WISCONSIN

Here it is, 27 Sep 2023 and we're hanging out inside because it's cold and dank outside! It's a good time to catch up on our blog. We went to Waterloo Iowa from Lake Okoboji. In Waterloo, we helped sister Janice as much as we could with clearing out their dad's condo.

Waterloo with sister Janice

George Wyth State Park in Waterloo

We then drove to Lino Lakes Minnesota to visit sister Lisa. She actually lives in White Bear Lake MN, but the county park we stayed is in Lino Lakes. We were only there two nights, but we had a nice dinner with Lisa and hope to return for a longer stay in the future. Lisa's husband Steve was working, so couldn't join us for dinner. It rained most of the time we were in Minnesota, but we could see that White Bear Lake is a charming little town.

Campsite at Rice Creek Chain of Lakes County Park Lino Lakes Minnesota

The rain caught up to us again as we got settled in Wisconsin. We had actually just finished setting up and the rain started. It rained all night and the whole next day! We had had to pack up our outdoor area rugs while they were wet in Minnesota, but we finally got to put them out to dry (but they didn't dry out) on our second full day in Wisconsin. We went out for a scenic drive on our second day here to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (Ironwood), and we saw some nice patches of fall leaves .

We got this picture two days after we got to Wisconsin

Fox Fire Campground in Woodruff Wisconsin

Wisconsin Scenic Drive pullout on 26 Sep 2023 (Behind a Catholic Church)

Wisconsin Scenic Drive pullout on 26 Sep 2023

Lake Superior in Michigan Scenic Drive pullout on 26 Sep 2023

Michigan Scenic Drive pullout on 26 Sep 2023

Wisconsin Scenic Drive pullout on 26 Sep 2023

Boat Launch on Wisconsin Scenic Tour 26 Sep 2023

We drove along Lake Superior and found it to be huge and beautiful. It's the largest freshwater body of water in the United States. We also took a boat tour from Bayfield WI of the Apostle Islands. The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is a National Park. We went on a Grand Tour (three hours and 50 miles) boat tour and saw 21 of the 22 Apostle Islands. We didn't see Gull Island. It is just a 3 acre little spot about 10 miles distant and the weather didn't allow for us to get close enough to even see it from a distance. The weather was somewhat windy and the water was choppy with somewhat large waves, but the tour boat was large enough to handle the conditions nicely. We even got some sunshine while out on the boat! We saw bald eagles in trees, on ledges and flying along the way. It was really a wonderful afternoon on the water.

A few of the Apostle Islands have light houses. Some have quarters for volunteers to stay there over periods of time to give tours of the light houses. The islands are only accessible by boat, so we think the need for tours would be minimal. Of course there are some who are light house "fanatics" and would take a water taxi (which are available) out to see them.

Oh, the boat captain also gave information about the Apostle Islands, including that the question often asked is whether the name of the islands has any connection to Jesus' Apostles, but they don't know. They were named by French Canadian fur traders and missionaries in the 1750's so they could have some connection to the bible, but the meaning has been lost over time.

Bayfield Wisconsin 26 Sep 2023

Bayfield Wisconsin 26 Sep 2023

Bayfield Wisconsin 26 Sep 2023

The "red" is roughly the route we took on the boat tour of the Apostle Islands. The wind had the water very wavy and rough, so we were lucky to safely make it all the way to Devil's Island. We actually turned around just before Devil's Island instead of going around it.

26 Sep 2023

Bayfield Wisconsin 26 Sep 2023

Apostle Islands Tour Boat Bayfield Wisconsin 26 Sep 2023

Ferry to Madeline Island from Bayfield Wisconsin 26 Sep 2023

View from Apostle Islands Tour Boat 26 Sep 2023

View of Bayfield from Apostle Islands Tour Boat 26 Sep 2023

View from Apostle Islands Tour Boat 26 Sep 2023

View from Apostle Islands Tour Boat 26 Sep 2023

View from Apostle Islands Tour Boat 26 Sep 2023

Sea Caves of Devil's Island from Apostle Islands Tour Boat 26 Sep 2023

The Indians in the early days declared it to be the home of an "evil spirit," of their time who was imprisoned there. Hence its name, "Devils Island."

Sea Caves of Devil's Island from Apostle Islands Tour Boat 26 Sep 2023

Sea Caves of Devil's Island from Apostle Islands Tour Boat 26 Sep 2023

Devil's Island on Apostle Islands Tour Boat 26 Sep 2023

Sea Caves of Devil's Island on Apostle Islands Tour Boat 26 Sep 2023

View from Apostle Islands Tour Boat 26 Sep 2023

Sea Caves of Devils Island on Apostles Islands Boat Tour 26 Sep 2023

Sea Caves of Devils Island on Apostles Islands Boat Tour 26 Sep 2023

Sea Caves of Devils Island on Apostles Islands Boat Tour 26 Sep 2023

Sea Caves of Devils Island on Apostles Islands Boat Tour 26 Sep 2023

Approaching Raspberry Island on Apostles Islands Boat Tour 26 Sep 2023

Raspberry Island on Apostles Islands Boat Tour 26 Sep 2023

Fish Camp on Manitou Island on Apostles Islands Boat Tour 26 Sep 2023

Fish Camp on Manitou Island on Apostles Islands Boat Tour 26 Sep 2023

Fish Camp on Manitou Island on Apostles Islands Boat Tour 26 Sep 2023

Sailboat catching some good wind on Lake Superior 26 Sep 2023

Apostle Island Boat Tour 26 Sep 2023

Apostle Island Boat Tour is almost over 26 Sep 2023

View from the boat after we've docked 26 Sep 2023

View from the boat after we've docked 26 Sep 2023

Walking away from the tour boat to town of Bayfield 26 Sep 2023

We had hoped for sunshine today, but alas it remains cold and dank. We stayed in most of this morning and took care of little projects we had around the RV. We had heard about a farmers market about 25 miles from our campground, so we ventured out to Eagle River (Snowmobile Capital of the World) late in the morning. We checked out the farmers market and bought some Brussel sprouts, home made Wisconsin cheese, and a fresh apple pie. The Apple Festival will be happening here the first weekend in October. Apples are abundant and fresh! The Brussel Sprouts we got were grown from a seed in February of this year.

Brussel Sprout from Eagle River Wisconsin Farmers Market 27 Sep 2023

We had lunch at Eagle River County Park and were pleasantly surprised at its beauty. It was cold and misty, but we still got some good pictures...

Eagle River Wisconsin County Park 27 Sep 2023

Eagle River in Wisconsin 27 Sep 2023

Eagle River in Wisconsin 27 Sep 2023

Eagle River in Wisconsin 27 Sep 2023

Eagle River in Wisconsin 27 Sep 2023

Tomorrow we have a 420 mile drive to Moraine View State Park in LeRoy Illinois. We'll be there three nights and two full days and will be visiting Steve's sister Cathy and her fiancé, Brian in Bloomington Illinois.