7.15

The summer that won't come…

The forecast last night and today was for high winds and cold, 40 ish  degrees.  The night was pretty roll'y.  At the slip we had a list (lean) of 5 degrees.  Jim was up twice during the night to add / secure lines. The wind howled most of the night too.  20 knot winds, gusting higher.  In the morning we opted to stay put in the harbor with the boat and do the Peninsula by car.  Good choice.  We got to see all the places we planned to see by boat but much faster.  We drove up the west side and came back the east side.  To our surprise there were  numerous places were large amounts of hail accumulated during the night. It really was cold out during the night. 

The west side has many lovely little towns with plenty of shops to buy “stuff”.   The first two, Egg Harbor then Fish Creek.  We would have liked to have seen the “fish boil” in Fish Creek but it is an evening affair and this was only our second stop.  The area is known for ‘fish boils’.  They boil taters, onions, veggies till tender in a BIG outdoor kettle.  Then just before it’s all cooked, they toss in the fish… usually cod.  Then some crazy sole tosses a quart or so of kerosene into the fire and the whole pot boils over.  They say it’s quite a show… oh well.  boiled fish sounds gross to me so I’m good with missing that part.  I did get a really great treat though.  Frozen  custard!  It was awesome.  They mixed it on a cold marble tile (like Cold Stone) with different selections made by each patron.  Mine was ‘Get up and Dance!’… coffee custard, heath bar, toasted almonds, waaay good.  

We continued ups and around the Peninsula stopping at each little town and harbor.  One stop was at a scenic overlook on a high bluff.  The limestone cliff was only visible if you walked out on the catwalk.  The 3 seconds I was out there it looked really cool.  Jim could give a better description though.  The waves on the bay continued to build as the day wore on.   We snacked on cheese curds, artisan bread and apples for lunch… yes the custard was before lunch, it’s vacation!  We went north as far as the road would allow… the Ferry to Washington Island, North Port.
An about face and back toward Sturgeon Bay.  The Lake Michigan (east) side was quite calm.  Kids flying kites, people hanging at the beach.  We made a quick pull over for a geographical marker… the 45th Parallel.  My home town Johannesburg, MI near Gaylord is on the 45th parallel as well.  This whole area reminds me of home, birch trees, woodland ferns, Cedar trees… but not any limestone cliffs near Jo-burg that I can remember.  

We returned the car late afternoon, they gave us rides to and from the boat and did a bit of laundry.  Dinner was grilled tuna and cilantro lime rice.  desert, fresh organic strawberries with cocoa whipped cream… 

We are planning to head out in the morning for Nicolet Bay about 30 miles north of here.  It is part of the Peninsula State Park near the town of Ephraim.  Friends have told us it is a great stop and the reviews in the guide book second that.  We plan to anchor out, the first time of the trip… There have been few opportunities so far but we expect that to change now that we are pretty far north.  We will continue up and around Door County and cross over to the Michigan U.P. in the next week or so.  

Den don’d ya know, we gunna haff ta have us some pasties, ayh!!!