9/07/10 ST. MARY, NEW SHOTGUN, FISH HEADS AND SMOKE

ST. MARY'S SHRINE ON THE BAD RIVER REZ

TOWN OF RUSSELL SHOOTING RANGE
CAMP COOK ANDY (HE GETS THE FISH HEAD}
TRADITIONAL NORTHWOODS BOILED FISH DINNER
HAVE ANOTHER DRINK AND TOUGH IT OUT

Tuesday, 7:30 AM. 55 degrees, wind S, light. The sky is mostly overcast and the barometer predicts more rain, of which there is .9” in the gage.
We rode around the east end of Ashland and onto the Bad River Rez yesterday, and found St. Mary’s Catholic Church in old Odanah. It is a beautifully maintained structure and has a charming shrine to St. Mary, with Indian dolls along with the Virgin, and the enclosure painted to look like birch bark.
We went to the Larsen camp for a traditional fish boil last evening, and before that I tried out my new 20 ga. Over-and-under shotgun at the shooting range. It handles beautifully and I managed to break some clay birds even throwing them myself. Missed more, though.
Andy is a great camp cook and the fish boil was delicious. Recipe for four: a medium sized lake trout, cut into chunks, including the head. Put in a suitable pot, add salt, ground pepper and pickling spices. Also plenty of onions. Cook half a dozen medium sized new potatoes with the skins on separately until done. Cook fish and onions at a rolling boil until done, it takes only a few minutes. Drain and serve, with plenty of butter on the potatoes. Andy claimed the head for himself, he says it is the best part. No one contested him. As we ate the wind changed to the east and it began to rain. The tepee filled with smoke but we had another drink and toughed it out.