This picture is back in Fish Creek, where we suffered through that windy night tied to the dock wall. I'll never forget that night! But the next day, after I had two naps, was better. We were in a regular marina slip, which calmed the still-strong wind. Rick and I took a bike ride to the Peninsula State Park, just right near the marina, and this 1868 lighthouse is an attraction. The whole ride was so pretty, looking out at the bay and seeing the campers enjoying their summer.
That night we went back to the same tavern for the third time to watch the Dodgers beat the Brewers, again! We had become "regulars" and knew the bar tenders intimately!
Finally the wind direction changed and quieted down and I felt safe to leave the safety of the slip. So last Thursday we cruised first to Egg Harbor, where I filled up with fuel. It was 50 cents less per gallon than my previous fill up, meaning this time cost $100 less! We strolled around the pretty, flower-filled village, but all we could claim when done were ice cream cones and a six-pack of Shipwreck beer brewed right there on the spot. (Those got downed in a couple days.)
So we cruised a little farther to the large town of Sturgeon Bay. We had lunch at Kitty O'Rileys Irish Pub, and then toured their big maritime museum. Rick phoned the local airport to see if they rented planes. They did. Guess what we did the next day? Well, the photo here means you don't have to guess, do you?
Rick rode his bike to the airport the next morning, and had to fly with them and do three "touch and go's" to demonstrate he was a capable pilot. Then I got in and he flew us on a tour of the entire Door Peninsula and Washington Island, right where we'd been the previous five days! It was beautiful, and we could see everywhere we'd been right down to all our docks and anchorages and biking roads, etc.
What was significant for me was that it was my first flight with Rick!! He'd been asking me to fly with him for years, but I never did until now. It was tons of fun!
After the flight we rode to the historical museum, and we got to talking to the docent. Turns out she is the daughter of the original owner of the restaurant where we had our Fish Boil. He was the one who popularized it back in 1939. We got to watch a video about him and his innovations, and how a fish boil works.
By the way, I had said that they added diesel fuel to the fire only for show, but that's not true. It actually provides the extra heat needed to cause the boil over, which gets rid of the fish skin, fat, and potato waste. And, they don't add butter to the pot. Melted butter is served over the fish and potatoes when the plate is served.
The picture above is when we left Sturgeon Bay, on our way back out onto Lake Michigan. Originally it was just a bay there from the other side, but in 1873 they dug a two-mile canal to make the waterway go through. That way, ships and boats could take a short cut into Green Bay and avoid going around the treacherous tip of the peninsula, called "Death's Door". However, when we passed through Death's Door twice, it was as calm as could be.
Anyway, the picture shows the lighthouse and also the end of the canal as it connects to Lake Michigan. Our calm water was about to end.
I did not take a single picture out in the lake or in Manitowoc. I was so tired and flustered by the time we got there, I was in no mood to make merry. The swells had gotten so bad, I had to bypass Manitowoc against the swells, and then turn around and come in WITH the swells (it's called tacking, what sailboats do into the wind).
The only story I have to relate about yesterday is the size of my hamburger at the restaurant. We tied up at our slip and immediately went to find food. We had never eaten since breakfast because the seas were too rough to prepare anything. Well, the hamburger was HUGE! I've never seen one that wide - about 8 inches in diameter. I didn't realize anyone made buns that big. The menu offered doubles and triples, but we asked the waitress and she said hardly anyone can eat a double much less the triple. (Also, a town we passed during the day was Two Rivers, which the locals pronounce "Trivers". Who'd have guessed?)
This morning we left Manitowoc early when there was no wind. What a more pleasant cruise today's was! I wasn't even stressed when we landed this time, so we walked all of 60 yards to a restaurant where this German-style oompah band was playing in the courtyard. We loved it! They even served German beer (surprise!), and German food. Rick and I helped out the locals in every way we could!
These guys had personalities. This fellow was their "heavy metal" performer (haha). He had two hammers, and simply hit them against an anvil to the beat of the music. But he acted like it was a real tough instrument to master, all in fun. For his second number, he ceremoniously blindfolded himself and then hammered exactly the same way, as if you needed to see to hit an anvil from two inches up.
Rick and I then walked around this charming old town of Port Washington to help metabolize the EtOH. But dang, all we did was pass more interesting bars, including the Sir James that featured 400 different beers. We had to try a variety we'd never had before, of course.
The forecast looks good for tomorrow, so we should be touring Milwaukee in the afternoon. We should be into the Chicago River (and OUT of the big bad Great Lakes) by Thursday. See ya then!
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