Zooming in found even more interesting features.
We took a look, but didn't stop at Ellison Bay, Sister Bay and Ephraim, WI. In the middle of the bay was Chambers Island, the largest of the Green Bay islands. Apparently it is privately owned, but the only development on the island is a retreat house of the Catholic Church. We cruised around it and as we did on the western side we dipped back across the border of Wisconsin and Michigan. By going just a couple of miles WEST we found ourselves back in the eastern time zone. It was like boing back to the future. As we came around the south side of the island we came across this commercial fishing boat.
On the south side of the island we headed back to the east to Fish Creek, WI. It looked like a nice spot, so I called the municipal marina and found out we could dock for free for two hours, if we could find a spot. The only spot looked like it could be tight, but with Geo's encouragement I was able to ease in without hitting either the boat in front or the one behind.
Parrallel parking a boat is actually easier than parrallel parking a car.
At the dock we asked about a good spot for lunch and found we could get a golf cart pickup and ride to a nearby restaurant. Lunch was good and we were able to get a quick tour of the town on the way to and from the restaurant. Door County is a popular vacation spot in the summer, but there are only two lane roads, no stop lights and consequently bad traffic.
After lunch we continued south in the bay and started looking through the cruising guide for a possible anchorage. So, is the Green Bay green? It appeared to be and maybe it shows a little in this picture.
We anchored in Little Sturgeon Bay and got an early start for the 37 mile trip down the rest of the bay to the city of Green Bay. I had called my friends Sally and Steve, who live just south of Green Bay in Appleton, WI and we we planned a get together. I had found an inexpensive marina just south of downtown on the Fox River. Sally and Steve came by with their daughter Carly and we cooked out on the back deck.
It was good to see more friends and we had a great time. They even gave us a ride to our Saturday night entertainment.
It was family night at Lambeau Field. While warmups went on I got to see complete highlights of the 2010 season, which of course ended with a Superbowl championship.
The whole event was for charity, but unfortuately was cut short by a thunderstorm that brought heavy rain, lightening and the possibility of hail. We had to leave our seats. After more than an hour, the severe part of the storm had passed and the fireworks went on in the rain.
As a big Packer fan, it was a lot of fun, even though it was cut short. Geo, from Michigan, however, had decided early that he wasn't going to make it 4 hours watching Packer hoopla, so he departed early to head back to the boat. He advised me later by phone that about the only way back was via a taxi.
The $25 a night marina was pretty nice and had two popular restaurants right in front. But it was Saturday night and the party atmosphere at the restaurants went on until bar closing time, which was probably 2 AM. I didn't look at the clock when the music finally stopped.
Despite that we were off at just after 6 AM. We were going to Algoma, WI, maybe 20 miles east of Green Bay by car, but 67 by water as we had to go back north in the bay to the ship's channel at Sturgeon Bay. On the west end of the entrance to the Ship's channel is this lighthouse.
On the east end of the channel was this lighthouse.
In between was the town of Sturgeon Bay, which was once the shipbuilding capital of the Great Lakes and there still is a large facility for maintenance and other work on the freighters that ply the Great Lakes waters.
Once back in the "big" lake we had less than 15 miles to Algoma, WI, where we found another $25 a night marina and parked for the night.
No comments:
Post a Comment