Robert was still celebrating the opening season of duck hunting by eating a hearty breakfast at The Fireside Inn.  Hunter McConnell greeted him with a game of Guess Who in the photo at left.

     The inn will be open the for the next two weekends during the autumn color season.  One of their October traditions is a pumpkin carving contest.  Guests bring a carved pumpkin to dinner Saturday night and a winner is chosen.  The pumpkins are displayed on the porch Sunday morning.  In the photo at the left, Hunter gets busy on his pumpkin.

Hunter (left) tries to hide from his Dad Terry. 

Bob, Alan, and Lori greet their guests with smiling faces. 

The staff at The Fireside are always glad to make your visit memorable.  Below, the Effrick sisters pose for a photo and Angie Kaszubowski serves breakfast. 

Tom Boaks (with wife Sandy) explains the proper way to play a five string banjo to Cori Grabow who pretends not to hear him while she eats her pancake.  She's not into bluegrass music. 

The Fireside Inn on Grand lake in Presque Isle Michigan.

  I went duck hunting this morning for the first time in my life.  I invited myself along with two friends who were planning on hitting the shores of Grand Lake for the opening day of migratory bird season.  While they had fancy shotguns, I hunted with a Sony.  That's right, I was DUCK TAPING.  I recorded the hunt on video and still photos as Tom Boaks and Mr. Doyle did battle with their feathered foe.

 The morning started out before sunrise with a bit of mist drifting across the still surface of Grand Lake.  Mr. Doyle couldn't get the motor of his boat started so an electric trolling motor pushed the small flat bottom boat.  In the absence of the sound of a gas motor, the boat ride was quite peaceful.  Did I mention it was a small boat?  Two men and the hunting gear might have been a comfortable fit, but since I invited myself along, the ride was as Mr. Doyle said, cozy.  So the boat sat a little lower in the water.  No big thing.   It's not like Grand Lake was rocking.  The water was still.

     Before the morning was over, the mist on the lake had turned into some serious fog.  Normally, one would expect the sun to burn the moisture out of the air, but the fog hung around like a spell had been cast.  The pea soup made it hard to spot incoming birds, but created an excellent video/photo opportunity.

     Out of the mist, a boat drifted into view.  Two men were either trying to catch fish or were really bad duck hunters trying to catch a bird with stale bread on a hook.  

     I suddenly realized I couldn't hear Tom and Mr. Doyle talking anymore.  I must have wondered to the other side of the island.  I didn't feel like I was alone though.  I was being watched.  I decided to return to the duck blind and found myself staring face to face with and island hag.  The horrid wretch invited me to her shack which to meet her two sisters.  I didn't think she would take no for an answer.  There were three of them altogether. I wondered if perhaps Three Sister's Island got it's name from these lonely Grand Lake ladies.  

The three gals had a pet that lived under their porch.  I'm not sue what they fed it, but hoped it wouldn't be me. 

They introduced me to their uncle who didn't say much.  All I could figure from him was he collected bones.  The inside of the three sister's cottage (they never dust) was decorated a bit differently then one might expect for an up North cabin. 

After returning to Tom and Mr. Doyle, I reflected on my visit to the three sisters.  Not only does October mean hunting season, it also means HAUNTING SEASON! 

Watch mypresqueisle.com for future postings of upcoming spooky events in the P.I. area. 

      Today was the opening day of duck hunting.  Robert cried FOWL but not because somebody took his picture.   He was cheering himself on after bagging two birds this morning from a cozy blind on Grand Lake. 

 Robert celebrates a successful hunt with a victory toast.

  It's that time of year in Presque isle where we have to get ready for a long winter.  When the docks come out, I know fall is officially here. 

     The leaves on the trees are turning orange and red and yellow.  The photo at the left was taken by my daughter Kyla Schatz. 

It doesn't matter what time of the year it is however.  The sunsets on Grand Lake are always beautiful.  Photo by Kyla Schatz.

 Robert sightings are rare in October.  He's out there, but he's usually blending into his surroundings with the stealth of a ninja. If you're walking through the woods and see a lovely spruce holding a bow, it might be Robert looking for a trophy white tail. 

