Leaving Manistique we head south along the coast of the upper peninsula of Michigan and Bay Du Noc and enter Wisconsin at the infamous Porte Des Morts - "Death's Door Passage", the site of over 200 shipwrecks. Originally named by the Ojibwe for it's treacherous currents and rocky shoreline, the (Death's) Door County Peninsula has continued to plague shipping since the 1800's.
Our arrival at Washington Island seems calm enough and we have an enjoyable few days visiting the historic village of Jackson Harbor, but on our departure the winds pick up to 25+ mph and the seas quickly whip up sending 4 ft swells at us. Our passage to Sister Bay to pick up friends for a week of cruising the local waters is a lumpy one and the winds/waves shift our plans for the week as we adjust daily "if and where we go". Still, Door County is a great place to cruise with scenic harbors and seaside towns and of course have a Door County Fish Boil (tasty but not the most inviting name)!
The canal connecting the southern end of Sturgeon Bay and Green Bay to Lake Michigan took 20 years to complete but created a shorter alternative route to the infamous Death's Door Passage and also made Sturgeon Bay a major shipbuilding center where shipyards including the Peterson, Chris Craft and Palmer Johnson boatyards.
Of course there may be extenuating circumstances associated with some of the various shipwrecks.....................
Our cruise to Wisconsin also continues our passage along the Niagra Escarpment that started in Canada's Georgian Bay last year
Cruising around Boyer Bluff on Washington Island the Niagra Escarpment is visible above the water but also plunges some 200 feet straight down into Lake Michigan
A classic Kahlenberg 4 cylinder marine engine and it's whopping 70 hp!
Traditional fishing boats still work the waters around Door County
................ and the sportfishing industry is alive and well too
Jude reluctantly meets a twin........
..............wiiiiiiiild turkey!
Friends Kevin & Sonia help get us to Sister Bay
Even a calm day on Lake Michigan can be a lumpy ride
dockline handy work
The Sister Bay Marina is in the heart of town
Ole Al's place and "boutique" always has a line out front to gawk at the goats on the roof
Fine dining with sushi in the gardens
the view of Green Bay from "Sven's Bluff" from Peninsula State Park
and the anchorage at Horseshoe Island
having some fun after the daring sea rescue of a pedal boat toy found adrift 8 miles offshore
A Door County Fish Boil is quite the scientific process and involves carefully sequencing the quick cooking of the various ingredients and then the final touch, adding extra fuel to the fire to burn off the unwanted skimmings from the top of the boil
........... did you notice more of the Niagra Escarpment in the background?
Fire in the hole!!!!!!!!!!!!!
a hazy, but calm day coming in to Sturgeon Bay, and more of that durn Niagra Escarpment
logging transports were some of the first ships built in Sturgeon Bay and helped build the economy and deliver local timber from the region
The Chris Craft boatyard operation in it's heyday
Happy Happy was tied up just on the other side of the bridge
