Shhh! I think summer has arrived! Don't scare it away!

Finally after 7 weeks of not great weather we appear to be going into a sunny stage!  All I can say is YEA!

Last Saturday it rained so hard here and was so windy that the lake had waves that were ocean like. Scary! And some of the small boats out had 5 or 6 people in them heading to the Northern Store. We sat at the window, safe from the weather, and watched those crazy people taking their lives in their hands to go get some groceries or some money.

There were some great thunderstorms that were hitting harder just south of us.  We had a great show of flashes across the lake and we did hear a couple of big booms!  Which sent the big german shepherd cowering to our side!

Sunday morning started off cloudy but much calmer then the day before, until  the electricity starting going on and off.  Me with my big mouth said I wish it would either just go off or stay on not flick.  Guess what?  Our power went off and stayed off for 25 hours...

Boy is our life dependent on electricity.  Luckily we had a noisy generator for short bursts of power and thank goodness, the stove is propane..

By Monday morning or actually Sunday night late, the laptop was dead, the tablet dead, the cell phone dead and the freezers all 6 of them were starting to warm up!

Luckily for us the power came on about noon.  As it was the Northern Store had to throw out a good portion of their frozen goods and some of their fresh food.  What a waste! And this was the second time in the time we’ve been up here.  Why don’t they have emergency generators ??  A good question and one the managers there can’t answer.

In case you are wondering the Northern Store is a chain in the north that is the modern equivalent to the Hudson Bay Trading Co. of Canada’s early years.  They carry a little bit of everything at very inflated prices, due to all the freight charges.  But when you are the only store in the area people have no choice.  They all so do catalogue sales, are the Canada Post Outlet and cash all the Gov’t cheques for the Reserve.

The Managers House and Northern Store Dock

The red SUV is the Nursing Station's from the reserve side  so they can take injured people from the boat up to the
 Medi -Vac plane. Which happens almost every day!

The actual Northern Store

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we had hydro crews fly in for the afternoon to do some work.  They use charter planes and we do the taxiing by truck from the airport to their vehicle on this side of the lake, or by boat across the lake to the reserve, where they also have a vehicle.  The pilots usually come down to the lodge and wait in comfort for the crew to do their work.  We have met a few different pilots and it is very interesting hearing the stories of their travels.  Yes Brian, I am talking about you!

Transportation back to the airport!

The Airport is directly behind us so the planes takeoff and land right over our heads

On Tuesday late afternoon, Al, Corry and I went out fishing.  For those of you who know me, you realize that fishing is not my favorite pastime.  Give me a boat and nice weather and a book and I would be much happier.  AND there is no way that I am touching any slimy stuff whether it is weeds or fish!!

So I only went along for the scenery, but, Al brought me a fishing rod so I tried.  But all we caught in the hour and a half that we were out there were small Northern Pikes.  So no fish for dinner..oh darn...

why can't I come?

The lake was beautiful though.  Little Grand Rapids is situated on Family Lake which connects to Root Lake on the south-east, I’m guessing here people, and Fishing Lake on the North.  Fishing Lake is where Al’s brother’s other lodge is.  That is where we spent time last summer and the fishing is much better there.  I even liked fishing there.  You put your line in the water and bam, there was a fish on it.

Now it is Thursday and once again work is starting on the expansion of the lodge.  Byron’s friend from Bissett, John, is the carpenter/supervisor of the build.  Today he has Al and Corry working away.  Tomorrow Mike will be back here to help and Byron will be coming from Fishing Lake Lodge daily to help/supervise also.  I will keep you posted on how the work goes!