Lost in the Woods - The Legacy of CCC Camp Pelican - A Visit with Jim Henderson at PelMar

Reflecting on my fun visit with Jim Henderson yesterday, the author of Lost in the Woods, published in 2008 at his summer home on Sunset Beach, Pelican Lake. THe cover photo is from the CCC Camp located on the back land now under the stewardship of Jim and Melanie Weaver and their family. In 1968, the year after the three Weaver Brothers, Jim, Jack and Tom purchased the Palmer property, I talked with Steve Steffenson who had worked at the camp, and got some photos from him. A few years back I left a map I created and some photos with the DNR Library in Brainerd. Jim H, having discovered them in his long journey of research )he visited the National Archives in DC) contacted me a while ago, and we walked the land together and I lend him my file of history. Wonderful to see the fruits of my limited research, back in the day, captured in Jim's great book, even the map I created. THanks Jim for your great hospitality and generosity. May you recoup your publishing costs and share in the abundance of life in the woods and lake region of Minnesota. I suggest an interested reader might purchase this book, at about $20 from Jim, PelMar Publishing, Milwaukee. By the way PelMar is for Pelican Markee...the two lakes those of us raised on Sunset Beach, Pelican Lake, Crow Wing Co MN, might well remember in our formative lakes traditional lives...Enjoy

Paul Bunyan Bike Trail 6 1/2 Miles North of Nisswa FUN!

Here is the fun loving trio, Jesse Weaver, Jane Newell and Amy Brown celebrating the day and the ride at the rest stop some 6 1/2 miles north of Nisswa. I somehow sense they are having a good time! :-) Take Care and live well....

Paul Bunyan Bike Trail 6 1/2 Miles North of Nisswa

After Jess and I visited the train station rest stop in Pequot Lakes, we returned toward Nisswa to find Amy and Jane had made it to this rest stop about 6 1/2 miles out of Nisswa. This was Jane's longest ride as she previous high was 4 miles in St Paul to the Lilydale Landing from Harriet Island and back. So here is Jesse, Amy and Jane chatting about the adventure so far.

Paul Bunyan Bike Trail Yellow Puccoon along trail

Here is the author visiting a clump of yellow puccoon flowers along the trail. Thinking of Peg Weaver (1910-2007) whose favorite color was yellow. Her spirit bird is the goldfinch. And here is one of her favorite prairie, dry lands flowers, the puccoon, the Latin name Lithospermum means "rock-seed". Grateful that is was such a lovely spring day. 60's to low 70's F. THanks Jess for taking the photo. Live long, stay well.

Paul Bunyan Bike Trail Jesse Weaver June 13 2009

A few miles north of Nisswa we stopped to adjust our seat heights. In back is a small bog encroached lake with the classic tamaracks. Jesse is here showing his flexible self at just 6'6 1/2" who is kind enough to stay with his dad's slower pace on our 14 mile trip from Nisswa to Pequot Lakes and back. Thanks Jess!

Jesse Weaver mit Radeberger und Stein von Dresden

Schmecks Gut! Here is Jesse Weaver appearing well pleased with the Radeberger and a sample of German Chocolate Cake, mit Coconuss nicht war! Jesse is an avid home brewer and it is fun to see him sampling various brews in a sober way. Viel Spass und a log life.

German Chocolate Birthday Cake, Guacamole and Radeberger Beer

I promised my friends, Jerome and Werner from Dresden, that we would do a Radeberger Beer sampling while they travelled the American Western Plains. Jerome just sent an email from Wolf Point Montana and I invited him to check out my blog. Here is Nate reaching for more corn chips for the gucamole, with Amy, the birthday girl looking on as Jesse reaches for the bottle of Radeberger to refill his Stein. Jerome and Werner had brought two of the Steins, with what I think is an image of Gustavus Adolphus on them for sampling in the authentic German style. Being from Dresden, they offered this as a part of their culture. All of us enjoyed the fresh taste of Radeberger. Thanks J and W...Vielen Dank. Und eine Gute Reise!