Mon, Sep 3:  Wagon Trail Campground, Rowley’s Bay, WI:  Headed over to Whitefish Dunes State Park after lunch.  When we left our site it was 77.  When we got closer to the park it was 68!  By the time we got there it was 72.  Not bad.  Walked some of the trails and couldn’t find what we were looking for.  A few years ago there was a big rock shelf people walked out on with their dogs, etc.  Apparently, the lake was really low then.  So, now it’s under water.  And that was at Cave Point County Park, which is adjacent to Whitefish Dunes.  So, we drove back and stopped at the Blue Ox for an early dinner.  After that we stopped at the Door County Bakery, which was closed—thankfully.  Upper 70s at one point today and mostly cloudy.  Humid too.

The big shelf we saw a few years ago...

Someone built a cairn.

Oscar the handsome bulldog--with his life jacket on.

The big rock shelf, which is now under water.

This tree is growing right out of a rock.
Whitefish Dunes State Park

Mike on one of the trails.
Whitefish Dunes State Park

Pretty lake shore.
Whitefish Dunes State Park

Me on one of the trails.
Whitefish Dunes State Park

We passed a sheep ranch.  All the sheep had little "coats" on.  Not sure why.  Maybe to protect the wool?

The sheep farm is a bed and breakfast.

Would be a neat place to stay.

Sun, Sep 2:  Wagon Trail Campground, Rowley’s Bay, WI:  Got the laundry done first thing this morning.  For the first time the laundry room was pretty busy.  But we didn’t have to wait for a machine or anything and got it done quickly.  A cloudy day today and cooler than yesterday.  Glad we did the Sister Bay Marina Fest yesterday.  We read our books and I watched some more episodes of Downton Abbey.  Left-overs for dinner.  Probably mid-60s today. 

Saw this beautiful sailboat in the Sister Bay Marina.

Apparently, all the sails are deployed at the push of a button.

Would love to see a demonstration of how it works.

Sat, Sep 1:  Wagon Trail Campground, Rowley’s Bay, WI:  After breakfast we headed over to Sister Bay for the Marina Fest.  Were worried about the weather, but even though it’s cloudy, it’s nice and warm.  Actually pretty muggy.  Found a place to park on the street pretty easily.  Walked around the marina enjoying the wooden boats on display and some of the yachts docked there.  Checked out some of the food vendors and listened to a bluegrass group performing there.  The Sister Bay library was having a book sale, so we went over there to check things out.  I bought 4 books.  Back to the food vendors.  I got a white fish sandwich and an ear of corn.  Mike got a bratwurst and an ear of corn.  They roast the corn in the husk, then peel back the husk, dip it in a vat of butter, and off you go.  Really, really good.  Sat at a picnic table with a couple from northern Illinois who just bought a home up here in Fish Creek.  They’ve been coming up here every summer for years, and are retiring in their home up here in Fish Creek.  I’d like to come up here sometime in the winter.  Mike will have none of that!  Probably mid-70s today and really nice.

Some of the Wooden Boats on Display

Mike checking out the lightning class (I think) sailboat.

This is my favorite.  Actually it was built in 2002.

An Adirondack Guide Boat

Love this little skiff.  Someone added all the wood and a regular steering wheel and set of controls.

These guys were good!

Fri, Aug 31:  Wagon Trail Campground, Rowley’s Bay, WI:  The sun made a brief appearance this morning and that was it until later in the afternoon.  Cloudy, but a little warmer.  Mike laid a fire and we sat around that all morning.  Our canvas chairs are still a little wet from all that rain we had a couple of days ago.  Came inside and watched another episode of Downton Abbey.  Love that series.  Making pasta for dinner.  Mid-60s today.

These pretty little wildflowers were all over the place yesterday at the Ridges.

Thu, Aug 30:  Wagon Trail Campground, Rowley’s Bay, WI:  A beautiful, but cool day today.  So after our morning ablutions and some breakfast we headed over to Cave Point State Park on the eastern side of the peninsula.  Parked and walked the trail on the bluff overlooking the lake.  The lake shore over here is very rugged.  So was the trail—with rocks and roots everywhere.  After that we drove over to Clark Lake, which is a small inland lake adjacent to the park.  There are some amazing homes on this pretty little lake. Then we decided to check out the Ridges, which is a range light which helped boaters navigate into Bailey’s Harbor, which is surrounded by shoals.  Walked some of the trails there.  A beautiful, natural area and they’ve done an excellent job of preserving the range light and the keeper’s home.  The light keeper had to replace the oil every three hours, day and night, in all weather, 365 days a year.  They were tough!  After our excursions we headed to the Coyote Roadhouse for some lunch, which is also on a small inland lake—Kangaroo Lake.  Decided not to stay there and instead stopped at the Blue Ox in Bailey’s Harbor. Back home and crashed.  Only in the mid-60s today, but beautiful.

The best way to see this rugged lake shore is by kayak.

Beautiful rugged cliffs and crystal clear water.

The lower ledge is a great place to go for a swim.  Easy in and easy out.  Water is only 68 right now.  When I went in last week it was 72.  Still pretty cold, but felt great.

Mikey

One of the cottages on Clark Lake.

Pretty little Clark Lake.

The range light.  The keepers house is a ways behind.  This was built in 1868.

Keepers home.

Range light with the keepers home way in the background.  The keeper had to replenish the oil in the light every three hours, day and night, 365 days a year.  What a job!

Mikey on the boardwalk.

One of the pretty trails in here.

Beautiful lily pond on the nature trail.

Wed, Aug 29:  Wagon Trail Campground, Rowley’s Bay, WI:  Another cool and cloudy day.  No rain, but only in the mid-60s.  We hung out all morning, and after lunch we ventured out.  Drove into Sister Bay and then continued on to Ephraim to see what’s playing at the drive-in theater.  Yes, there is a drive-in here.  Playing right now is Mama Mia 2 and Mission Impossible 6.  We’d like to see the Mission Impossible movie.  I’ve already seen Mama Mia and Mike has no interest in it.  We continued on to Sunset Park at Fish Creek and sat on a bench enjoying the lake vista.  The two main roads here are Rt 42 on the Green Bay side of the peninsula, and Rt. 57 is on the Lake Michigan side of the peninsula.  The villages on Rt. 42 are Egg Harbor. Fish Creek, Ephraim, and Sister Bay.  The biggest population is in Sister Bay—800 plus.  Fish Creek, Egg Harbor, and Ephraim each have 200+.  Gils Rock boasts a population of 4 people and 2 dogs.  The “quiet side” of the peninsula is on Rt. 57.  We’re over on that side.  Once you get away from Rt. 42 and Rt. 57, it’s a landscape of farms, woods, and orchards.  Back to our site and relaxed the rest of the day.  Mid-60s today. 

A porcupine along the road.

They call them hedgehogs here.

Swan out on the lake.

Tue, Aug 28:  Wagon Trail Campground, Rowley’s Bay, WI:   Well, we had quite a storm last night.  We put the awnings up because Door County was the target of a severe thunder storm.  It was a torrential rain storm with lots of lightning and thunder.  No wind to speak of, thankfully.  At 11:00 they cancelled the severe warning for Door County, so we breathed a sigh of relief.  This morning dawned dreary and cool with a misty rain.  So we decided to get some unpleasant chores done, like grocery shopping and errand running.  Got that out of the way and stopped at the Viking Grill for lunch.  Back home and put everything away. It was too wet to sit outside. As I write this another thunder storm is brewing.  I feel sorry for the tent campers.  Low 70s today.

Out for a sail on a much better day than today.