thing Dick didn't but that cop did order me to pay $35 which was basically a week's wages and said next time wear a real helmet. Well thats the rub we were on our way to pick up the spare which was getting fixed and that's why had the WW1 tin hat as such was all could find in the camp show box.

"And how can you forget the time after one of the Boulder Junction dances hanging at Trader's having beers and flirting with those women at table next to us.?"

That was not one of my finer moments. We didn't ask them out or anything cause how do you fit 4 on a honda? But being a bit inbrieated upon return to the isolated boys staff cabin during Girls Camp at South Bay I was full of regret. And when got off the bike started yelling and screaming that we messed up. I forgot that although we were half a mile from the main camp south bay also accomodated bookkeeper Rev Harrison and his wife's cabin maybe 50 yards away from ours. So the next morning upon reporting to work I got a message to go to the main office. There the Rev said he and Madge had never heard such foul, disgusting language in their life. He added that was lucky Elmer was not here, and what would your Dad say, and I ought to boot your rear end back to Iowa. Well that was the last  heard about this incident except for the lifetime of teasing from Dick for my woeful screams. I doubt Harrison told Elmer about it given the old director views on such matters. After all he once scolded my older brother Paul after he and a University of Texas cheerleader were stuck for a night on Madeline island due to missing the last ferry out. Elmer wanted to know what happened during their stranded night alone and when Paul said nothing, Elmer retorted "you a damn fool."

Before we knew it was dawn and time to get cracking if to make it to lower dam in time for dinner. Some more long portage slogs along the highway and in the woods mixed wiht paddling as fast as we could. We took a break for the traditional trail lunch of summer sausage, ry krisp and velveeta with bug juice. We decided that Marielle must have come up the lunch menus. Married to Elmer Ott for what we all thought must have been a hundred years. Elmer built a board that dreamed big and they along with the Otts guided camp from its days as only canoe trips to additions of sailing, horsebackriding, riflery, international trips and more as the camp earned its reputation as one of the best in the land. In 1941 a girls session for August was added and Marielle in addtion to making sure three solids a day were provided which were as plentiful as they were nutritious and that no one got indigestion served as Girls director too. She pioneered the way for young women to have the same outdoor experiences as men including canoe trips with no male chaperones. Gruff and stern she had a playful side too which included after losing a bet letting Dick and I plant her down in a dish cart where we pushed all over the dining hall to the roar and delight of campers and staff. She had a ball waving at them.

Lunch finished we pushed onward up through lakes and streams until right on cue we pulled up to shore at lower dam. As anticipated the campsite was a buzz with food preperation. Dick hopped out of the bow and while he grabbed the duluth packs I wedged flipped (rocking the boat at hip level with seats pointing upwarrd and at count of 3 lift and turn so that shoulders meet the midpoin't yoke) the canoe. We then walked right  through their tents hoping to hear a hey stay for dinner or where you guys come from? But such did not happen, in fact am not even sure that anyone said hello.We got to a forest trail and hurried on the last two miles to camp's boat dock. Our big entrance turned out to be a big dud but such did not decrease our smiles and sense of accomplishment. 

Trudging on to South Bay we came upon caretaker Ernie. He could tell we were returning from a trip and asked how come didn't use the Algonquin canvas canoe I had bought for $50 and had painstakinly spent many hours refurburshing. Ernie thought it was a great job and said I should be boatman the next summer. We got along great with him and wife Hilde. Arriving a week or more before boys training camp each June meant the two of us spent a lot of time hauling food items from his basement to the Nash Lodge' kitchen and unloading Budwieser trucks cases of beer for his house. They fed us lunch several times during those weeks.The highlight of which was bycicle drinks consisting of beer and seven up. Ern liked that we helped out his crew, Hans, Fritz and Henry diring our free time, digging post holes and such. Elmer had brought all of them over from postwar Germany. Thay had tales to tell. Henry was a German POW of the Russian Army was on the march to Berlin. He stayed alive by keeping officer's motor bikes running. Not perfectly so as for them to keep him around to keep fixing this and that which went wrong.

