VOYAGEUR ADDENDUM 2002

Though our one and only previous encounter was over a decade ago, Matt Kline pointed to the Bourgeois, "You were wearing a blue coat and a blue and white cap with "Voyageurs" on it!"

This unlikely story began in May in Indianapolis at a wedding of a nephew. Ready to leave the reception, I was approached by yet another nephew, Chad Sorrick, and his fiancé, Julie Borchelt.
"You are coming to our August 31 wedding, aren't you?"
"Wouldn't miss it!"
"Be sure to stay over for a Sunday barbecue at my parents house on a lake and bring your fishing rod. I know you and my dad will have a lot to talk about since you both like to fish in Canada."
"Oh, yea! Where does he fish in Canada?"
"He goes to a place called Bear Lake."
"Really?! I used to go to a Bear Lake! There are probably a lot of Bear lakes in Canada."
"Well, Dad's used to be owned by a guy named Bundi."

Julie also mentioned her father and brother had a website which turned out to be WWW.BURNTCABIN.ORG. I had previously checked out this fine website after Matt Bundi had recommended it. Matt again confirmed this coincidence when I e-mailed him with Julie's news. (By the way… The Bourgeois checked out the site again while composing this piece and read the July newsletter. My beer drinking Voyageurs will want to know, "What the hell do you do with all that frozen milk?!")

So the Bourgeois traveled to the Chicago area on Labor day weekend with the dual anticipations of a family wedding and sharing Matt Bundi stories with Julie's dad, David Borchelt and her brother, Scott.

Saturday found me sharing the joy of the beautiful couple and dancing with beautiful women including my wife, mother, sister and great nieces. The latter was in an establishment reportedly once frequented by Al Capone and other historic figures of note.

Sunday found me at the magnificent home of David and Peggy Borchelt. On the walls were photos of Bear Lake, Lower Cranberry and Bassoon. Memories of these lakes…. Well, let's not get teary eyed!

Eventually, with my mouth filled with David's food, we were at last introduced. Not only to David but also to Scott and half a dozen other Bear Lake guys. Scott has copies of my Voyageur letters of years ago received from Carol. Others claimed to know who I was from Bear Lake Camp news and the Voyageur letters. It seems the Borchelt group still take Bear Lake Camp over for a week each summer with 16 men, including a couple of sons of the original Mad Dogs. Theirs appears to be the only group to have survived Chuck.

Bundi and Chuck stories were shared. There were stories of lakes such as Lower Cranberry and Stoney as well as Wayne Swamp coming and going as the beavers abandoned and rebuilt their dams.

But might we have been on the island at the same time? When in '83 the Bourgeois spent seven weeks with the Bundis, Matt's parents were visiting from Switzerland. David remembered Matt's father building the barbecue pits at many of the cabins. Right, we probably were there at the same time.

Hot Dog Island was mentioned. I recalled one 4th of July when fireworks from Hot Dog reached the mainland and sent a number of boats over to splash on the results.
"Those were my fireworks!" exclaimed Scott Borchelt.

When I mentioned my good friend, the Swamp Doctor won his Voyageur name by repeatedly falling into Wayne Swamp, David asked if this doctor could have been the one that sewed up Matt Kline's finger after a nasty fish hook accident.

Memories flooded back of a brave young lad, in obvious pain, enduring the stitching after the pain killer had failed.

"Matt Kline is here at the party!"

After hearing I was looking for him, Matt approached me, pointing that well healed finger, stating what I was wearing a decade ago and recalling the doctor's name! "Von Epps!" Close enough!

David Borchelt and I both think it quite remarkable this union of families created via his daughter and my nephew should unite two Bear Lake groups - one from northern Illinois and one from southeast Ohio. Indeed, this beautiful world is small.

To the uninformed, Bear Lake Camp is a four acre island with half a dozen cabins near Espanola, Ontario. Matt and Carol Bundi were wonderful hosts to the Voyageurs from 1979 until they sold the camp. We lost Carol a few years back. But Matt is still seen around the lake in the summers. The Bourgeois and the Voyageurs dream of the day when we may once again enjoy Matt Bundi's company on Bear Lake. 2003 will be the 25th year for the Voyageurs. Talk about special!!!

Tight lines,

The Bourgeois