This past week I headed up to Sawyer County to spend a long, weekend staying at Fishtrap Cove Resort which is located on Fishtrap Lake and is surrounded by the Chequamegon National Forest.

My friends Dave and Julie Monday own and operate Fishtrap Cove ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), which was built in 1928, has seven log cabins. When you stay there it literally feels like you have stepped back in time 50 years.

    Thursday, July 29th
    High 84, low 60

Everything was going as planned as my 9-year-old daughter Selina, 12-year-old Jamie Bistodeau and I headed north with my truck and 16-foot boat loaded with every toy that we own.

Just south of Phillips one of the tires on the boat trailer blew out and with solid help from all of the girls we were back on the road in 15-minutes.

Jamie Bistodeau is not only a good friend of mine but she is a member of the Meadow Valley Chapter of KAMO (Kids And Mentors Outdoors) and is reaping some rewards from her membership.

We arrived at our home for the weekend just after dark, unloaded our gear, had a few laughs and called it a night.

My main goal for this trip was to relax and play in the outdoors in several ways which would include, fishing, tubing, snorkeling, biking, hiking, yard games and lots of campfire time.

This morning, before the dew was off the ground, the girls were swimming out to float and singing songs with four girls who they had just met. I drank coffee, thought about launching the boat and enjoyed life.

Later, we did launch the boat and I took two young ladies fishing. One who was just aching to go and the other who loves to fish but takes if for granted because her daddy is an outdoor writer.

This week, as I have done a few times with Selina, I gave Jamie Bistodeau a chance to become a published writer; here is what she had to say.

   Saturday, July 31st

Mark woke me up early, we went out in his boat.   We boated up Fishtrap Creek into Fishtrap Lake.
As we drifted along the shore we casted our musky lures. No such luck.
Later, Mark took Selina and I tubing. The laughter could not be stopped.
Selina and I went swimming.  We also rode our bikes.
In the evening, Mark took Selina and me fishing, I got to ride the tube out to the lake.
We swam in the lake as we had it all to ourselves.
When we were in the water Mark found a baby dragonfly and named it "Billybob"

Then we got in the boat and fished. The biting flies were really bad; the bug spray was not working.

Selina, tubed to the cabin. We cooked supper and went to bed.

After reading Jamie Bistodeau's story it makes me very happy to have been a part of starting KAMO. You will read about her on the marshes and in woods this fall.

I have always been a traditionalist and prefer staying in log cabin to a condo. Paddling a canoe instead of riding on a jet a ski and watching a sunset instead of a tv.

This weekend was all about having fun; our dinner was served each night between 11.00 and midnight. We played a ton of games including the alphabet memory game where you pick a subject and than words to go with it in order. This game was played around both the campfire and in the cabin and we were always laughing.

I had a goal this summer of adding a traditional, old style, Wisconsin resort to my menu and Fishtrap Cove Resort was a perfect addition.

I also was hoping that possibly Jamie Bistodeau would hook into her first musky. That did not happen but she did learn to tie a fishermen's knot. She caught a whole bunch of panfish and learned how to drive my boat.

Most adults could add a kid to their life in some small way. It could be throwing a ball or sitting around a campfire.

My guess is that I will be doing it until I take my last breath!