{"id":5497,"date":"2020-08-18T20:20:00","date_gmt":"2020-08-19T00:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=5497"},"modified":"2020-08-18T20:26:58","modified_gmt":"2020-08-19T00:26:58","slug":"episode-95-spruce-lake-camp-at-paradise-lodge-gets-a-female-visitor-summer-1964","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=5497","title":{"rendered":"EPISODE 95: SPRUCE LAKE CAMP AT PARADISE LODGE GETS A FEMALE VISITOR SUMMER 1964"},"content":{"rendered":"
EPISODE 95:  SPRUCE LAKE CAMP AT PARADISE  LODGE GETS A FEMALE VISITOR   SUMMER 1964<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
alan  skeoch<\/div>\n
august 2020<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Note:  See  POSTSCRIPT AT END OF EPISODE \u2026 ESPECIALLY YOU DR. PATERSON<\/div>\n

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<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
IN the summer of 1964 I thought my prospecting days were over.  I had  just finished my first year  teaching<\/div>\n
at Parkdale Collegiate, Tronto.  Also we had not been married for a full year so taking off for a mining adventure<\/div>\n
was highly unlikely.   One of my many  failings is that I never let go of things with ease.  Seems that Marjorie knew that.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
The phone call from Dr. Paterson came iii mid June.  School was still  in session.  Final exams were  being<\/div>\n
written and marked when  Norm called.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cAlan, we need you for a short 8 week job\u2026are you available?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cLet me check.  Marjorie, Norm on the phone \u2026 wants me on a bush job.<\/div>\n
What do  you think?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cHow long?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cAbout 8 weeks.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cThe whole summer in other words, right?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cYes\u2026what do you think?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cTake the job.   You will be disappointed if you don\u2019t.  Hard to live with… Where is the job?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWhere , Norm?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cMile 71, Spruce Lake\u2026on the Algoma  Central Railway\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cAlgoma\u2026Marjorie\u2026where we had the Batchawana adventure last summer<\/div>\n
before the wedding.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cTake it, Alan.  I will manage\u2026lots to do.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWhen do I leave, Norm.?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cAs  soon as you can\u2026Linecutters are already working\u2026Mag job and  the Ronka\u2026you<\/div>\n
will have  a four man crew\u2026five counting yourself.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
(Well that was not what happened.   We got a six person crew, one of  whom was unpaid.)<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Paradise Lodge was really a fishing camp built for well healed men.   A  lodge  with dining room<\/div>\n
and  a cook then an assortment of small cabins strewn around near the shore of Spruce Lake.<\/div>\n
This was only  the second  job where we had a cook for the crew.   Back in 1959 on the Alaska<\/div>\n
job we had a camp cook, actually two to three of them  because cooks are sensitive people.<\/div>\n
If  diners get too critical, they quit and go elsewhere.  The Alaska cook quit when we criticized<\/div>\n
his \u2018moose heart special\u2019 which included all the ventricles exposed. Whatever our cook presented, I told<\/div>\n
the crew  to eat and  keep opinions to themselves.  That seemed to work.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
The big  surprise  came as a shock to the whole camp except for me.  We had<\/div>\n
been working for about a  week.  Long enough for me to determine whether Paradise  <\/div>\n
Lodge was livable or not.  It was grand.  So I sent word south to Toronto.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cI expect a  visitor today, boys\u2026flagstop at Mile71.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Marjorie  arrived at Spruce Late\u2026she startled us all.   I will never forget the moment<\/div>\n
the ACR ground to a halt.  First off was the conductor with his special  stool.  Then<\/div>\n
came Marjorie.  Dressed as  if  she was  going to dinner at the Royal York. <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
We had discussed this possibility in June.   \u201cIf the camp is  livable, maybe you<\/div>\n
could join us.  What do you think, Marjorie?\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cThat is just what I was thinking.  You have  a camp cook, maybe  I can help him.\u201d<\/div>\n
(That made me a bit nervous but I said nothing.)<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cGive me a week  or so to get things settled.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Marjorie did not come alone.  As she stepped  down from the train she handed<\/div>\n
our cat, Presque Neige, to the conductor.   \u201cHoly Cow\u2026she brought the cat.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
We greeted each other warmly\u2026I was really glad to have her with me.  But the<\/div>\n
cat was another matter.  \u201cMarjorie, we have to be careful with the cat.  Wolves<\/div>\n
howl from the other side of the lake each night.  The cat will have to stay  in our<\/div>\n
cabin or attached to a rope of some kind.”<\/div>\n

