Author: David Haldeman

Saturday, August 9, 1947
Mother’s birthday
Always good to be home! Spent the morning taking care of the plants I brought back from Canada. Made 3 terrariums & planted the little trees here & there.

Finally got uptown about 4:30 to shop for hamburg fry that I planned at noon. Had mother & daddy over & the Romines. Didn’t eat until 7:00 & Flo & mother rubbed it in how they always have meals on time. But it tasted good.

Ray – Mary & I went out to their house to sugar but got only one catocala. They had to leave at 11 to get Sandra at Flo’s mothers.

Sunday, August 10, 1947
Finally a perfect day for our long delayed annual jaunt to Cedar Point. Romines & us – kids & all went in our car. Had our picnic lunch in roadside park north of Attica. Ray chased asterias without sucess & I got a couple of specimens- Indian tobacco one.
At Cedar Point the waves were like I remember the ocean. The rest went swimming & Ray &* I went back along the road & sand dunes. But it was barren of butterflies & while the vegetation was new to me it was mostly shrubby. Did find larva infesting chestnut oak. Thought it was antiopsia but wasn’t. Met the rest & kids – rode on a few things. Had our lunch by the car & then Wally & Flo took the kids on the boat across the bay & Ray & I drove the car back. Romines left early and Bernard & Rosina Brooks came.

Friday, August 8, 1947
Up at 5:30 but with breakfast & this & that we didn’t get started util 8:15. Came back on the east side of the string of lakes – mammoth granite cliffs.

At Norval – somewhere east of Kitchener the car developed a grinding rattle. Garage there said it sound like middle bearing in drive shaft but he didn’t know what to do. Limped to Gulph & they spent an hour with no results. Florence & the kids & I tried both directions to find a restaurant with no luck. Mary was sick with cramps. Wally wanted to go to Hamilton to get it fixed but we all said “NO” as that garage said it could be driven. After lunch went on & it was OK below 20 & above 40. Beautiful bridge at Port Huron & view of Blue Lake Huron. Left Florence at Arthur’s & had snack of cookies & ginger ale. Detroit traffic terrible 8:00 PM when were downtown & got to mother’s at 11:45. Tumbled into bed immediately. About 660 miles today.

Thursday, August 7, 1947
Betty got out her list of what we hadn’t done & determined to do the rest today. So first we visited McKay’s Cottage on Trout Lake. Saw deer tracks at edge of lake. Not one living in cottage this year. Up to Lost Lake which lies considerably above the other lakes around there. Then back to cottage to get Florence & started down to Clear Lake to visit “Uncle Bill Henshot” He is a lumberman & had a leg broken at work last winter. His tales were good. Clear Lake was clearer than its name. Took pictures of the kids lying on the bottom. Collected all along the road. Back to cottage & started packing. Sure has been a grand vacation.

Hotter & hotter even in evening but Mary & I sugared for moths using brush borrowed from Scroggs. But not a single bite.
Ray says turpentine in brush kept them away.

Wednesday, August 6, 1947
Hot! 96 & very [illegible]. But Betty’s plans called for a hike to her Four Acres so off we went all but Florence. The rocks were like stove topes but the blueberries tasted delicious. Got lost & hiked too far but the water of Brown’s Lake & Betty’s lovely white sand beach looked grand. So hot went swimming in underclothes as Betty said no one was around. Mary found Sundew & a plant we didn’t know (bladderwort) at the edge of the lake. Had a visitor from across the lake at lunch. Much to Betty’s surprise. But he rowed us back so we only had to walk a mile home. A dip in the Lake was grand & Florence had cooked a grand supper.

Visited Alan Frasier’s parents in Rosseau to see their pet fox which obeys commands. Then for a wild ride down the Pt. Carle road with Alan relating stories of wrecks that had occurred all along. It was terrific!

Tuesday, August 5, 1947
Kathy stayed with George & Catherine Scroggs next door – Betty – Florence, Wally & David went back to Parry Sound to shop for food – And Mary & I took the boat & started on a collecting trip. Where the river enters the lake we stopped to collect water lilies & heard a pileated woodpecker working. By kneeling in the bottom of boat we could actually see it. Oh so big. We landed but it was gone. Photographed workings. Tied boat & started on foot down left bank of river through lush vegetation. Rattlesnake plantain in bloom – many ferns & all sorts of terrain. Crossed the river at the “old dam” & into a pine woods with its dry, clear undercover.

David Scroggs birthday party for supper. He was delighted to have children there for a change. All the relatives there & a girl from England. At 10 went to a square dance with Betty & Al – Local color galore & dancing really primitive but Wally & I about stopped the show with the double twinkle. Saw porcupine on way home.

Monday, August 4, 1947
Did a little preliminary collecting (plants) around cottage. Wally had an 8 AM dip & brought the water supply in from the middle of the lake.

After so much getting ready we all started for Parry Sound via the back road. Stopped for collecting & butterflies. The road very twisting and rocky & Mary H got carsick. In town everything closed up for “Civic Holiday” – which can be anytime.

Had good dinner in Chinese restaurant. Saw Indians – & Scots on street. Visited tower & had granc view of Georgian Bay & its islands. Home over the short route. Spent evening writing letters.

George Scroggie took us for a motor boat ride on Whitefish Lake & had his troubles! David had to go & he thought he had to stop & so we had more trouble!

Sunday, August 3, 1947
Up early but Florence certainly knows how to take her time. So didn’t get started until around 9. Had dinner at a nice place out of London. Ontario looked very much like Ohio until you get way up. And then groves of cedar – outcroppings of rocks.

Arrived at the cottage about 6 & Betty had it cleaned to perfection. Was pleasantly surprised at its livability – quite comfortable.

Her relatives in the next cottage quite helpful in getting us unloaded. Every thing better than I had dreamed it – the lake more beautiful, conveniences less missed. And Florence approves of our kids so thoroughly it is a pleasure to be with her. Wally & Betty took a ride thru the “Bush”

Saturday, August 2, 1947
Last minute packing for our Canadian trip. Got flowers ready for Sieback wedding tomorrow which Daddy will deliver tomorrow.

Arrived in Detroit at Betty’s mother’s about 8:30. Florence very sweet & “Gucky” the usual unattached uncle. All bedded down above Detroit’s busiest corner but slept good.

Friday, August 1, 1947
Letter from Eamon Ryan of Spiddal, Galway, Eire. J. B. Smartt who has corresponded with Ray had evidently put a letter in the paper about me. Mr. Ryan’s letter was very interesting.