RENDEZVOUS with THE PAST
What others are saying
“Readers will enjoy both the characters and the adventures of the young Boy Scout, Louis, canoeing the Boundary Waters for the first time. While navigating through this pristine wilderness, Louis learns the profound lessons nature has to teach as well as valuable insights about himself."
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“Though set in the 1960s, the wonder and magic of these unique wild lands is faithfully captured . . . as it was and, most importantly, as it remains today. It will surely whet the appetite of those who have not yet made the journey. It will also enfold those who have . . . with the warmth and comfort of a Hudson Bay blanket."
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—John Van Dreese, General Manager—
Northern Tier High Adventure, Boy Scouts of America
(John in 1965 in front of the lodge taken by Mike Miler, administrative assistant to the Base Director.)
​“John Thurston’s book, Rendezvous with the Past, took me back to a time of my life full of wonderful memories. I found myself reading and rereading several passages.
His description of a boy’s first introduction to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and the Charles L. Sommers Wilderness Canoe Base is spot on and filled with imagery. Linking the adventure with the voyageurs who traded there and the Native Americans who called the area their home gives the story a hint of mystery which I hope he pursues in subsequent writings.
Anyone who has shared this Boy Scout adventure will love this book as well as anyone who has sat and enjoyed a Boundary Waters sunset and night sky and heard the call of the loon.
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—Phillip Van Swearingen, Author, Artist, and Charlie Guide ‘64
(John Paddling in the Quetico. Taken by the crew’s Scoutmaster.)
“Rendevous with the Past” takes the reader on an adventure of self discovery to the wilderness of the Boundary Waters. If your personal history includes Scouting, you will be reminded of how Scouting changes lives, and that magic often happens in an outdoor classroom like the Boy Scouts Northern Tier High Adventure Base in Ely, Minnesota. If you love the outdoors and your own sense of personal discovery, the adventures of Louis and his Boy Scout friends will take you on a heartwarming journey of friendship, mentorship, and the importance of reflecting on our own personal histories. I am grateful to John for the journey and thankful for his lifetime of service to the youth of America and his impact on my life.
Scott Sorrels
National Commissioner
Boy Scout of America