One thing was for sure, ready or not they were coming. Katie and I spent the weekend before trying to finish up the campsite and clean up before our guests arrived. Most people were planning on arriving on Saturday morning, but one couple was planning on arriving Friday afternoon. They would be testing out our campsite.
Katie and I planned on heading up Thursday after work to make use of one more day to finalize our preparations. Unfortunately, work commitments made it impossible for her to take Friday off. We decided that I would ask my nephew Josh to join me on the trip up, and Katie would drive up Friday evening. Josh was more than willing, and preparations were made for his mom to drop him off at my work Thursday afternoon. We would leave from there and head up.
I work as an engineer for an international manufacturer of Fire Fighting Vehicles, and what boys aren’t fascinated by firetrucks? Josh’s younger brother and a friend tagged along to drop Josh off and hopefully get a peek at some cool trucks being made. We didn’t disappoint! During an impromptu tour of the plant, one of the guys observed us walking from one building to another and asked the boys if they would like a ride in a firetruck… DUH! 
Barb (Josh’s mom), and the boys were ushered into the cab of a truck and whisked away for a twenty-minute ride. I hadn’t planned for the ride, but the guys at the plant cater to families who visit. It’s awesome to work for such a great company. After the ride and tour, Josh and I loaded up and headed north, arriving just after sunset. We made quick work of unloading and headed straight to bed.
Waking about six the next morning, we had coffee and breakfast while I explained the plan to Josh. Since the forecast was for rain, our first task was hanging the tarp over the tent platform. I wasn’t worried about the platform getting wet, but Brian and Stacy were arriving later, and I didn’t want I didn’t want them to have to set up in the rain.
With the tarp secured in place, Josh and I turned our sights on the path to the camp site. It had been cleared well enough to traverse, but there were some dips here and there that I wanted to fill in. We soon noticed there were also plenty of rocks and small stumps poking up from the ground, and tripping hazards on a midnight run to the outhouse can ruin a guy’s night. Josh went to work on the stumps and rocks while I hauled loads of gravel to fill in the low spots. With things leveled out, Josh helped me carry the picnic table down to the campsite.
As the afternoon wore on, we were knocking items off the honey-do list faster than northern Minnesota weather changes. Before we knew it, we had the old bear box mounted to the back of the cabin, and the bucket swapped out in the outhouse.
The bucket in the outhouse… yeah, put down your sammich for a spell. When we built the outhouse, I drew off experience with such things. The vessel that holds the whatnot sits a bit below the throne, so having an easily cleanable surface that directs the “flow” and contains the mess is important. I solved the issue by cutting the bottom out of a five gallon bucket, creating a chute from directly beneath the seat to the opening of the tank.
It didn’t take long for Katie to notice an unintended consequence of our shopping habits. I tend to buy much of our construction materials from the big box store with the bright orange logo. It stands to reason that their buckets would be bright orange as well. Katie pointed out quickly that “everything” shows up against the bright orange background and this must be fixed before we entertain people. One of the other big box stores where we shop… the one with the giant orange silo, sells the perfect color buckets – black! It took me all of ten minutes to swap the buckets out and mute the contrast.
We finished our tasks in time for Josh to head off in the woods and finish cutting the trail to his campsite, pitch his tent and move his gear in. It’s a nice spot in the woods and it’s his very own. He’ll make improvements as he wishes, and it will be known as “Josh’s spot”, regardless of who camps there.
Before we knew it, Brian, Stacy, and Katie all arrived about the same time. We gave Brian and Stacy the nickel tour and let them be to set up their camp. After they were finished setting up, we all gathered around the table for drinks and conversation. Roughly at one AM, everyone headed for bed.
When morning arrived, Katie and I started with our typical ritual… Coffee was prepared, the beagle was fed, and we took our places on the screen porch. Before long, Brian, Stacy, & Josh were up, but it wasn’t quite time to start the work. We decided a nice walk up Fire Tower Hill was in order. As we headed down the driveway, the beagle darted in and out of the woods ahead of us. It was the perfect summer morning; the sun glittered through the maples and silhouetted the pines as we walked up the trail. The birds were singing, and it seemed like every few feet, a frog or toad hopped across our path. On our return trip, as we neared the entrance to our land, Josh shouted out that a truck just turned down our drive. I knew that it was most likely Jimmy, a Navy friend here to lend a hand.
What a surprise it was to meet not only Jim, but my sister Bridget and her friend Sue as well. Our crew was shaping up fast! When you have willing and eager people ready and waiting to get busy with your planned tasks, there’s only one thing to do… Brew more coffee and make breakfast! Brian and Stacy stopped at the world famous Toby’s for caramel rolls on their way up. They brought a half-dozen with them, and even though the rolls are huge, we knew we had more people than rolls… Hooked on math worked for me! I decided to slice the rolls to about ¾” thick pieces and use them in place of bread for French toast. Jim took his place next to me at the stove and fried sausage for everyone.
