Hail to the Chief!

Good Morning! I've just endured one of the most difficult evenings of my life...to be quite honest with you, I'm not quite sure how to feel about it. Yesterday afternoon there were some storms that had rolled through, beginning at around 4pm and ending at about 7pm. They really caught me off guard because of the fact that it had been sunny and beautiful all day. There was a portion of the storm that had rolled through right at 4pm. Now, my experience tells me that the beginning of the storm is typically where all of the wind, hail, tornadoes, things like that are. Boy was I wrong!

So the first part of the storm came to pass. This would be your garden variety midsummer downpour. Then there was nothing for about 45 minutes. I was actually standing near my campfire cooking some canned corn when I heard "crack, crack, crack". I didn't know what it was at first, but soon realized it was beginning to hail. I thought the best place to be (which maybe I was right, I'm not sure) was inside my tent. Hail came down as big as golf balls! I actually took quite a beating (black and blue today as a matter of fact). Then came the winds. They weren't too bad really, maybe 35-45 mph, but they were hard enough to get my mind racing as to what I was going to do in the case of a tornado.

So, I've realized that I am going to have to build some type of shelter if I'm to stay here longer. You see, the difference between me and your typical camper is that the typicall camper checks the forecast before they go out camping. The also can usually take shelter inside of their vehicles if need be (or drive up to the Parkside Motel for that matter). Anyways...today I will devise a plan to build a shelter (possibly a lean-to, I'm not sure). Nonetheless, it's now become priority #1.

I have already been fishing this morning, and I'm happy to report that I caught a really nice Northern Pike. I think it was nearly twice the size of all of the others I had caught. I seriously think that it should be enough fish to last me a few days! I'm very excited and proud of myself.

I had visited a website yesterday that I would highly encourage everyone to visit. It is the website of LeAnn Ralph, who is an author of several books about rural farm life in the wonderful state of Wisconsin. She lives in Colfax WI (this is about 10 miles from where I am I guess). Along with tons of great local information, blogs, etc...her books are also for sale (they are affordable, and worth every penny I'm sure). Here's her web address: http://www.ruralroute2.com . Go there, I'm sure you will not be dissappointed.

Well, I'd best be going. I've got plenty of work to do, but may update again yet today. Until next time!

Eli