The next day girl's staff returned from thier training trip and Elmer gave a pep talk in the Nash Lodge foyer. He had a rapt audience as he colorfully described the 4 fundamentals of camp Manito-wish's purpose and how such is achieved via the camp experience - to grow in wisdom, in stature, in favor with other people and with God. Ever since first heard that speech as a camper have prayed daily for God's help to help me and all those close to me live the 4 square motto. As Elmer has, I know I too have fallen short many times to live up to the purpose but I do try. Later that and every evening after of girls camp the women sang beautifully songs such as Today, No Man is an Island, Let there be Peace on earth, Michael row your boat ashore, Blowin in the wind and so on. Dick and I would often make aesthetically pleasing log cabin fires for them to sing by in the gigantic stone mason fire place while they enchanted.

That summer while Dick was horsemaster he hooked me up with Twig, a gentle middle age mare whom once got to know you she loved to canter and at times gallop. I got to ride her plenty and the sensation when going fast was similar to what felt years later surfing the kayak. As the wave was in charge on water so was Twig. And time that summer was in charge of both Dick and mine lives. We knew the Army would be calling soon. 

I must have heard a zillion sermons from My Dad that were about the same stuff as the 4 square model. What camp did was provide a laboratory where through activities including canoe trips, dishwashing, talking to home sick campers, one had the opportunity to grow. And it helped tremendously to have a loyal, steadfast, hard-working friend alongside. A friend who pitched in to help anyone in need, to work extra to get a job done right, who would listen even when what said was inchoerent. And to have fun with too such as the time I was riding b.... on the honda when he revved it up, turned on the beams and drove next to and around dozens of black bears feeding at the Boulder Junction dump,while we whooped and hollared, and parked cars honked thier horns.

Fun was probably what cemented our bond. We learned to play off each others observations/comments. We were quick and whether in front of the whole camp or during our meals with kitchen staff we had the ability to get people falling off their chairs with laughter. I think fun is also the key to striving one's best to live the four square life. That is the most precious lesson I learned those summers 60 years ago. Thanks to so many for that and thanks especially to my friend, Dick Lidington.

Here we are near the end of that Sylvania canoe trip. Am wearing a reddish flopy hat and Dick is sitting on a big rock with red plaid flannel jacket.

.

The boat dock with trips getting ready to pull out

Talking to a homesick camper, my face was scarred up some siad due to a bear attack but others said due to a horse anxious to return to the stables for food.

As adults with wives in Vegas, 2008.  

Addendums!

1. Both older brothers are camp alumni too. A high school teacher in Muscatine got John a summer job at camp in1961. He was a counselor, section director and trips director with his last season being 1967 prior to going off to becoming a Marine. Paul started working at camp in 1965 progressing to where he led two 20 day canoe trips for older youth the summer of 67. They are of course two of my bestest friends and would have never got to go there if not for them.  

See post titled Brothers, where what would be dated 2/1/24 for more information about them at windwarddavemusings.blogspot.com 

As to the bestest same goes for my brother from a different mother, Francis Carlos Montoya. How we became such good friends is in the post titled Army. And have many life long great friends from Camp Wawbeek days. At some point am going to write that story.

2. The Army got Dick soon after that 69 session. Although he became airborne he got sent to Germany instead of Viet Nam. They got me too but not till 1971 and spent my time in Tiger land, Louisiana instead of at the real war thank my lucky stars.

3. Coming from middle class familes we were both campership campers. His thanks to his Mom being legend for leading girls Canadian canoe trips. A swimming pool company owner and builder after army days he cold have also ran a business teaching people how to win at Capture the Flag. For us at camp the best way to be victorious was to be on his team.

4. The unsung heroes at camp were the cooks, Minnie, Nelda, Mrs.J , Bill Talarek. The ladies were widowed and elderly but nonetheless worked tirelessly each summer. Being up in the north woods also meant no soap operas to watch or family nearby so they gave a lot. Talarek was our age and hung out with us too. Most notably falling off the same horse and capsizing while in my Algonquin each summer. He was a good egg.

Algonquin wooden canoe not mine but similar. You can see how narrow it is which if not balanced just right leads to capsizing.

  

The tin helmet, guess it is easy to figure why that cop got ticked off.

.