Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Door County Excursion!

For the final thing to celebrate my big birthday we went on a long weekend to Door County Wisconsin, located on a peninsula north-east of Green Bay… that's right, two residents of Vikings territory made an excursion into Packers territory… now that's daring!! ;)

We had a lovely time doing all sorts of stuff, and just lazing around as well… enjoy my reflections:


We had a lovely view of the bay and the town from the window & deck of our unit.


The trees and bushes were showing their Autumn colors...


A swing just off our deck...


Wooded path leading to the bay...



Steps at the steepest part of the path… almost to the dock...


Looking back up the steps...


There's Jeff, standing out on the dock...


From the dock, looking back at the woods...


Wooded path going along the bay...


A natural cave in the stone cliff along the wooded path...


Another look at that view from our room, this time as the sun is setting behind us...


One of many beautifully colored trees...


Segways!!


Jeff getting a lesson...


Jeff following the instructor...


All lined up, ready for our Segway tour of Peninsula State Park.


That's us, all bundled up, it was a cool day & our ride was mainly in the shade...


More pics of Peninsula State Park:













Steaming kettle… sight of the Fish Boil we attended later… Fish Creek WI




Goldsmith shop in an old Schoolhouse, Fish Creek WI


Wilson's Restaurant in Ephraim WI, with a name like "Wilson's" we had to go...



Jeff just had to get a T-Shirt like the wait staff were wearing, its red and says something like "I scream for Wilson's ice cream"… Gotta love my sweet goofy guy!!


Another friendly tourist took this picture of us together in front of Wilson's...


Back in Peninsula State Park, ready to climb the Tower...


Part way up the tower, the color on these trees was so pretty!!





At the top of the tower now… wow, you can see a long way!!


Color!!

Looking down at the road below...


Looking down at the parking lot… it sure is a lot sunnier up above all those colorful trees!


Jeff taking a picture… and a few more scenery pics from the Tower:




Pictures from Eagle Trail, still in Peninsula State Park:


Some steep stone steps...





Eagle Trail area was once a quarry...



Headed back up the steps...


Hmmm… guess we should have known the steps would be a bit steep :)


One of the islands that can be seen from Peninsula State Park (notice tiny speck above island…)


Zoomed way in, that tiny spec was someone Parasailing!!


I loved the silhouette of this tree...


Lighthouse in Peninsula State Park….  my Dad served in the Coast Guard and was a Lighthouse Keeper… lighthouses always make me think of my Daddy & smile...







We decided to go for a drive and poke around a bit more in Door County, along one of the roads we saw a rather large grouping of colorful trees, and the sun was shining just right, they took our breath away… enjoy:










Back in Fish Creek, at the Fish Boil!!




The Red Potatoes are already in the pot, sweet onions are added, boiling in salted water...


The planks are used to regulate the heat of the fire...


Jeff enjoying a brew while we watch & wait...


Fish is added...


Planks up...


Planks down...


Fish is starting to rise to the surface...


A gray film is forming on top… not to worry this will get boiled off when...


A bucket of kerosene is thrown on the fire (we had backed up quite a bit…)...



YUM!!


Morning view from our room...




We went on a drive to the east side of the peninsula… this is the Gills  Rock / Northport area...



Ferry that goes to Washington Island from Northport (no we didn't take it)…


Picture taken while standing at the edge of Death's Door… that's the name of the waterway between the peninsula & Washington Island :)


Pretty colors in that area...


Further around the peninsula to Rowley's Bay...




Back to Sister Bay (town we stayed in) for Lunch at Al Johnson's…


Yes, that's a grass roof… and Yes, those are Goats on the roof… :)


Inside its a bit more civilized :)


Exploring again, we found this place on the road to Bailey's Harbor… I know this will make my Mom smile!!


I just had to pose in a pumpkin… I love pumpkin!!


All sorts of amazing canned goods inside Koepsel's farmers market...



Dad would have liked these pickled veggies… I got some to bring home :)


Lilja's beer… this one's for you Aunt Diane!!


Next we checked out a place with Steins….


…and Cuckoo Clocks!  These made me think of Grandma's house, and also Olha's house in Ukraine.


Kangaroo Lake (mid-peninsula)


Kangaroo Lake again...


Back in Sister Bay, we walked from our room to this mini-golf course...



We like mini-golf!!


Pretty tree by our room...


As we were heading out to the Piggly Wiggly some girls wandered by...






After the store we went to Sister Bay Bowl, a local 1950s era bowling alley & dinner joint…  Not sure why we didn't take any pictures while there (I guess we were having too much fun), but I actually beat Jeff in one game!!


Final morning, looking out the window we spotted a bald eagle (he's on one of the large pines)...


Zoomed in… still a bit hard to see...


He shows up a little better in this lighter picture...


We decided to go for a walk to see if we could get closer, on the way we spotted a smaller raptor...


Zoomed in...


Zoomed in again, this time his head is in profile...


From a little closer, but he moved & I didn't get his head :(...


The eagle is still in the tree, and we're getting closer… (look for the white spot in the middle against the trunk)...


That's where the eagle was… on the lowest branch on the left… he flew away just before I could get my camera in focus… sniff, sniff… we were in a small clearing only about 20 yards from the tree… he was a magnificent sight!!


On the way home, in Sturgeon bay, we had to stop for a bridge… I got video too, but its not interesting enough to bother to load...


We decided to stop at a Maritime museum before heading home… enjoy the pics:


















We had a Great Time… hard to believe we did all that in a 4 day weekend in which the first & fourth days were spent mostly driving, and it was a relaxing weekend!!

This marks the end of my official Big-5-0 Birthday Celebration… its been a blast!!

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