Three friends and I hopped in a band new 4 door f-150 ford and headed up to the lake of the woods for “The fishing trip of a lifetime” — if you’ve heard the ads on the radio. We left at about 12:00 am on a thursday night just after bowling (don’t ask). We arrived at about five and a half iPod draining hours later, but the resort wasn’t open until 7:00, so we tried to get a couple minutes sleep… yeah right.
Up ‘n atem. After breakfast we got our lake access pass and headed out to sea. We were out about two miles, and it was about 18 below zero. The cold temp made it difficult to start the pilot light for the furnace in the fish-house. We fired up a few Coleman lanterns – and they only started after letting them warm up in the truck for about 20 minutes – meanwhile, we drilled some holes. There was about 30″ of ice where we were at. Finally after getting the lanterns going, and with the furnace now going, it was time to get to fishing. Hell, it’s 9:30 am how about a beer?
At this point it was Hours awake: 26, hours of sleep: one-ish.
We fished hard all day with very limited success. (Troy took a nap – awwww.) A few sager, a few walleye, but they were all small. We figured the bottle-bass were biting so we headed into shore for some beers, but first we had to run a few errands, namely: fill the propane tanks, charge the ice-house battery. The nice lady at the resort said they had propane, but not a permit to sell it, we had to go to a gas station a couple miles away.
There were a few people in line at the gas station checkout, so we placed the 30 lb propane tank next to the filling station and patiently waited in line. Here’s the conversation with the propane nazi:
At this point it was Hours awake: 34, hours of sleep: one-ish.
Patches: Could we get a 30lb propane tank filled please.
Propane Nazi: NO! Next!
Patches: *blink* *blink* *looks left and right* steps out of way.
… 10 minutes pass, we need propane, it’s life or death…
… many glances at each-other wondering when the boiling points guy was going to shell out the dough and tell us we’re on a hidden camera show.
… now the place is empty …
Patches: I’l pay you money if you fill our propane tank.
Propane Nazi: Give me a hundred bucks and I’ll fill it right now. You want my fucking job? No, you don’t want my fucking job.
… 10 more minutes pass …
… Propane Nazi’s friend shows up…
Propane Nazi: Hey, watch the store, anyone tries to steal anything, fucking shoot them. *proceeds to sware and fill out the tank…
… we live …
I think Badutte may be too close to Canada for ‘Minnesota Nice’ to apply…
