Jack: Sounds good.  I’m a little rusty with the fly fishing but I’m sure it will all come back to me when we get to the lake. Next time, Chris you are coming with us even if we have to drag you kicking and screaming all the way to the cabin. (megawatt smile and laughs)

Trent: I agree. Hey, do you guys remember when we were stranded in the middle of nowhere? Lucky for Chris, during that time he was training in Colorado Springs at the Air Force Academy. (smile)

Mark: Yeah. I had forgotten about that time when we supposed to embark on our trip to Las Vegas. We were on summer break. The plan was to pool all our money together and hit the jackpot. We would split the jackpot equally and the four of us would live like kings. (laughs)

Jack: But that never happened because we never made it to Las Vegas. Trent forgot a little thing like having a full tank of gas before leaving on our road trip. (laughs)

Trent: It wasn’t my fault. Bruce borrowed my car. He’s the one who forgot to make sure the gas tank was full for our road trip. (laughs)

Jack: Anyway, in the middle of nowhere, the car stopped. We got out, check the tires, nothing wrong there. Then we find out the gas tank is empty. And the nearest town is nine miles away. (laughs)

Bruce: Trent and I had to hike all the way to the nearest town while Jack and Mark stayed behind to guard our belongings. After many grueling hours we finally made it to the town and asked the gas station manager to give us a lift back to where our car was. (laughs)

Trent: Luckily he took pity on us and we brought a full tank of gas can and filled up the car. The gas station manager looked at the four of us and kept on laughing even as he drove away. (smile and laughs)

Jack: Yeah. It was not a pretty sight. Since it was getting dark, Bruce suggested we camp out under the stars. (megawatt smile and laughs)

Mark: We were tired and hungry but had no more food in the car; at that point I just wanted to sleep. (laughs)

Jack: So we get our things, made our way to the campground area, put our sleeping bags down and fell asleep. The next morning, we wake up really hungry. I went to look for berries and anything else edible to eat. Along the way, I found a lake and even saw trout swimming in the water. (megawatt smile)

Trent: That’s when we decided rather than go to Las Vegas, with 90% chance of blowing all our hard earned money and in all likelihood having to call our parents to wire us money so we could get back home. We said forget Las Vegas. (smile)

Bruce: We might as well stay here, go camping, catch fish, eat berries, and gain a new respect for the wilderness. (smile)

Mark: I had forgotten that part. Note to self: Stay away from the Big Black Bear. I don’t know how but Jack, Trent, and Bruce managed to scare the Black Bear away so he didn’t make me his next meal. I escaped with a few gashes and bruises but luckily no broken bones. I can laugh about it now. (smile and laughs)

Trent: Yeah. That was a bad sight. We were all scared to death when we saw the Black Bear coming towards Mark. That experience made all of us stronger and we formed a brotherhood that will never be broken. (smile)

Jack: We ended up spending four days, five nights out there camping under the stars.  We had a grand experience. It started out bad but ended up being the best road trip I ever had. (megawatt smile)

Bruce: Jack’s right. We have a unique bond that I don’t think would have happened if we didn’t go on that road trip and took the “detour” into the woods. (smile)

Sue: Thanks for sharing that astonishing story. But I’ll tell you right now, I am never ever going camping. It’s not my cup of tea. (lighthearted smile)

Renee: Me either. I like civilization too much. I don’t like living the rough and tumble camping experience that so many men seem to enjoy. (smile)

Jack: Back to the real world. So Jessica, how are things going for you in Illinois? (megawatt smile)

Jessica: Good. I’m glad you gave me the push I needed to spread my wings so to speak. I have a new partner; my old partner got promoted to supervisor and moved away. (smile)

Jack: Do you get along well with your new partner? (smile)

Jessica: We just started working together and I’m still on the learning curve. (smile)

Jack: Don’t worry. Your partner is going to appreciate how hard you’ve worked and your unique ability to solve cases. If she gives you any trouble, call me and I’ll set her straight. (megawatt smile and laughs)

Jessica: Thanks, Jack. I know you’re just a phone call away. (smile)

Sue: So how did you guys find this place? (lighthearted smile)

Trent: When we all turned twenty-one, we decided to go out and celebrate. Chris was here on break for one week from training at the Air Force Academy. We five hung out together and this was the only happening place in Wisconsin to be. (smile)

Sue: So this is the place where Jack hones his pick-up lines at the bar with single Wisconsin women hanging on his every word. I should have figured this out sooner. (lighthearted smile and laughs)

Bruce: Yep. Sure is. Every girl in this room that night had eyes for only Jack. Mark, Trent, Chris, and I were basically chopped liver. (smile and laughs)

Trent: Who you calling chopped liver, Bruce? (smile and laughs)

Mark: Yeah, Bruce. You want to take this outside. (smile and laughs)

Chris: As I recall there were a few women flirting with me that night. So I am definitely not chopped liver, Bruce. (smile and laughs)