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the most moving aspect of Isle Royale was the geologic one.  I suppose the basic rocks composing the island are around a half billion years old and this in itself appeals to the imagination but if one were really well versed in geology, it would be even more fascinating to wander around the place, picturing to the extent possible, the vast, infinitely slow-moving drama of the world's billions of years of history in which man's part occupies only the merest flash.  On the one hand you had the awe of contemplating what had happened here during the early days of the world, and on the other, the beauty of today in a fresh, clean place with our white ship moving noiselessly down through the tall, dark pines and under the lovely blue sky.

I think it was an overnight run from Isle Royale to Duluth and that we awakened to find the SOUTH AMERICAN sailing easily over the calm lake and along a shore to starboard which was showing increasing signs of leading to a large city.  Soon the long, narrow city of Duluth began to develop along the hills lining the shore as we approached the harbor.  We were impressed by the huge ore-loading piers not only in Duluth but also in Superior, Wisconsin, across the harbor, also by the great lift bridge across the St.Louis River between the two cities. and the great marine activity throughout the area.  We have little recollection of Duluth beyond this.  We went ashore and walked around the town for a while but Duluth isn't much of a beauty spot and I doubt if we spent much time at this.  As I've indicated, we sailed for Buffalo around 2:30 p.m. and didn't see land again until about dinner time the next day.  There is no record of the return trip.  Thus the first week of my vacation that last summer before we got into World War II was consumed and considered highly worthwhile.  I just wish I had a better story to tell of it.

No sooner had we returned home from our cruise than we began to get ready for our trip to visit Barbara and Charlie Reed in Yorktown, Virginia, where they lived while Charlie was stationed at Fort Eustis as a major in the Army.  Like Jake Brauns, Charlie had long been active in the reserves in Erie and was among the first to be called.  Just as they are today, I'd say that the Reeds were our closest friends at that time and we were anxious to visit them at their new home.  We must have taken the greater part of my second week of vacation to make this trip, driving in our new Dodge.  Barbara Reed insisted that all of us stay with them although it must have put quite a strain on their facilities because they also had Chick with them and he must have been around seven.  They had a house in Yorktown with a big yard and while the place wasn't the most opulent abode one could imagine, it was very adequate and comfortable for them.  With the four of us squeezed in also, I have a feeling it was probably a bit crowded but Barbara didn't allow that to worry her and I don't think it bothered us.  We were just glad to be there with them.