Agate hunting helps with cabin fever

By TOM LAVENTURE

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Ironwood Township — The Lake Superior shoreline attracted several area residents during the warm sunshine on Friday.

Lori Danella, of Hurley, said the chance to do some walking and agate hunting was a cure for coronavirus-shutdown related cabin fever. She and her two sons, Virgil, 14 and Landon, 16 Hariu, made the trek to Little Girl’s Point County Park where they found several other beach combers and park dwellers.

“It’s getting pretty tough on the kids and basically, there is really not a whole lot we can do,” Danella said. “I am an agate collector and they just came along to help me out.”

The two boys said they study online for three days a week and then spend more time with friends doing online gaming and instant messaging.

The two are also outdoorsmen who enjoy hunting and fishing with their father. They put on their waders to help their mother find agates and just enjoyed being outside.

“It’s pretty boring staying put in one spot,” Landon said.

The bright side is that their online schoolwork will count toward grades when they get back to school, he said. It is their understanding that they will finish the school year, even if only online, and will advance to their next grade without having to repeat anything.

The two aren’t involved in spring sports. Landon plays football in the fall.

Virgil said he’s staying in the house a lot. He would rather be active outdoors.

“It’s always nice to get out of the house and do something,” he said.