Door County Century

 

Fall is definitely in the air with crisp 55 degrees in the morning and the sound of the leaves in the breeze. Perfect cycling weather.

Where did the time go? We left 7 weeks ago and are starting our way back to the southwest. It has far exceeded our expectations. We started this blog to help us remember as we go and share our adventures with our friends and family. We have used it a few times to remember where we were when something happened.

The lighthouse in the park overlooking Green Bay. Watch out for the poison ivy and wild parsnip.

What a fabulous route and sunshiny day for a ride along the peninsula and bay with a temp of 47 degrees at 7 am. Thankful for Tylenol and ice for the knees after 50 miles. With over 3000 riders today, these Midwest people love to ride their bikes.

 

Here come some of our friends.

Fish Creek Beach

Sometimes, it is difficult to decide where to ride next. We are trying all of them, yeah right.

 

 

A new jersey is always a conversation starter. Mike wore his Colorado Copper Triangle jersey and people just had to discuss it. People have been very welcoming and happy to give us hints on places to go and see or good places to eat. That would be all of them and we tried.

The overcast cloudiness made riding quite comfortable. The ride from town to our campsite is only 3 miles. It can seem longer after a long day but nice under the canopy of trees.

Egg Harbor

Artisanal breads and hot soup for lunch

Cheese curds have to squeak when you bite into them to know they are fresh. Nothing but squeaky cheese around here so far.

Checking out the local farms on our bike ride.

 

 

Yep, the goats are up there and the Swedish pancakes pretty darn good at Al Johnson's in Sister's Bay.

The bike ride thru Ephraim.

Thirty minutes after sunset, the bats come out of their homes. Most of the bat houses are on the side of buildings. This one was built with a special grant. But the seagulls would sit on top and catch the baby bats when they come out and eat them. The whitenose syndrome is killing off the bat population, not so good for the environment. Between the seagulls and whitenose, the bats aren't doing so well.

A camp host was watching the sunset with us and told us stories of the area and how she volunteered as a docent the Rock Island lighthouse for a week. It is very rustic but she had a bed, gas refrigerator and stove. Everyone else on the island had to bring in what they needed and walk to their camping sites. No cars allowed.

Another great sunset along Lake Michigan.

 

 

 

 

Pictured Rocks

 

After our morning hike, we grabbed a couple of Subway sandwiches for lunch before our boat ride to see the Painted Rocks.

We had hiked some of the trails in the Park. But the only way to see the Painted rocks is to take a boat ride.

 

The water is clean and beautiful.

Last night was stormy and windy after the fog rolled in. We could hear the waves splashing. It gave me bad dreams about my bad cruise ship experience. I finally put the fan on the cover the sound of the wind and waves.

I thought that I would post this part separately since I took so many pictures.

The caves from the erosion.

Minerals seeping from the sandstone paint the rocks.

The night before last the stars were so bright and northern lights dancing in the sky.

3 hours got a bit long. But the only way to see the rocks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lighthouse from 1800s on Grand Island

 

 

Nice people we meet along the way.

 

We are ready to be on our way in the morning back to Wisconsin. Our mission will be to find the cheese.

 

 

Munising Falls and North Country Trail

Monday morning and everyone is moving out of the campground. Ahhhh. Went for a walk along the beach, found blueberries and ate them.

When we got to Michigan's upper peninsula, I kept hearing the term Yoopers. UPers is what it means. They have a different speech pattern and mannerisms and nice people.

Had to try the pasty. Don't  have to do that again. That apple and cherry were good, rutabagas not so great. 

 

 

 

We got pretty tired after all of the going we have been doing and decided on a real rest day. We've met several couples here are the campground and enjoyed visiting and getting tips on what to do.

 

 

Munising Falls a short walk.

Sand Point Beach just up the road. The water is so clear.

Got to love a city that takes care of the bikes with a good rack.

Iron ore smelting furnace from the 1800s is now a national park

Always room for another lighthouse

North Country Hiking Trail will eventually go from New York to North Dakota

Such a nice walk that I didn't want to turn around but we had a boat tour of the Pictured Rocks booked and had to watch the time and 3 miles had to do.

The trail follows the shoreline and we would look thru the trees to see boats and kayakers.

After the rain last night, it was good to have the boardwalks.

125 giant legsteps

Yesterday was rainy and foggy. During the evening, we watched the fog roll in across the lake. It was like a wall right at the shore.

Good thing we wore long sleeves and pants.  The mosquitos were mighty large in here.

Great views from the trail.

Marsh walk

 

 

Need I say more?