Tue, 6/22/10

Wagon Trail Resort, Ellison Bay, WI: This morning started out cloudy, so I got the cleaning out of the way. Then sat outside reading for a while. Mike headed over to the office for something and I decided to go for a walk since it had cleared off and turned into a beautiful day. I walked part of the trail that we hiked a few days ago. Was wishing I had changed into shorts before heading out because it was getting pretty warm in my sweats and a sweatshirt. Got back and changed into shorts and got engrossed in the book I was reading. We headed to Bailey’s Harbor around 4:30 for dinner at the steakhouse there. Had a great meal and watched the kite boarders out on the lake. Back home and watched two more episodes of The Sopranos. 80 today.

Bailey's Harbor Range Light

These two buildings are in a straight line about 950 feet apart.   They each had a light in the tower.  Back in the 1800s, when a ship lined up these two lights they knew they were in Bailey's Harbor

Mon, 6/21/10

Wagon Trail Resort, Ellison Bay, WI: Another fantastic morning. After our morning ablutions we headed to Sister Bay to do the laundry, pick up some groceries and hit the library and return the Sopranos first season. We were lucky that the second season was there and so I took that out. Took advantage of the library wi-fi and went through our e-mail and some other things. Back home, put stuff away and relaxed.

On the trail at the Ridges Sanctuary

Sun, 6/20/10

Wagon Trail Resort, Ellison Bay, WI: Another beautiful morning. After having breakfast at the Viking Grill we explored around some more. Stopped at Ellison Bluff and checked out the beautiful view of the lake and islands from the top of this bluff. Hiked the trail there through this beautiful forest. Then we drove up to Gils Rock and Northport at the tip of the peninsula with views of the Porte des Morte channel and the lighthouses in the channel. Then on to pretty little Europe Lake. Lots of beautiful homes around the lake shore. Back home and watched the final Soprano’s episode of season one. 75 today—sunny and nice.

Pretty wild flowers

View of Ellison Bluff and Green Bay

Road between Gils Rock and Northport--talk about a windy country road!

Wagon Trail Resort, Ellison Bay, WI: Another beautiful morning. Clouds started rolling in shortly after noon. We hung out all day and then went into Ephraim around 5:00 to check out the Fyr Bal (fear ball) Festival. Checked out the llamas and alpacas and walked around for a while and then went to the Town Hall and had a fish boil dinner—our first. We sat with a couple who have a place up here on the lake just north of Sister Bay that’s been in the family for generations. He’s Scandinavian, she’s Scandinavian and German. They cook the fish in these big pots outside. The potatoes and onions go in first and then the fish get put in last. They serve it with cole slaw and bread and ladle melted butter over the fish and the potatoes. Tasted really good…very different. The only bad thing was the bones. You had to be pretty careful. Back home and watched more episodes of the Soprano’s.

Fish boil in progress

One of many pyres on the lake shore ready to light

Wanted to take this little guy home

Wagon Trail Resort, Ellison Bay, WI: A beautiful, warm, sunny morning—full of promise. They just finished picking strawberries up here, so we headed to a market near us and bought a couple of pints. Then drove down through Sister Bay and Ephraim. The Fyr Bal (fear ball) Festival is on this weekend in Ephraim. Think it’s Scandinavian for bon fire. It’s a festival that celebrates the coming of summer. All the cottages along the lake shore were putting together big pyres for the festivities tonight. They’re going to have Scandinavian dancing, a pet parade, and a big fish boil tonight with fireworks to follow. Hope the weather holds for them. Drove some of the back roads for a while and then back home and sat outside in the sun reading for a while. A perfect summer day today—low 80s, blue skies, and gentle breezes.

Wagon Trail Resort, Ellison Bay, WI: This morning dawned bright and sunny. And last night the stars and moon were incredible. After having breakfast at the Viking Grill, decided to drive to Sturgeon Bay and get some things we need at Walgreens and then check out the lighthouse at the entrance of the Sturgeon Bay Canal. Walgreens didn’t take long at all and then we headed over the draw bridge to the canal and followed the Coast Guard signs until the road dead-ended at the breakfront and Coast Guard Station. Took some pictures and then back to Sturgeon Bay along another WI Rustic Road that started right at the Coast Guard Station and followed a beautiful forest along the shore of Lake Michigan. Some beautiful homes along there, although you could see mostly drives into the thick foliage. We did see a doe and very young fawn cross the road. Drove around old-town Sturgeon Bay a little bit and then headed back on Rt. B which goes up the Green Bay side of the peninsula. Stopped at Egg Harbor and I had an ice cream and Mike had a soda and then we continued on, stopping at another roadside stand/market. Didn’t buy anything but sampled all the goodies in there. Also stopped at the Water Street Gallery in Ephraim to see our favorite artist, Fredrick Briedenhagen, but he wasn’t there today. I have several of his prints, and Mike bought me one of his original oils for Christmas a few years ago.

Tiger Lily--Ridges Sanctuary

Fly-eating Pitcher Plant--Ridges Sanctuary

Wagon Trail Resort, Ellison Bay, WI: Cloudy this morning. We had a fire and sat around reading and watching the couple in the site next to us as they packed up to leave. The clouds broke up and the sun came out so we went back to The Ridges Sanctuary and hiked some of the beautiful trails in there. Forests of cedars, pines, firs and birches interspersed with wetlands—they called them swales. Very pretty and lots of wild flowers—some rare. On the way back we stopped at one of the little roadside markets and bought some chocolate covered cherries and some other things. Back home and watched part of the first season of the Sopranos I borrowed from the Sister Bay library. Probably mid-70s today.

At anchor in the bay at Fish Creek