Lora and Lynn at "Live from the NABC"New memories from my trip to Grand Rapids, Michigan (my old home town) are of granddaughter Veronica and I identifying fallen leaves and practicing with binoculars along with her parents (my daughter Kate and her husband Adam). I also won’t forget the good talk with my sister Joyce and mother Gerri, plus reconnecting with high school buddies I hadn’t seen for up to 22 years.
Old memories started flooding back when I landed at the Gerald R. Ford Airport and remembered delivering Gerry Ford’s mail on Cherry Street in the 1960’s.
Another memory from the 1960’s came back when we (Veronica et al) drove over the Grand River. I remembered a break in a dam where the torrent of water had dug a deep trench. An eddy next to the torrent became a hot spot for smallmouth bass. About 10 PM one night, I had waded out to the eddy to cast a lure. Venturing too close to the torrent in the dark, I lost my footing and was sucked into the trench. The churning water brought me up, pulled me upstream to the dam break, and sucked me down again. That time, I went with the current, swimming down until a strong current along the bottom swept me downstream to safety. I became more careful and never again had to use what I learned about currents that night.
Lora, Lynn and Scott during "Live from the NABC"Before leaving for home this trip, I cruised the old neighborhood to see how things have changed. I wondered why I couldn’t find Green Ridge Golf Course where I’d worked and watched young Jack Nicklaus play golf some 55 years ago. Then I discovered the golf course is now a shopping mall and residential area.
I stopped by the old fish hatchery where my parents took my sister and me for walks on Sunday afternoons. It’s become a softball field.
I checked out nearby Mill Creek where I’d spent hundreds of hours trout-fishing in the late 50’s and early 60’s. The stream itself looked much the same, but the background views now include houses and “No Trespassing” signs. I found the high bank where I’d often crouched to watch trout snatch insects. That stretch is now sandy and shallow with no fish, so I checked a deep run that had always held trout. Same story.
It was a great trip, but it is with new appreciation for the wild forests of northern Minnesota that I am now back to working to share that appreciation through the Northwoods Ecology Hall and have it open with the help of Lily Fans this coming May.
Today, long-time employee Lora DeWeese was our special guest at "Live from the NABC" with Scott Edgett with a special appearance by you know who. Lora is retiring this fall and we are very gracious for all of her hard work and dedication over the years. Today's photos share the fun time that was had by all.
I discovered that my camera is home where I showed Donna pictures of the trip, so some of those pictures will be in tomorrow’s update.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
All photos taken today unless otherwise noted.