Visitors from St. Cloud spend 11 days in Alex

John Herdan, a tourist in
his hometown, gets plenty
of help from the locals

John writes:
We just finished spending 11 days at the Cabin on Lake Latoka.
It's a good thing the locals know what's going on up there to help out us tourists.
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The first local was Lynne Spellman, who helped my wife, Judy, in that amazing search for the perfect dress for the mother of the groom.

We have till August 18th to bag a dress. Lynne was mumbling something about the number 60 but I wasn't sure what she was talking about so I ignored her.

Then I was smart enough to buy something that was too big to fit into my car to bring it to the cabin. Up stepped Pat and Stephanie (Sonstegaard) Osterberg with their van. (It was really a cheap trick to get them to come out and visit us, but it worked.)


Then I couldn't get my boat motor started. The late Rick Kvilhaug's little brother, Rallie, is my next door neighbor at the lake. Since he helps run Latoka Lodge, he needs to know stuff like that. Didn't take him long. I did notice that Rick's widow Joyce, while not the mayor like Rick was, is now on the city council in Garfield.

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Then I stopped by the spectacular new Minnesota Maritime Museum. Who more perfect to host me than Robin Movold Niedenfeuer? Fun fact to know: Robin's family was the start of the boating industry in Alexandria. Alexandria was the boat building capital of the country when we were kids, with the Alexandria Boat Works busy manufacturing the "Lady Of The Lake." This is a stop that is well worth it. Give yourself plenty of time.

Connie Simonson (the late Mary Jo's sister) Brueske rode by on her bike and hollered at us but at "our" age, I don't move that quickly. I'll get her picture the next time.

There was a car with Arkansas license plates in Betty Larson's driveway, so she and Perry must be there. I'll be back next week. Hope they'll still be there.

More from the lake later.
(Good report, John, we'll await further developments. -- The trailboss)