HaydenLoon: August 2009

This is me, Mona, and Chuck and the Picture was taken by Dean.

Well I know a vacation is supposed to be fun, and guess what it was. At 11:00 a.m. on August 3, 2009 Chuck and I stopped in Albany, Mn on the way to North Dakota for our first 9 holes of chase the ball. It was great weather.

After this we stopped at Charlies Cafe in Freeport for Caramel rolls, in remembrance of Dad, who stopped there every day when he was the track inspector for that section of the Great Northern Railroad.

On to the Evansville Cemetery to stand and pray at the temporary resting place of our sister and parents. We had decided to have three goals for each day. We will pray for those who need encouragement, pray with those who want to have the knowledge of Jesus Christ in their life, and pray for healing for those who request it.

We went to the Hardware store to buy our fishing licenses and ended up praying with the owners.

Then we visited and stayed overnight with sis Mona and Dean in suburban Erdahl. Mona is a great cook and we sang for our breakfast!

The next morning we went on to the Arch on Pelican Lake at Ashby and I caught a bass. Chuck was bummed because he is the great outdoorsman. That called for celebration so we went to Ruby's cafe in Ashby and had a caramel roll. (Do we have a theme?) And of course coffee. And met a missionary from somewhere sitting in a coffee clutch of 6 women.

On to the north. We went north out of Ashby to go to Cass Lake. On the way we missed Moll's becasue the trees are tall now. But we had decided we were not turning around if we missed something. Up through Perham, and backroads over to Menahga where we used to deer hunt. Stopped at Chuck's for Groceries for lunch.

Thought of Marty Giese as we passed by his church in Park Rapids. We stopped and Chuck ran into connections from Africa. Then Marty showed up and invited us for a fish fry for supper (dinner for you city folk), and put us up overnight. Great time of prayer and fellowship. I loved hearing about their old stories of Mo-kah-um.

The next day we encouraged a lady at the gas station, and then went on to Walker and fished on the bridge between Leech Lake and Kabekona bay. Chuck caught the biggest fish and we met Tommy and Jennifer, and Annabelle, and were blessed by being able to pray with them.

On towards Cass Lake. Chuck saw a golf course so we stopped for nine holes. Chuck found a memorial bench with the name Bill Ross, the son of one of dad's great mentors, and my spirirtual example as a child, Selam Ross. Selam was the only non family member who showed up for my college graduation. When we were done golfing Chuck said we should get on to Cass Lake. I told him we were already there! So we stopped and ate supper.

Then we went fishing at the Mission Bridge. No luck. Beautiful sunset. On to Fosston for the night. Tomorrow we get to North Dakota.

But first, Cabela's in East Grand Forks. Then a trek to Devils Lake where Chuck doesn't really comprehend what he was seeing in contrast to what it was like as a kid. But when we get to Churches Ferry and see the water there it started to sink in. On the way we stopped at a Garage sale and bought some stuff and prayed with the seller too, for her family.

On to Rugby the geographical Centre of North America, from the south tip of Mexico to the northe tip of the tundra. Pictures and food and then up to Dunseith. Not pleasant in Dunseith so on to Bottineau for a stay at the Super 8. Chuck met Frankie from Belcourt at the Walmart, and also an exwife of the sister of a classmate from St. John.. Chuck remembers everything.

Next morning on to Metigoshe to fish, but first of all a garage sale up by the lake. Good stuff and the lady of the couple had spent time as a missionary in Ghana. She has been a church music leader in Fargo for 35 years. or more. We prayed with her before we left.

On to the fishing store to buy licenses. Oh by the way it has been raining and cloudy all the time in North Dakota. So we went down to the bridge. Chuck started getting his gear together, and I put on a red and white daredevil and made a cast. I caught a 7-8 lb northern on the first cast. Then another three pounder, 20 inches.

We watched a man teach a flyfishing casting class. He was most excellent.

Then we went to look for the Dunseith Alliance Mission. Couldn't find it, so headed to Upsilon.

Went by Leo and Lorraine Haas' place and stopped to find Larry there. He invited us for supper. Then his wife came home and seconded the motion. Brother Carl from Andover, Minnesota was also there for a wedding. Great Spahgetti meal, with two adult daughters, one boyfriend and two grandkids from another of their children. We prayed and ate and prayed and were blessed and went on our way to Upsilon. On the way we stopped at Gravel lake and fished in the rain. No luck. Then we went to Upsilon and fished in the rain until almost dark. No luck.

Then on to St. John. Betty Davis had no lights on, and we drove around town having memories. We ended up at Ducky Laroque's where Jim Davis family used to live. That was a fantastic time of fun and catching up on when we were kids. Then we prayed with them and left blessed out of our socks.

Off to Rolla to find a motel. We both voted no. This was about 11:30. We kept going and finally ended up in Devils Lake at about 1:30. Super 8. Both Haas' and Ducky had invited us to stay overnight. But this way we could sleep in.

The next morning we went fishing on the St. Michaels Bridge on Devils Lake. The boaters were catching, but we weren't. We finally gave up and went to Fort Totten. They have built new roads so things looked different. We finally headed for Jamestown, and I saw the road to Wood Lake Camp and Belchers. So we turned there and then Chuck remembered where Jab's farm was so we went there! We found Carol who was the wife of the person he worked for. This was old home week for them too. We fixed her garage door on the quonset and then had coffee! Then prayed and on the way south. But we went north first, then down 20 to 200 and over to Cooperstown where I knew the pastor of the Free Church. He was not around so we went golfing until dark. Most excellent Course. Then off to Fargo for the night to pick up Arly's coat she left there earlier in the week.

Next Morning off to Minnesota.

Stopped at Fergus Falls so Chuck could Skype with Peggy. While at the motel, I talked with a man who compared himself to Job. He was not exaggerating. His wife died two years ago because of conflicting prescriptions. His house burned down on Monday, and his two cats and three dogs perished in the fire. We prayed with him for his encouragement.

Then back to Ashby and the ARCH. Chuck caught three bass keepers. At 4:00 we left the lake, stopped for ice, and at 8:00 we were back in Maplewood. Chuck ate the bass for lunch the next day, the 10th.

More Pictures to follow.