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This picture is backwards but does show  you how bleak the  Mile  71 flagstop appeared.   Marjorie<\/p><\/div>\n

may have  been a passenger  on a nearly empty train.  This was not the Agawa Canyon special<\/div>\n
train with dining car and  lots of  glamour.   This train was the regular passenger and freight train<\/div>\n
on its way to Hearst far to the north.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cWhat else  did you bring?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cMy electric sewing machine.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cSorry Marjorie\u2026we have no electricity.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Well, did Marjorie\u2019s arrival ever stir up the camp.  For a start our language improved with<\/div>\n
less use of ‘son of a bitch\u2019 and \u2018goddamned\u2019 that we  normally applied to anything that<\/div>\n
was disagreeable\u2026mostly the voracious insects\u2026occasionally to each other.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
And we began to  sing.  Bob Bartlett was a folk singer. And he had his<\/div>\n
guitar.   1964 was  a  great year for folk songs and  Bob seemed to<\/div>\n
know them all.  Evenings  were  never boring even when we were tired after hours<\/div>\n
long fighting  our way through the spruce and cedar forests.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
In 1964 Gordon Lightfoot\u2019s \u2018Early  Morning Rain\u201d was number 6<\/div>\n
on the Pop Charts.  To us, at Spruce Lake, it was Number 1.<\/div>\n
Particularly the final lyric\u2026\u201dYou can\u2019t jump a  jet plane like <\/div>\n
you can a freight train\u2026in the  early morning  rain.\u201d   Our own<\/div>\n
freight train\u2026the ACR\u2026Algoma  Central Railway.   We sang<\/div>\n
the blues away each night thanks to Bob Bartlett and Marjorie.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
“Early Morning Rain”<\/span>

<\/p>\n
In the early morning rain with a dollar in my hand
With an aching in my heart and my pockets full of sand
I’m a long way from home and I miss my loved one so
In the early morning rain with no place to go

Out on runway number nine big 707 set to go
But I’m stuck here in the grass where the cold wind blows
Now, the liquor tasted good and the women all were fast
Well, there she goes, my friend, well she’s rolling down at last

Hear the mighty engines roar – see the silver bird on high
She’s away and westward bound – far above the clouds she’ll fly
Where the morning rain don’t fall and the sun always shines
She’ll be flying o’er my home in about three hours time

This old airport’s got me down – it’s no earthly good to me
‘Cause I’m stuck here on the ground as cold and drunk as I can be
You can’t jump a jet plane like you can a freight train
So, I’d best be on my way in the early morning rain

You can’t jump a jet plane like you can a freight train
So, I’d best be on my way in the early morning rain<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

