July 7th AM

I woke up early this morning and sat with a cup of coffee out on the dock. I was preparing to go into Ely to meet up with a guy named Cliff. I had no solid interviews set up for today. In the back of my mind I was prepared for some hard work and possibly leaving Ely without an interview. I got into town and met Cliff. I let him size me up and I told him a little more about the project I am doing. Cliff assured me that I would have a tough time getting anyone in Ely to talk with me, at least any folks who grew up in Ely. I assured him I was in for the ride and I had no problem answer people's questions and would understand if nothing worked out. Cliff first brought me over the the Ely Radio Station, Boundary Waters Radio, to meet the couple who ran the station and the Ely Public Access TV. He wanted to see if they could help come up with any strategies I could use to get an interview.

It was a long shot, but after a few conversations Cliff was willing to drive me out to see a guy named Ropey, a retired miner, veteran and a new Harley rider. Two days earlier Cliff had asked Ropi if he'd be interested. At that point Ropey made it clear he had no interest in doing interviews.

But here I was. Cliff offered to drive me out to Ropey's shack off in the woods, with no running water or electricity. My bike wouldn't be able to make it over the beaver dam dirt roads and large rocks. Slowly Cliff and I chatted about Ely as we road deeper and deeper into the woods. We passed a couple of shacks and piles of stuff Ropey kept on the side of the road for a "just-in-case" moment that may arise. We reached is place. Cliff asked me to wait in the truck while he went to ask Ropey if he'd see me. He once again assured me this may be a waste of time and he very well could tell me to get off his land. I sat and waited.

A few minutes later, Cliff came back to the truck and said, "Ropey will give you a shot." He was surprised. I was surprised as well and jumped out of the truck and walked up to Ropey's place. His place was decorated with lots of animal bones, including an entire rib cage and spine of a deer. Ropi had just woke up.

Once inside I turned on the mic and listened. Ropey was a Veteran, Miner and a guy who had lived some amazing moments in life. A great storyteller Ropey, began to tell a story of surviving a flood and the changes it made in his life. In his heart, Ropey had learned the importance of kindness and the determination to see his way through fear to the other side. I was touched by his stories and felt privileged to be sitting in his home, hearing him talk about the things he knew to be true about the world.

After our interview, he let me snap a few quick portraits of him. He wished me well on my journey and cliff and I headed back out on the road we came in on. Cliff couldn't believe what had happened. Inside I couldn't help but be thankful for the friends that had connected me to Ely, Cliff and eventually to Ropey. I knew I had just had a special experience that would not have happened if the many folks helping out with this project weren't there.