Genie and I usually leave Albert Lea for the Eelpout Festival at Walker, Minn. early a.m. Thursday, the day of opening activities in February.
We were watching TV Wednesday morning when the program was interrupted with flashes of “Blizzard Warning.” The storm was to hit early a.m. Thursday, with no travel, up to a foot of snow, high winds, and be ready to hunker down for Thursday and Friday.
Genie and I looked at each other, and I told her I would call the Palace Hotel in Cass Lake and cancel the room reservation. Genie told me okay to call the Palace Hotel, but see if we could change our arrival to Wednesday. I called and the great VIP, Kortney, at the front desk, said, “You got it.”
We paced in a rush and left Albert Lea at 11 a.m. (The only thing we forgot was Genie’s flute that she likes to play above the lobby at the Palace Hotel as the acoustics are excellent).
The roads were good driving all the way. We couldn’t believe a bad storm was coming. After arriving at dark and checking in, we turned on TV to congratulate ourselves on beating the storm. Everything from Albert Lea to Duluth was cancelling.
We went to the Eelpout Festival Thursday noon. Late afternoon the storm hit Walker with bad driving conditions, so we went back to Cass Lake about 5 p.m. It wasn’t good; we stayed at the hotel all day Friday due to the storm.
Because of the bad weather, attendance at the Eelpout Festival was down. The largest eelpout caught was just under 12 lbs. About 10,000 attended.
I know all of you have heard of “Employee Recognition.” The Palace Hotel now has “Guest Recognition” with Brad at the front desk one of the leaders of the program. We could tell the program is a success, as many of the employees recognized us with a smile and a handshake while welcoming us, and even a hug. We thank them.
Do you know who the best casino host in Minnesota is? Becky at the Palace is, as she managed to get us tickets to the awesome Phil Vassar Show at Northern Lights in Walker.
We attended Sunday church at Trinity Lutheran Church on Highway 2 just west of Cass Lake. In getting there early, we noticed most of the attendees did the Minnesota Stomp (where you stomp your feet at least three times to get rid of the snow when entering a building). Do you suppose NRHEG Wrestling Coach Mr. Larson learned the Stomp at Trinity?
On Cass Lake along Highway 2 is a Lions sponsored car. “Guess When Car Will Sink” is in big letters on a sign beside the car. I bought a ticket and put down Memorial Day, Monday, May 26. So far, I’ve got the latest guess.
In coming home on Monday, February 24, we saw the huge drifts along Interstate 35 between Owatonna and Ellendale. Wow!
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.