Sun, 7/18/10

Wagon Trail Resort, Ellison Bay, WI: Rained all day today. A nice, gentle rain, but rain nonetheless. We just planned to kick back today anyway since we’d been going strong for a couple of days. Read our books and watched a couple of movies. Over to the lounge to work on the computer. Hopefully tomorrow it will clear off some.

70s era Indy Cars
Road America--Elkhart Lake, WI

Sat, 7/17/10

Holiday Inn, Manitowoc, WI, to Wagon Trail Resort, Ellison, Bay, WI: After having breakfast and checking out of our hotel, we stopped at the Maritime Museum in Manitowoc. A great venue which also included a tour of a WWII submarine. After that we drove over and checked out the huge car ferry that runs from Manitowoc, WI, to Ludington, MI—a four- to five-hour trip across Lake Michigan. Started our drive back on Rt. 42 which is a pretty drive—a lot of it right along the lake. We stopped just outside Two Rivers and walked the bike path that goes along the lake for a half hour or so. Each parking area along the bike path has beautiful flower gardens—planted by volunteers I guess. Like my sister who is a Master Gardener. She does a lot of that. A lot of work. A beautiful, sunny, breezy day. A lot of people at the beach swimming, walking the beach, or throwing balls into the water for their dogs to retrieve. Continued on. Each little town has its own summer festival it seems. Algoma is having a trout fest this weekend. Another is celebrating Shanty Days—whatever that is. We stopped at Coyote Roadhouse on Kangaroo Lake just outside Bailey’s Harbor and had an early dinner. Sat on the deck overlooking the lake. Great food. Back home to our site, unpacked and put everything away. Upper 80s today. Yes!

Formula I car
Road America--Elkhart Lake, WI

Lotus
Road America--Elkhart Lake, WI

Holiday Inn, Manitowoc, WI: We got turned around a little this morning on our way to the track but ended up at this beautiful little lake—Crystal Lake—which was aptly named because it was this beautiful, clear, sparkling little lake surrounded by beautiful, lush green hills. Still were at the gate before 9:00. We were the first ones there. We had no idea what to expect, but Dave and Amy had everything organized. Dave had arranged our tickets and everyone’s golf cart. We all got our golf carts and headed off to our spot on the course with others following in vehicles. Got our “shelters” set up and then relaxed and watched the different cars on the track. This venue is a 4+ mile road course and you really need a golf cart to get around and be able to see everything. At around noon Dave and Tim who had their Porsches with them were able to do the “touring” segment—doing about 4 laps on the course. Mike was able to ride with Dave. Everyone zipped around on their golf carts checking out different areas of the course. Later that evening we all met for dinner at the Paddock Club in Elkhart Lake which is a cute little town on beautiful Elkhart Lake. Around 6:00 all the race cars drove through this cute little town and people were lined up 8 deep to witness this extraordinary parade of cars of all description. Then at around 8:00 the race cars all left—again driving through town, revving up their engines making an incredible noise. After the cars all left we walked around for a while and then drove back to our hotel. A really fun day and we met some great people. Dave and Amy did a great job organizing the whole thing.

Start of the "touring" venue

Mike riding in Dave's Porsche

John riding in Tim's Porsche

Holiday Inn, Manitowoc, WI: Still raining this morning a little, but by the time we left for Manitowoc, the sky was clear blue. Left around 1:00 and stopped in Sturgeon Bay for something to eat. Arrived at the Holiday Inn around 4:00. Checked in and relaxed and watched TV for a while. Meeting everyone for dinner at 8:00. Supposed to meet Dave at the road course tomorrow morning at 9:00.

Wagon Trail Resort, Ellison Bay, WI: Another beautiful morning. Washed out some things and hung outside. Sat outside relaxing most of the day. Tomorrow we pack our bags and head to Manitowoc for a couple of days to get together with some friends from St. Louis and their Porsche Club. They’re going to be driving their Porsches on a road course in Elkhart, WI. We will be there to watch the festivities. Have rented a golf cart to get around easily at the four-mile course. Should be fun.

Tue, 7/13/10

Wagon Trail Resort, Ellison Bay, WI: We picked up Ro and Ed at 9:00 this morning and had breakfast at the Viking Grill. Then we just drove around the peninsula. Stopped at the eagle bluff tower and they climbed up for the view and some pictures. There was a beautiful bald eagle in one of the trees, so they got some great pictures of the eagle and Horseshow Island just off shore. Stopped at the Eagle Bluff lighthouse and we toured that. Then we had lunch at a little place in Fish Creek. Drove up to Egg Harbor and then crossed to the other side of the peninsula and walked out to the Cana Island lighthouse. Since we were over that way, we had dinner at Florian out in their atrium with great views of the lake. Came back and stopped at our place for a little while. Then took them back. A nice day and great to see them again. Guess it’s been a couple of years since we’d been in the Syracuse area. Mid-70s again today with a beautiful, blue, cloudless sky.

Ro and Ed

Mon, 7/12/10

Wagon Trail Resort, Ellison Bay, WI: Had a thunder storm last night, but the rain didn’t last long. Cloudy this morning but cleared off later in the day. Got the cleaning done and the rest of the day we relaxed and waited for Ro and Ed to call after they’d checked in. Ro called around 4:00 and we decided to meet at the patio outside the pub at the Rowley’s Bay Resort where they’re staying at 6:00. We went over early and when we arrived there was a fish boil just getting under way. Watched that for a while outside on the patio with our drinks enjoying the beautiful day and the vistas of the lake. They showed up and we went in and had dinner and caught up. They both look great. We’re so glad they came up here to see us. Mid-70s today.

Fish boil under way