THE LAND NORTH OF SUPERIOR

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In my world you never know what you are going to run up against or into.  The best you can hope for is to have some willing help near at hand.  This is the land north of Superior and welcome to it.<o:p></o:p>

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Back in the later part of the 70’s I introduced myself to a helper who, though I didn’t know it then would play a significant role in my life, and forgot about it as soon as the job I had got him for was done.  There was no real reason to keep him with me during the winter and summer brought it’s own reason, lack of space.<o:p></o:p>

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There we were in the first week of July, the lake water sparkled and rippled in the faint breeze.  Mosquitoes helped themselves to my blood as I sweated.  We had come from a firewood scavenging expedition and now were bucking up the wood into fire size pieces.  I do mean bucking, the Swede saw sang a merry tune when I could find the ambition to move it.  The pile of cut sticks was disappointingly small while the load of logs in the back of my half-ton was discouragingly large.  We have always used the tops and discards of forestry operations for our firewood for two reasons.  First, last years piles are already nice and dry; and secondly the 2 to 3 inch diameter of the wood meant I didn’t have to split them.  Why do extra work just for a campfire?  But today the woodpile seemed daunting and the idea of either cold beer or fishing on the lake was much more appealing.<o:p></o:p>

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“Now aren’t you a stupid guy,�?my wife whose fire it would be pipes up.  “You sweat like a stuck pig bucking fire wood when you have your hardly used power saw at home in the shed!�?lt;o:p></o:p>

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That was the last time I hand bombed firewood.  I hate extra work and I hate being called stupid, even if warranted.  The little power saw I had bought to demolish our old house the summer before went into the back of my truck and has lived there since.  It has found a way to help me all four seasons and never asked for anything in return except for mixed gas, chain oil (whatever old oil there is laying about) and four or five new chains in the last twenty plus years.  Lately she needs the plug pulled, the cylinder primed with a bit of gas, to start the first time after an extended rest.  After that bit of pampering she’ll run like a top for the whole of the fishing and hunting season.<o:p></o:p>

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The firewood that has gone by this little saw would heat a house for several years I am sure.  My wife insists that camping is not camping without a fire.  Of course the hotdogs, smokies, baked potatoes, marshmallows etc to come my way from the fire has no bearing on why I ensure we have wood.  That little saw, great as she is for firewood, has seen serious service in other areas as well.<o:p></o:p>

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Many a spring has seen that saw cut up trees blocking the up stream side of a bridge we have to pass under on opening weekend of pickeral.  The clearing of at least one passage is an annual event.  I think the old saw figures it’s bath time, she does shine after a couple hours of running through water.<o:p></o:p>

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When you run the back roads like I do looking for fish and game you are going to run into wind/deadfalls.  The midget sized roar of that saw makes short work of any but the most tangled messes.<o:p></o:p>

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Washouts require special attention.  You want to get across but the water still needs to flow.  Small ones are filled with large diameter wood with uprights driven into the creek bed to anchor the structure and hold it in place.  A friend and myself made a 12-14 foot span bridge with four main beams and the corduroy top rope tied on top.  That bridge lasted about ten years of spec fishing and grouse and moose hunting.<o:p></o:p>

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What everyone needs in my world is shelter, from the insects in summer to the cold during the fall hunt and rain as it falls when ever.  On three occasions that little girl has saved a hunting trip when a more expensive, newer saw refused to start.  Some of these 4 to 6 man structures almost require building permits.  With the plastic later removed the frames make great firewood for the spring fishing opener.<o:p></o:p>

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During winter ice fishing trips she has cut stakes.  These are put into augured holes in the ice, the holes are then repacked and you can hang a tarp for shelter from the wind.  Coffee on the propane cook top perks much quicker out of the wind.  If the sun happens to be out, the sunny side of the tarp warms up very nicely.<o:p></o:p>

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I had to break down and buy a plug for her about four years ago.  I keep waiting for the final pull on the cord that signals a seized motor but it keeps right on roaring.  For a few years I had the hunger for a shinny new toy but the refusal of my saw to quite gave me no excuse to spend the dollars.  <o:p></o:p>

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Eventually she will die, and I will be devastated, not only because I will have to spend money for a new one, but also because she has been the most faithful of friends as I roamed the far reaches of  the  land north of Superior.<o:p></o:p>