One tank of gasoline had taken us yesterday to the Honey-Hole fishing and back, then to “bear beach” to drop off fish guts and make plaster cast of bear tracks and then all the way to the landing this morning.  Not pulling a train of boats behind your boat really improves the mileage.

There was a note left on my truck from John Bajerski.  This is a friend who camps and fishes near the Wathaman River Bridge each summer in a camper.  He lives in Pocatello, Idaho.  It described their effort on July 20 to boat out to the island for a visit a few days earlier.  Unfortunately, their 9.9 HP Mercury outboard had lost its water pump 17 miles out and they had spent over six hours getting back with their spare 2 HP engine.  Fortunately for them, it was nice weather and they felt lucky to survive the affair with only lost time.

We portaged Jay and Ruth’s gear up to their truck and Don followed them out the 4-wheel track to the main road to meet Harry Menton who was scheduled to arrive that morning.  It was 10 AM when we arrived at the main gravel road but Harry was not there.  Jay, Ruth and Don said their good byes and then Don was left alone.  Don walked up to the Wathaman River Bridge to get out of the swarming mosquitoes and enjoy a bug free breeze coming of Wathsamn Lake.  By 10:30 AM, Harry had not showed up.  Don walked back to his truck at the entrance to the 4-wheel track and left a note on his windshield to tell Harry that Don had walked back to the boat to get his satellite phone and that he would soon be back at the truck.

Don got back to the truck at 11 AM and still Harry was not there so he drove to the Wathaman River Bridge where the open space would assure a clean signal for the phone.  Betty was home but had not heard from Harry, so Don assumed the delay was not catastrophic but did arrange to call Betty again at 5PM should Harry still not have arrived.