     If Robert's hunting ducks or deer, chances are he'll be be in his garage preparing for Halloween.  He and his family participate in the Presque Isle Halloween Trail every year. 

     Keep watching mypresqueisle.com for updates on what activities are happening during this Halloween Haunting season.  

     The picture at the left are of Robert and his lovely bride at a Halloween party at the Presque Isle Harbor Association Clubhouse.   

     Several area people reported a Robert sighting on Saturday.  The picture on the left was taken at the Jane Kasubowski fund raising party at Camp Chickagami in Presque Isle.  Robert (standing left) can be clearly seen  talking to Tom Boaks (right).

     Having missed out on an opportunity to win a kayak or $1,700.00 in a 50/50 drawing, Robert was delighted to win a wheelbarrow full of adult refreshments.  

     Due to the side effects caused by his prize, Robert sightings in the upcoming weeks aren't expected to be frequent. 

     What would one think makes Presque Isle such a magic place?  Is it the clear water of the lakes?  They are beautiful and we sure have water.  (Except for Lotus Pond)  Does the charm come from the forests?  Whether green in Summer, amber in the Fall, draped in snow in the Winter, or blossoming in the Spring, the trees are stunning.  What I think makes my Presque Isle special is the people. 

     One of the special people in our community, Jane Kaszubowski, was diagnosed in May with multiple myeloma.  (That's cancer)  Discovering one has a serious illness is always a big shock, but there's always a second moment of truth with that kind of news.  It comes in the form of a bunch of numbers with a dollar sign in front of it.  Jane and her husband Joe needed help and the people of Presque Isle didn't hesitate to step up.

     Jane's friends, Diane Comerford, Ann Lange, Karen Pettalia, Linda Taylor, and an army of other volunteers hosted a fund raising party at Camp Chickagami on Lake Esau.  Their goal was to raise $10,000 to help offset Jane's medical bills.  Today, they raised over $30,000.00.  Magic!

New York City has Central Park.  Alpena has a wildfowl sanctuary.  As you can see by the map above, it's quite large.  That's the Thunder Bay River snaking it's way through the wetland.  It leaves the map on the right and has a short journey to Thunder Bay which is part of Lake Huron.  One of the best ways enjoy close up views of the swans, geese, and ducks is by canoe or kayak.  If you don't have your own, you can rent one at Summit Sports 224 E. Chisholm St., Alpena 989 356-1182 . 

      It's hard to believe there is anything other than rocky shores in Presque Isle.  Believe it or not, one doesn't have to go to Lake Michigan to run barefoot through sugar sand.  

     There are piles of sand along the Lake Huron shore that we affectionately call  baby dunes.  They aren't as large as those west of Traverse City but like I always say, size doesn't matter.  Sand is sand and there's plenty enough to take some with you in your shoes, towel, and picnic basket.  And where will you keep this sand?  In the carpet on the floor of your car of course. 

     Finding the dunes can be a challenge if you don't know where to look.  There is an unmarked trail leading to them and one has to hike about a mile through a potentially bug infested forest. (Depending on the time of year)  The work is worth it as one can usually count on having the beach to yourself. 

     Robert is a life long resident of Presque Isle and seems to always be up to something different.  Bloggers can now experience "Robert's Presque Isle" here at mypresqueisle.com. 

     Every winter, the Grand Lake Sportsmen's Club places fish shelters in the lake.  Imagine a 10'x10'x4' cube made out of cedar logs, then filled with brush and rocks to weight it to the bottom of the lake.  These cubes create structure for fish to hide in. 

     Robert was recently spotted  inspecting a shelter placed last year in about 18 feet of water in front of the Fireside Inn.  He reported seeing two large walleyes resting within the structure.    

     Anybody wishing to help place fish shelters this winter can contact the spotsmen's club.  Watch this blog for a future posting regarding when they will be placing more shelters.    

Thoughts and/or comments?

You can email me at, barry@mypresqueisle.com