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<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
And Marjorie had the ability to keep our cook happy. She was willing to help him but<\/div>\n
only if he  asked for help.  No danger of the cook quitting.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Marjorie has that great skill of  making  everyone feel   comfortable. She makes<\/div>\n
other people  feel important.  Because she is really interested in their lives.  No <\/div>\n
phoney bull shit kind of conversations.  No special persons either.  Sometimes<\/div>\n
she became so much of a den mother that I felt just as much  under who wing<\/div>\n
as the rest of the team.   She loved the folk singing.  She had other skills too.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
One illustration.  Serge  Lavoie was the only crew  member with no<\/div>\n
bathing  suit.  Before  Marjorie arrived we just dove off the dock nude.<\/div>\n
Who the hell cared.?  When she arrived bathing suits  appeared except for<\/div>\n
Serge.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cSerge, do  you want me to make you a bathing suit?\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Well, she did whether he wanted one or not.  Hand  cut,<\/div>\n
modelled, sewn.  And Serge was ecstatic.   That is just one<\/div>\n
example of how Marjorie took over the camp.  Technically<\/div>\n
I was the boss.  And I did the work for the company\u2026non stop.<\/div>\n
One reason Norm gave me these  jobs is he knew I would<\/div>\n
deliver.   I was the boss but not the director.  Marjorie\u2019s laughter<\/div>\n
even  made the trees start of grin.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
The cat?   Well, the  cat live in our 12 c 12 little cabin.    No objections<\/div>\n
from her.  Perhaps she knew what a wolf howl meant.  \u201cOwooooo!  Qwoooo!<\/div>\n
Owoooo!\u201d  which translated means  \u201cIm hungry and I am going to get You\u2026ou\u2026ou!\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cPresque Neige\u201d (Almost Snow) was a wedding gift from Marjorie\u2019s bridesmaid<\/div>\n
Faye Nichols.  Imagine getting a cat as a wedding gift!  We loved her  of course.<\/div>\n
In turn the cat  trusted us completely.<\/div>\n
The cat got out occasionally\u2026even went for boat rides as you can see below.<\/div>\n

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We made good use of the outboard motor boats rented from  the  Lodge.<\/div>\n
Travel to our anomalies by boat was a  lot easier than slogging for<\/div>\n
hours by foot.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
One day, Marjorie asked me \u201cWhat exactly are  you doing in the bush each day,  Alan?\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cWhy don\u2019t you come  along tomorrow.  I  have to<\/div>\n
check out a base line north of here.  Our crew will go in there<\/div>\n
next week if  the trail is clear and matches the aerial photo.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
I do  not remember why I had to check out this anomaly on<\/div>\n
my own.  Perhaps there was a claim post to confirm or an<\/div>\n
error in the readings  of some kind.  I have No reliable recall.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
But what I do remember vividly  are the  scars on a  spruce tree just a few  feet above our heads..<\/div>\n

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\u201cSee those scars, Marjorie,\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cYes, do they mean anything?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cPerhaps nothing but they look like a place<\/div>\n
where a bear has sharpened its claws or a<\/div>\n
place where a bull moose has rubbed  the velvet<\/div>\n
off its antlers.   Just guessing.\u201d<\/div>\n

