Almost 2 weeks exploring Wisconsin , and we are sad to leave . It’s a beautiful state – green trees , rolling hills , nice people . So much to do ! We crammed in as much as we could, and even watched a couple DVD’s when the rain came down in buckets . The newscaster said that as the weather had kept up , it was raining 8″ an hour .
Luckily , we got to Door County and had good weather for a few days . We stayed at Peninsula State Park again , just like in 1998. 3,000 acres of biking , shoreline and bliss . Couldn’t remember which site we had camped in , but I do remember calling Mom from a pay phone , crying . We had been car camping for over a month , and we had 5 straight days of rain here . We also remember the raccoon trying to get into our tent in the middle of the night , and our kind neighbors who left us all their wet wood because they couldn’t take the rain anymore .
The little towns in Door County are charming with their shops and cafés, with Egg Harbor being our favorite for the local specialty – cherry ice cream. Num!
The real highlight, however , is Green Bay on one side , and Lake Michigan on the other . They are both breathtaking ! We visited the quiet side to see Cana Lighthouse again . Unfortunately , they built up the cause way so you don’t have to walk through water to get to the island anymore . And they charge for setting foot on the island , even if you don’t want the lighthouse tour . (The Wisconsin parks charge for everything – even a bike path needs a permit .). The island was just how we remembered it – lighthouse and keepers residence , kerosene hut , and the outhouse . They are trying to raise funds to restore everything and Nate and I hoped they’d leave the last building closed . It still stinks !
We had a good time at the Fish boil for Nate’s 13th birthday , but I’m going to let him tell you about that . Suffice to say that the bus load of already tipsy tourists pulling up in the middle made it more amusing .
We had one really memorable bike ride in the park . Nate, leading like a wild man , Dan and Eliza riding along and talking , and me bringing up the caboose on the recumbent . I knew there were hills coming up, so I was hanging back to enjoy flying down them . Dan yells “snake”, Eliza gets around it , and I’m stuck on the other side of the peninsula by this 5′ snake ! He’s enjoying the hot pavement , and yes , I know they can’t hear , but my loud screaming must have vibrated his world because he stopped and just kept looking to either side . At us . Swamps on both sides , so nothing to pick up . Finally he slithers away and I rode across as fast as I could . We didn’t ride that trail again !
The other memorable creatures were the Mosquitos . Capitol M because the things are huge . And so prevalent that I joked if they could swarm closer together, they could hold up the camera to take a pic of our family . Really , too many . In the RV , Nate took care if them . In the car, we’d roll down windows to try to get them out . In the shower house , it was every man for himself . Nate’s body count beat mine by 14 this morning, but I swell up worse when bit. We’ve all taken Benadryl and are a bit loopy.
So now we’re off to Iron Mountain , MI where Nate’s godparents live . Looking forward to hugging them and meeting their kids . We’re sure the Mosquitos won’t be this far north .
