Wed, Aug 22:  Wagon Trail Campground, Rowley’s Bay, WI:  While eating breakfast this morning I watched another episode of Downton Abbey on my laptop.  So glad our wi-fi gizmo works so well.  Then after a light lunch we headed out for our boat cruise.  And a beautiful day to do this.  A light chop on the water, but going through death’s door we had some big rollers.  We went out to Plum Island and then Pilot Island.  Checked out a couple of ship wrecks we could see from the boat.  Then we landed on Plum Island and checked out the historic Coast Guard station there.  Walked around and took some pictures of wild flowers on the island.  Then we boarded our boat and back to Gils Rock.  What a fun day and we met some nice people.  Burgers for dinner tonight.  78 today and mostly sunny. 

One of the first lake cottages at Gils Rock.

The Washington Island ferries--coming and going.

The Fog Horn House on Plum Island.

The Lighthouse and lighthouse keepers house on Plum Island.  Apparently there is a cable that runs from here to Washington Island and they warn people not to anchor here.

Shore line of Plum Island.

This is a "day marker"

and when it lines up perfectly, it means something to navigation.  I'm not sure what.

Our Captain Jim.

Pilot Island

Pilot Island light.

Pilot Island is taken over with cormorants.  The guano is three feet deep on this island.  They want to get rid of these birds but they are protected.  So apparently they destroy everything.  And the smell is pretty bad.

A view of the shipwreck Grape Shot, which happened pre-Civil War.

This was part of the hull.  They were carrying a load of lumber which was removed.

The boat house at the Coast Guard station.

Me with the boat house in the backgrounnd.

Wild flowers on the island.

More wild flowers.

Tue, Aug 21:  Wagon Trail Campground, Rowley’s Bay, WI:  Apparently it rained last night.   Windy and cool this morning.  We had the fireplace going.  Drove over to Sister Bay and I got my hair cut.  A very nice salon but uber expensive.  After my haircut we went to the Viking Grill for lunch.  Too windy to eat outside.  We each had whitefish chowder which was delicious.  Back home and tried to sit outside and read, but the wind was too much.  It has died down now.  Hope it’s not windy tomorrow for our cruise.  Mike has a tendency to get seasick.  Not good.  Only in the 60s today.

Barns of Door County.

This barn has cute little flower boxes in most of the windows.

Mon, Aug 20:  Wagon Trail Campground, Rowley’s Bay, WI:  A cloudy and gloomy day today.  Finally!  So, after breakfast I watched two episodes of Downton Abbey.  Read for a while.  Before we left St. Louis, I took out the latest tome by Ken Follett, “Column of Fire,” which is hard to put down.  I’m almost finished with the book and I hate to see it end.  Made an appointment to get my hair cut tomorrow.  Mike made a reservation to go on a lake cruise of the lighthouses in the area.  And, we will spend an hour or so at the historic Coast Guard Station on Plum Island.  Our reservation is for Wednesday.  Left-overs for dinner and then played spades for a while.  70s today and cloudy.

Sod roof of a Swedish restaurant in Sister Bay with goats hanging out.  Maybe the goats keep the grass down.  But they probably secretly mow it at night or something.

Sun, Aug 19:  Wagon Trail Campground, Rowley’s Bay, WI:  A nice warm morning this morning after a pretty cool night.  The show, “Dairy Heirs” last night at the Northern Sky Theater was really great.  A musical comedy which was well acted; they all had amazing voices, and most of them played multiple instruments.  Very talented people.  And it was performed out under the stars amongst the pines in Peninsula State Park.  The dinner at Lure was okay.  Expensive.  I had perch and Mike had jerk chicken.  Did the laundry this morning and decided not to go out for breakfast or brunch since we were still full from last night.  We did some shopping and on the way stopped at Ellison Bluff County Park and enjoyed the view from atop the bluff.  The lake was nice and calm.  When we got back we called to see about a lighthouse cruise.  Today would be perfect, but it had already left.  Steaks and Door County sweetcorn for dinner tonight.  75 today and mostly sunny.

View from the bluff.

View of the bluff.

Kayaker enjoying the nice calm water.

Water is nice and clear.

Sat, Aug 18:  Wagon Trail Campground, Rowley’s Bay, WI:  I tossed and turned all night and so didn’t get up until after 10:00!  By the time I showered and dressed, Mike had a fire going.  So I made myself a cup of tea and joined him.  The fire felt good, since it seems to have cooled down somewhat.  After lunch I updated my spreadsheet of expenses for this trip.  It’s really expensive to dine out here.  Even more than the Keys.  That’s okay.  The food is really good.  Tonight we go to see “Dairy Heirs” at the Northern Sky Theater in Peninsula State Park.  Should be good.  Planning on dining at Lure in Sister Bay.  They specialize in fish.  Hope they have lake perch on the menu. Mid-70s today I think.  Noticeably cooler than yesterday.

Cute little cottage right on the lake in Sister Bay.

Barns of Door County

Fri, Aug 17:  Wagon Trail Campground, Rowley’s Bay, WI:  After breakfast Mike got the new grill out and set it up.  We also got the bikes down.  After lunch we biked over to Rowley’s Bay and through the little residential area past the resort.  Great place to have a house. It’s at the end of the road, quiet and in thick woods.  Parked our bikes by the marina and walked out to the end of the dock and sat on a bench and looked out over the lake.  It is so peaceful and quiet on this side of the peninsula.  Looking at the water I decided we should go over to the little sand bay just around the corner and go for a swim.  So, back to our site.  We donned our bathing suits (yikes) and water shoes, grabbed a couple of beach towels and off we went.  Not too busy there.  The last time we were here there was just Mike, me, and two little girls who kept following me out in the water.  The water felt so cold at first, but once you got in it felt wonderful.  I couldn’t really swim with my water shoes on, so I just hung out there for a while.  Mike didn’t get in all the way, but at least he got in up to his thighs.  After drying off, we drove back to our site.  A couple of cocktails later, Mike fired up the grill and we had hot dogs and Door County sweet corn for dinner.  So good!  Another perfect day.  82 today.  We’ve had such good weather so far.

A little cottage just past Rowley's Bay Resort.

Rowley's Bay Resort, Restaurant, and  Swedish Bakery.

Looking out from our bench on the dock.

Some camps on the lake.

Thu, Aug 16:  Wagon Trail Campground, Rowley’s Bay, WI:  After breakfast this morning, Mike sat outside reading while I watched another episode of Downton Abbey on my computer.  Such a good series!  After lunch we headed out to buy tickets for the play Dairy Heirs at the Northern Sky Theater in Peninsula State Park.  Bought tickets for Saturday night.  Did our grocery shopping and then decided to check out Headlands Bluff County Park.  The trail there was steep and full of roots and rocks,, so we drove around for a while.  Ended up at Garret Bay where the Schooner Fleetwing ran aground and sank just off Garret Bay in the late 1800s .  The wreck is just off shore and you can snorkel out there and see it.  The first time we were out here the water was flat and crystal clear.  Today it was choppy and murky.  Back home and were talking about eating the rest of our left-overs until Mike said, “It’s prime rib night at Rowley’s Bay,” so screw the left-overs and off to Rowley’s Bay.  Stuffed ourselves and back home.  Mixed sun and clouds today.  82 degrees.  Nice!

Little magnet I bought for our refrigerator.

View from Garret Bay.