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Funny thing about bears.  I  spent 10  years in mining surveys and never once met<\/div>\n
a bear face to face on a linecutters’ trail.  The closest I came was meeting a bear<\/div>\n
while wading  up an Alaskan stream\u2026off the trail.  Never on the trail.  Why not?<\/div>\n
Well, one opinion is that bears  do not like us.  We smell bad.  But The  basic reason is<\/div>\n
that we make lots  of noise\u2026tin can with pebbles on our belts for instance.  The bears<\/div>\n
get out of our way.  A bear with cubs might be  different but I never met such a bear.<\/div>\n
Fear of bears diminishes.   I have said this one point often.  When I asked Floyd Faulkner<\/div>\n
on my second bush job\u2026\u201dWhy don\u2019t we have a gun?\u201d  <\/div>\n
“Good reason, Al, (actually he called me \u2018Fucking Al\u201d)  If we had a gun we<\/div>\n
would be more likely to shoot each other.  Living together in a  tent, eating rotten food,<\/div>\n
feet blistered, insect welts all over\u2026all these tend to make us sensitive\u2026trigger happy.”<\/div>\n
(I did not take this  bear picture but imagine parting some brush  to find the bear looking at you..<\/div>\n
never happens that way)<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s get out of  here now.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cNever go fast on a linecutter trail.  Just take it easy.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cBut what about the bear?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cScars  may have been made months  ago\u2026if they are scars.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cAll the same, let\u2019s  get out of here.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
(This gave me a chance to show off\u2026while at the same<\/div>\n
time sowing how caution is needed on these linecutters’  trails.)<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cThe linecutter puts blazes on two sides  of the trees\u2026one blaz\u00e9 tells<\/div>\n
us where the line is going\u2026we line up the blazes.  The other set tells<\/div>\n
us the way  back  out\u2026line up the other blazes.  If we make a mistake and<\/div>\n
get off the line it is  damn easy to get lost.  So go slowly\u2026walking pace.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cThe other dangers are the pickets  close to the  ground.  They could act like<\/div>\n
spears if we trip or slip.  Walter Helstein fell on a sharpened  picket\u2026put<\/div>\n
the spear right through his hand\u2026got infected\u2026could not get a  plane in for<\/div>\n
him because the weather was bad.  He spent the year in hospital.  Easy<\/div>\n
to spear yourself on a tag alder sliced close to the ground.  So it is best to <\/div>\n
walk not run.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
All of this  is true but writing it  down makes me seem like some kind  self appointed<\/div>\n
preacher.  Sorry about that.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Once we  got back to the lake where our boat was tied  to a deadfall, things<\/div>\n
took a  turn for the better.  Better?  You  might disagree. Remember Marjorie<\/div>\n
and  I had only been married for ten months.  Really newlyweds on a<\/div>\n
different kind of honeymoon.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cLook at that beautiful little island\u2026smooth granite landing places, bit<\/div>\n
of  sand, couple of stands of scraggly  spruce.  Deserted.   Let\u2019s land<\/div>\n
and  go  for a swim.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cBathing suits  are back in the cabin.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWho needs bathing suits?  No one here to see us.  We are alone<\/div>\n
on a sunny afternoon with enough breeze to keep the flies at bay.  Let\u2019s<\/div>\n
strip and swim.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cPut that camera down,  Alan\u2026down this minute.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cJust a couple of pictures to remember this glorious day.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
That was in July 1964.  Today  it is August 2020\u2026.56 years<\/div>\n
later and I remember the day as  if it was yesterday.  And  I have<\/div>\n
the pictures to prove it.  Male  chauvinism at tis worst?  Maybe.<\/div>\n
But we don\u2019t think so.<\/div>\n

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Whenever I think of the Paradise Lake job this moment on a  little deserted<\/div>\n
island is the first thing that comes  to mind.   When writing these stories about<\/div>\n
the summer of  1964 all the details of our survey work have just melted away<\/div>\n
and my memory savours our joint moment of absolute freedom that sunny<\/div>\n
afternoon.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
A good place to end EPISODE 95<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
alan skeoch<\/div>\n
August 2020<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
postscript:  I know it seems an odd thing to do\u2026i.e. To take your<\/div>\n
wife on a prospecting venture.  Well, my boss Dr. Norman Paterson told<\/div>\n
me in a moment of revealing  conversation\u2026\u201dI took my wife on one of our first jobs.\u201d<\/div>\n
I remembered that comment and acted on it.  Marjorie paid  her own<\/div>\n
way and she kept the camp happy.   She even took over the cooking<\/div>\n
when we moved to an abandoned lumber  camp on Wart Lake in  late<\/div>\n
August.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

EPISODE 95:  SPRUCE LAKE CAMP AT PARADISE  LODGE GETS A FEMALE VISITOR   SUMMER 1964 alan  skeoch august 2020 Note:  See  POSTSCRIPT AT END OF EPISODE \u2026 ESPECIALLY YOU DR. PATERSON IN the summer of 1964 I thought my prospecting days were over.  I had  just finished my first year  teaching at Parkdale Collegiate, Tronto. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5497","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5497","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5497"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5497\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5497"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5497"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5497"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}