We gave everyone a more detailed tour after breakfast, filled our mugs with more coffee, and gathered to talk about the plan for the day. I had flagged the area to be cleared, so everyone knew where to start cutting. I kindly asked everyone to be safe, and not chop off any limbs with the chainsaws… it seemed like the right thing to do. For the most part, everyone did as asked… except for someone who decided they wanted ventilation in their pants leg. Thankfully not much blood was shed.
Jim and I pulled the wood chipper to the road near where we were working and fed the beast all it could take until one of the shredder teeth broke and the vibrations made it mimic a 60’s Harley. After the chipper failed, we piled brush in a convenient place until I could find time to fix the shredder and condense the pile. Katie, Jim, and Brian were swinging chainsaws as artfully as a sideshow bear carver and Bridget, Sue, Stacy, & Josh hauled brush to the pile as quickly as it could be cut. By mid-afternoon, the ground was bare, save for a few of the largest trees which I’ll log and mill later.
Katie began preparations for dinner about the time the work was wrapping up. Beef stew in her new crock! While things were stewing, I hooked up the trailer to the ATV, and took all who wanted to go, for a ride up one of the local trails. By the time we returned, the stew was ready, and people were hungry. We sat in camp chairs on the lawn and enjoyed a fantastic meal. (Chef’s note: $35 dollars of Steak that shall not be named, makes for very tender stew meat). We were even joined by Maggie, or at least Maggie on a stick. She’s currently deployed, but Brian and Stacy like to bring her along wherever they go and send her photos to let her know she’s always on their mind and missed very much. I may have stolen a kiss… I hope she doesn’t mind. 
After dinner, Sue and Bridget said their goodbyes and got a start back to the cities. It had been great to see Bridget make the trip up. I’m always curious to see the reaction of my sister to my latest activities. Because she is who she is, I make sure to take certain liberties to try and get a little shock value out of her. Bridget happens to be a member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, and although she doesn’t like to make a big deal of it, I think it’s pretty cool. Did I mention She gave me a cosmic “get out of jail card”? Yeah that’s right… I might have to sneak through the side gate… but I’m getting in.
Once Bridget and Sue left (no correlation), Jim looked at me with a grin on his face and asked “So, is the range open?” With a couple hours of daylight left, I instructed Josh to grab every empty beer and soda can he could find and head to the clearing we just made. It’s amazing how much better a teenagers hearing gets when the proper incentive is applied.
We dangled cans from tree limbs, set them up on logs, maybe even stacked a couple on one another. I fastened a chunk of plywood to a tree and applied peel and stick targets. Once things were set up, ear plugs were installed, safety glasses were donned, range rules were discussed, and firing commenced. We enjoyed repeatedly blasting away at the cans, striving to better our aim with each shot. 
The only one who didn’t enjoy herself was Sami the beagle, who even though was quite a distance away and safe within the cabin, didn’t care for the loud noise. 
When we had our fill of fun, we cleaned up and headed back to the cabin. If the BATF is listening, tragically, all our firearms were lost in a terrible boating accident on the way back to the cabin.
Josh and I quickly set logs up in the center of the circle of camp chairs. We lit a fire, made some refreshments, and conversed as the sun set. The only thing that could have made the evening better would have been a cloudless starry sky and maybe a winning lotto ticket in my billfold. As the late hour approached, Jim took leave and headed home, Brian & Stacy to their tent, and Katie, the beagle and I crawled into bed. It wasn’t quite ten yet… I guess a day of work and fun will tire you out… unless you’re sixteen, then you sit by the fire and listen to your uncle snore until the coals die down. Only Josh knows when he went to bed.
Morning brought with it coffee and a suggestion of another walk into the forest. We all headed out down a trail not yet traveled, deeper into the woods than we had ever explored. We turned around on the top of a hill covered in young maples. 
It was like something out of a Hollywood movie. The walk provided a great opportunity to talk with Brian and Stacy about their thoughts on the campsite and our land. Both had great things to say. They mentioned the great location, the quiet, and especially how the tent platform meant not having a tent full of mud for the weekend.
Flapjacks, bacon, and coffee were the order of business after our walk, then the inevitable task of packing, cleaning, and heading back to town. Stacy & Brian left first, waving goodbye with smiles on their faces. Katie and the dog were followed out by Josh and me, closing and locking the gate on another fun weekend. I can’t tell you how fortunate I feel. I may not have millions in the bank, but it sure feels like I do.
Next order of business??? Wood. We’re way behind on cutting wood for the winter even though it feels like all we’ve done all summer is cut down trees. Stay tuned and read more… They’ll be humorous photos. Have you ever seen Katie swing an axe?
Until then, keep the rain off your friends, let a young man forge his own path, take time to blast a few soda cans, and don’t forget to laugh.