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That was just wonderful! Thank you for sharing it. I live in the desert so places like where you live are almost unimaginable. The temperatures have been in the low 100s for the past week with more to come. "But it's a dry heat." It really doesn't feel that hot outside. I have very good A/C in my truck and that makes all the difference. But camping? Nope! I just live vicariously through people like you who live in beautiful places! Your photos are always so wonderful so thank you!!

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Thank you! Yes, days were in the 70's and 80's, nights in the 50's and 60's, It is rare to be so hot here to be uncomfortable, though in much of Minnesota, 90-95 and muggy is common nad more uncomfortable to me than 100+ in dry desert. When I was young and enamored of the writing of Edward Abbey, I thought about moving to Flagstaff, but the more time I spent in the desert, the more I appreciated water...

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I went to college there for a little over a year. It is really nice there! We'd all start wearing shorts when it got to 55 degrees. Then there was that year that it snowed on May 2nd... I love all of that open water you have - there are lakes here but mostly in the northern part of the state.

How is your garden doing? It really is quite impressive!

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Garden is good, except for the beets. Something, likely a chipmunk or a horde of them, have been eating all the beet above ground, which is half the beet. We set out traps but nothing caught yet. It is not a total loss but it is sad, as we hoped to put away much for winter. I am going to pull all those damaged and replant seed, as it might be early enough for another harvest.

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Very cool! Reminds me of a mix between the St. Lawrence and Adirondack regions of upstate NY, including the fish species. :D

I was "back home" in that region of NY for the first time in 5 years this summer, and it felt great. Planning another trip for autumn to see foliage.

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Many have commented that region is like the Boundary Waters, though there are a lot more lakes here. I have never been to that area but I have seen pictures of the maples. We have plenty here too. I'm considering the idea of tapping local trees next spring, to make homebrew.

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Jul 21, 2023·edited Jul 21, 2023Liked by William Hunter Duncan

Beautiful!!

Thank you so very much! My husband and his older brother — both Michigan boys — canoed the boundary waters together. Just once, and oh so memorable.

The two were 9 years apart. Big brother had gone off to college, bequeathing his much younger brother his bedroom, never to move back home. Marriage, grad school, children and a medical practice followed. My husband headed West to Oregon to blaze his own trail and start his own family.

They’d had visits, talked & wrote, shared immense love, but both yearned to really know who the other was — the adult, the man. They got that chance on the Boundary Waters. Their Epic Trip.

A year later, Dr Glenn died on a mission trip to an orphanage in Guatemala. 11 years later, younger brother, Dick, died after a brain bleed brought on by undiagnosed GBM.

They were both in their 50s. Both had left their 2 college-age children and their widows.

Now, another ten years have passed and I am plunged into the stories of the Boundary Waters. Your story merges into his — and theirs — and my own, recalling the joy of their deep and boundless friendship.

Thank you for this gift.

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Much gratitude for you offering this comment. A gift indeed.

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Jul 22, 2023Liked by William Hunter Duncan

Thank you, good Will Hunter. So glad To have found your substack. Am catching up & will be reading in future.

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I made a very similar trip for my 28th birthday in the Ozarks, camped alone. I hope we all have a Walden pond of sorts to go to and listen to our inner silence, connect with the quiet and reflect on our place in the universe. 15 minute cities could never, and forget about Saudi Arabian 'smart' wall cities...just not how we're meant to live. Your quip about the mosquitos reminds me of something I read from Thomas Harris last night: "Typhoid and swans - it all comes from the same place.”

I'm so glad to read you had a nice time. Also, what beautiful pictures.

I wanted to ask if you wanted to trade roughly 150 heritage apple seeds I saved from two very old (and delicious, productive) trees that were foolishly cut down and a small greenhouse for a tarot reading. I've been meaning to do something with both but feel like I need to relinquish them.

I know you're working on an orchard and I also thought this might help, though I might have sent it before: https://archive.org/details/Electroculture_127

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I would offer a tarot reading free of charge. Those apple seeds will all be genetically distinct, all of them likely returning to wild disposition. When those trees were cut down they just made a genetic dead end. The greenhouse might be useful, not sure, but someone more local to you might appreciate it. Feel free to email me @ botfoj73@gmail.com to discuss a reading.

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Jul 12, 2023Liked by William Hunter Duncan

Fabulous story and photos, Hunter. I especially love your comment about your Shield Maiden, she looks like a sweet, loyal, gregarious protector.

Ron and I played a little private concert last night for friends old and new. We are heading into Montana today, camping for one night at a riverside site, and we're counting the days until we meet you both!🤗

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Eager to meet you both. Which reminds me, I need to invest in a mosquito-proof shelter so we can sit outside at the 80. One of the things I appreciated about so much of the West coast was the relative lack of mosquitos.

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Jul 12, 2023Liked by William Hunter Duncan

Oh that shelter will be much appreciated! We haven't encountered mosquitos yet, but we're still west of the Rockies. Although I did get bitten by some nasty bug last night after the concert. I didn't feel it happening, but suddenly my foot and ankle swelled up substantially. Not painful, just uncomfortable with the inflammation. Icing helped, as did the red wine. A scrumptious 100% Tannat by Jason Bushong of Paso Robles.🍇🍷😋

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Jul 12, 2023Liked by William Hunter Duncan

I love the evolving chef hat! I think that when you conclude your gratitude list with readers, it should be hyphenated -friends. Pat Dog for me.

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Jul 12, 2023Liked by William Hunter Duncan

Happy Birthday, William! 🎉🎂🎉

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Thanks. By the way I listened to your podcast with Anna and truly enjoyed it, while I watered the poor neglected plants at the Garden Center.

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Thanks...much appreciated, my friend.

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