In addition to Maine, one of the other must-stop places on our trip was Eagle River, WI, the home of Tommy’s Bar, founded by the late great Tommy Jankers who loved the Cubs and never heard a joke he didn’t laugh at (just don’t ask him about Leo Durocher. You’ll be there awhile hearing about how Leo left on a honeymoon while the Cubs were headed to the playoffs and ran it into the ground… just ask Dave Durocher, Leo’s great nephew). Tommy’s place has been of the heartbeat of the Jankers family and his wife, Sharon, and son, George, are continuing the tradition. The Jankers family has become dear to us over the years as my best friend and long-time manager, John Leal, is married to Robin, one of Tommy’s daughters (i.e. George’s sister) and also one of our most beloved friends.
We pulled into Eagle River and pretty much drove straight to Tommy’s where George welcomed us with open arms and icy cold shandies. Tommy’s is like stepping back in time. Like to 1973. It boasts one of the best jukeboxes maybe in the world and all communication still runs through a rotary phone on the wall. By luck, that phone rang shortly after we arrived and it was John and Robin. We held the receiver between our ears and teared up a bit hearing the voices of our dear friends who we sorely missed from home.
Pretty sure Tommy’s is on a snowmobile trail, and you probably couldn’t find a better place to get snowed in. We learned a bit about the history of Eagle River through George over many afternoons sipping shandies. You see, Eagle River rebuilt Chicago after the fire when they came and chopped all the timber down. Afterwards, they didn’t know what to do with the town, so they dammed the Eagle River and made 28 of the most beautiful lakes you’ve ever seen.
George took us out fishing on the 29th lake, a private lake just around the corner from our cabin. We met George at Tommy’s place and road with him and his fishing gear in what I’m pretty sure was a car I had been drunk in many times before when it was still in the hands of John Leal.
Anyway, we got to the lake around 10:30am on the day of the great eclipse. George tossed a homemade cardboard eclipse viewing device in the boat and then rowed us across the lake using some of the most skillful technique I’ve ever seen. He’s clearly been doing it a long time.
Took us right to his secret bluegill honey hole where we landed about 70 bluegill and kept enough for a fish-fry (or Robin would have had George’s head next time they were in town). Caught a few large bass to boot. Saw the eclipse. Saw a bald eagle swoop in and take a bath right beside us. Saw a pair of loons with red eyes. Did you know loons mate for life? Kinda like me and Casey. Swam in the heavenly water. It was a perfect day.
Other highlights from Eagle River include a fantastic coffeeshop and some of the best bowling alley pizza we’ve ever had. Not to mention the phenomenal people-watching at the bowling alley on the Neil Diamond cover artist’s night that began as a singer-songwriter night and turned into shameless karaoke, complete with hands waiving in the air.
Another night, George took us to some type of old scout lodge for dinner that had been turned into a supper club where we ate our weight in cheese curds.
The next day I saw the most boats I’ve ever seen in one place at the Wisconsin Musky Festival that was going on that weekend. Eagle River also boasts the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame, the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame. Plus the World Championship Snowmobile Derby each year. Going to get me an Arctic Cat.
Until next time, Eagle River. Thank you, George, for all of your hospitality. Come on out to California so we can return the favor. We’ll have cold shandies waiting.
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