Hol-Ry,

How long has it been since you heard that word, Hol-Ry, or even been around friends that knew what it meant? If it has been more than a couple of years then you are way past due for a Canoe Base Fix.

Labor Day weekend is quickly approaching and it is time for the "Rendezvous" reunion once again. You are thinking "quickly approaching"? It's true we haven't even celebrated Memorial Day yet. But if you don't reserve September 3-6 on your calendar right now for your trip Up North then before you know it the Rendezvous will be over and Thanksgiving here.

Rendezvous is for the whole family: In addition to your chance to revisit and explore what has changed at Northern Tier's Charles L. Sommers Canoe Base, there will be hands on activities including re-enactors of the fur trade era, tomahawk throwing, logging encampment, coopers, black smith, and much, much more. For the children (ages 10-15), on Saturday we will have an overnight stay at the North American Bear Center in Ely. On Saturday evening join us at the Grand Ely Lodge for the Rendezvous Banquet for an evening of activities and auctions. I even hear there will be a restored Seliga canoe on the auction block!

This is a time and the place where you can reconnect with your friends and meet their families. You can taste again what it was like to be able to step off the waterfront and leave the modern world behind even if for just and instant. The best part of it all, you have the opportunity to improve, embellish and downright stretch the truth a lot about your canoe trek stories to a different generation of listeners.

I invite you to come spend some time Up North. Hang out with old and new friends. Take a canoe out on Moose Lake and just exhale.  Register online at www.holry.org. Get the word out to all of your friends and invite them to join in the fun. As always there will be a hot pot of coffee waiting for you at the campfire.

Red-Eye,

Allen Rench