What now Mike? Journal Sept.2005

Fall Arrives at Thompson Lake (so does Winnie!)
Mike Does His Penance … What Now Mike? It's amazing how one’s life path can change so drastically and so suddenly... I heard rumors of the Leaf Rapid homes several years ago ... a closed mine ... houses a very reasonable price ... a beautiful serene abandoned town, etc. etc. As I came on line from Thompson Lake I learned more and the final step was a twelve-hour journey into the Manitoba North (thanks to JP’s vehicle). I guess I could have gone down to Hazel’s on the Churchill River, pulled a left with the canoe and gone down stream, oooooh about 275 miles. Yes, the town is on the same river east of here and the same parallel approximately as my Freisen Lake. What can I say ... the drive was " bush" ... much like ours ... the town lived up to all our expectations and more (I found it hard to locate a discarded styrofoam cup!!). The locals were friendly, kind, and super helpful. Barb, Ken, Linda and Freeman WERE EXCEPTIONAL. The town is really a giant complex with a school, library, hospital, stores, rink, rec centre etc. all in one!! All the homes are in a horseshoe around the complex and all within a ten-minute walk of it. What happened? Well, Jared and I returned as proud homeowners with our credit cards max-ed. All homes are 2- 4 bedroom and fairly new ... in La Ronge their value would be $ 80,000 and up. So what now Mike? Hopefully this will be my last great adventure. I will return to Thompson for the spring, summer and fall seasons ... do some trapping etc. Jared will service Northern Manitoba/Saskatchewan as a computer/ satellite tech/engineer. With a heavy heart I will apologize to all the bush junkies – I feel like a traitor! It's just that I’m tired ... so tired of... 1.) chores 2.) killing animals. 3.) living like a sub-human. 4.) forgetting how to speak …and on and on and on ... Let’s face it, this country has worn me out ... I have nothing more to prove to myself or to others. I will continue on with this site from wherever I am. It’s been a blast – over and out. Michael Sept. 18, 2005 Mike's Interpretation of Town Life	Leaf Rapids, MB Leaf Rapids, MB Leaf Rapids Mall Mike's New Home Jared's New Home
Rain! Rain! Flood! Flood!

Mike's Russia

Mike's Hang-Out in La Ronge

visit

Guests Gordon and Rob

Thompson Lake BBQ

A Thompson Lake Jig!

Go to next Journal Page

Return to Journal Menu Page

Return to Thompson Lake Lodge Home Page

JOURNALS

- Alena got her visa rejected cause I don’t make enough money for her two week visit... she did some digging and Canada is only giving out about one visa out of a hundred applicants!! Welcome to democracy.
- Plan B? I go to Russia, if we " click", we tie the knot. Let them try stop that!

- Thanks to the neglect of the charter airline companies I lost about $75 worth of groceries ... some things never change do they? A bear ripped them all apart.
- Now I’m packing, packing, packing.
- It’s over between Honey-Ho and Jared – sad.
- I renewed my handgun carry permit for two years.
- Jared is over loaded again re computer business.
- I saved about $600 and the town of La Ronge lost out because of their no smoking laws ... just didn’t eat out.
- Bless Kathy’s Corner Cafe (it’s on reserve land and the coffee was free and of course I could smoke).
- My return to Thompson was not routine ... problems with Bell Express-Vu, Internet and of course the cleanup after flooding at the dock.

- Now that I have found the almost perfect black bear handgun (in semi-auto format/ mod. 45 Super, 10mm), I will try work on the perfect bush holster ... the police tactical holsters?? NOPE, they stick out too much.
- God I’m boring ... I’m even boring myself!!

- Still bored? OK let's spice this all up a bit. A lot of you assume I’m anti-Christian – NOT SO – (here comes the “but”) but here is what I’ll do, George Bush, Stephen Harper. I will vote for you, praise your name etc. I mean, I will even work on your next campaign! And all I ask in return is you tell me that my good Moslem /Buddhist neighbor will go to Heaven and that sweet little Jehovah Witness on the corner will also follow you. That’s all!! Yes, I ALSO HAVE A MESSAGE FOR Billy Graham and company ... Billy Boy, just tell me that our notorious child molester/killer Clifford Olsen has about as much chance of making Heaven as the devil playing snowballs and I will scream hallelujah till my next cigarette. IS IT A DEAL BOYS??

- Well it's here, the most beautiful time of year. Of some interest, as I traveled about in La Ronge I noted the leaves slowly giving up their greens and felt detached. " I could see fall, perhaps even feel it at times."

It was then that I realized how much I missed the “real fall” of Thompson Lake. Here, I am fall! Besides seeing it, I feel it, smell it; it envelopes me – consumes me and I will certainly miss it.
I can say I will return for the springs, summers, and falls – but let’s face it Mike, you will only be a visitor.
Goodbye, Thompson Lake. Thompson Lake Elves

Look after my Thompson Lake, elves!