Today’s post is 1800 words, 41 photos, an 8 minute read. Enjoy!
Hi everyone,
This week I’m back to writing about our time during the month of July in Door County, Wisconsin. If you missed the first two posts in this series, click here and here to check them out.
But first, I have to thank you, the readers, from the bottom of my heart in response to last week’s post. Click here if you missed it. There were over 1500 views of that blog that featured my mother’s obituary. I was blown away and so grateful for the comments I received both on this site and privately. To finish the story, an hour after last week’s article was posted, I was at her visitation. I was overwhelmed by the number of people that came to say farewell and to offer my family their condolences. The next day, the funeral service was held in a country church in rural North Dakota. The pews were filled with family, friends, and neighbors. She would have enjoyed both. Time moves on. In the circle of life, my generation is up next. I hope I can leave this world with the dignity and strength that she exhibited in her last days. RIP Mom.
Sturgeon Bay North Pier Light House
One of my favorite places to visit in Door County is the Sturgeon Bay North Pier Light. The bright red color of the lighthouse, the concrete break wall, and the overhead walkway (closed to the public) on iron stanchions is always picturesque. This is a fully operational lighthouse that was built in 1882 and automated in 1972. To reach the light, visitors have to walk on a path through the Coast Guard Station that has a more traditional lighthouse. It’s fun to watch vessels enter the canal from the break wall.
Cave Point County Park
Another favorite stop is Cave Point County Park. This park is wedged in between two units of the Whitefish Dunes State Park. Cave Point is one of the most popular destinations in Door County evidenced by the estimated 400,000 visitors each year. That means there are times when the large parking lot is full or overflowing. People come to Cave Point for the view of Lake Michigan, the water-worn caves, the limestone ledges, and the vegetation that withstands the nearly constant wind and wave action. There are picnic areas, restrooms, and places to watch the waves rolling over the rocky shoreline. Cave Point is also a popular destination for guided kayakers. I recommend going with a guide because the conditions on the lake can change quickly. Cave Point is a not miss when in Door County.
Wisconsin Public Radio – The Larry Meiller Show Live From Door County- July 16
When we are in Door County, we always use the weekly Peninsula Pulse for the most up to date information on events and activities. I comb the Events section to find things of interest. During our first week, I noticed that Wisconsin Public Radio’s Larry Meiller Show was on the road and making a stop in Door County. Tickets were free and held at Northern Sky’s indoor Gould Theatre just down the road from the farmhouse. I ordered enough tickets for our group. We thoroughly enjoyed listening to Larry interview actors from the Northern Sky Theater in the first hour and a couple of fellows from the Door County Maritime Museum during the second hour. If you’d like to listen to these programs, click here.
Egg Harbor Sunset Concerts
Sunday evenings during our time in Door County were spent attending the Peg Egan Sunset Concert Series in Egg Harbor. These are professional touring groups that put on an entertaining first class performance. One Sunday was a Beatles Tribute singing Beatles tunes that came out before 1964. The hillside facing the stage was packed with lawn chairs, most of them occupied by people who remembered when the Beatles took the world by storm (including my Traveling Partner and I!). Lots of the audience members sang along with the band. It was a fun evening, everyone left with a smile on their face. If you are in Door County anytime between mid-June and the end of August, don’t miss these Sunday evening concerts.
Cana Island Lighthouse
The Cana Island Lighthouse is located on an 8.7 acre island that can be reached by a causeway from the mainland. During our month-long stay in Door County, we went there a couple of times. The first time, we rode in the wagon pulled by a tractor driven by Yvonne, a volunteer. She told me that it had been a long day and she was tired. I told her I had experience driving a tractor, she said to sign up so she could get a break. To me that would be the perfect volunteer gig.
This was the causeway to Cana Island during our first visit, high and dry.
A couple of weeks later, the wind was pushing water over the causeway and no one was staffing the tractor and wagon that day. Should have signed up!
The recently restored light keepers quarters and the light were built in 1869. They were made of cream city brick. The brick tower deteriorated from the wind, storms, and ice. In 1902, the tower was clad in steel to protect it from the elements. The tower stands over 89 feet tall and the light can be seen up to 18 miles away.
There are 97 steps from the base to the top of the light. The people staffing the lighthouse warn visitors to watch their heads when reaching the top of the steps. Good thing, I would have bonked my noggin on the narrow opening to the light.
The view from the top is spectacular. The top photo shows the shoreline going north from the lighthouse. The second photo looks toward the causeway and the mainland.
There is a lot of history associated with the Cana Island Light. There is a very nice video showing in the keepers quarters that details some of the interesting facts about this light. I should mentioned there is a $10 per person fee to visit the island and light house. It’s definitely worth it.
Door County By Water
One beautiful, sunny afternoon, we boarded the Quo Vadis at the dock in Fish Creek for a 90 minute tour. During our tour we saw the Door County coastline, Chambers and Raspberry Islands, the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse and the Eagle Tower both in Peninsula State Park. Our guide for the tour was Rosie who entertained us with stories about growing up on Chambers Island and Door County. It was a most pleasant and relaxing tour, highly recommend. Check out their website by clicking here.
The Eagle Bluff Lighthouse.
The boat captain turned over the steering of the boat to a two young girls who did a good job for the few minutes they were in control.
This was my first time seeing the Eagle Tower from the water. It is even more magnificent. See the next segment for more details.
Eagle Tower, Peninsula State Park
The Eagle Tower is the third tower to grace the skyline of Peninsula State Park. The first two were torn down when they became to unsafe for visitors to climb. This new version is an engineering marvel, at least in my mind. It’s handicapped accessible, allowing those in wheelchairs, walkers, folks with impaired mobility, and kids in strollers to move from ground level, through the trees, and to the top for a view of the tree-tops and water. Ingenious and appreciated by everyone. An attraction not to be missed, we stop there every time we are in Door County, sometimes twice.
Hardy Gallery, Ephraim
Another favorite of ours is The Hardy Gallery in Ephraim. Located on the Anderson Dock, the gallery was once a warehouse that fell into disrepair and eventually purchased by the city of Ephraim. In 1962, the Peninsula Arts Association was founded in honor of Francis Howe Hardy, an amateur painter and summer resident of Ephraim. His goal was to promote Door County as a place of the arts and to support artists and the arts.
The graffiti on the Hardy Gallery walls began when sailors would paint the name of their ship and date as a way to document their visit. Some even left messages for family members. The tradition continues as visitors paint their names on the building. We left our names two years ago to mark our 50th wedding anniversary. It’s still there.
The day we visited the Hardy, a group of budding sailors were in class learning to maneuver their vessels.
Goats on the Roof
A drive by Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant and Butik in Sister Bay during the summer months will often yield a view of a small herd of goats grazing on the roof. Traffic in front of the restaurant is heavy because of the goats and the large crowds standing in line for the delicious food. During our many visits to Door County, we’ve seen the goats on the roof but not during this trip. Maybe next time. 
Sturgeon Bay Farmers Market
Every Saturday morning from June through mid-October, several streets are closed off for the Sturgeon Bay Farmers Market. It’s more than produce, there are flowers and plants, art, photography, books, crafts, clothing, and some great street food. 
Green Bay Packers Annual Shareholders Meeting
Coincidentally, the annual shareholders meeting of the Green Bay Packers is held near the end of July. The meeting is held in Lambeau Field in Green Bay. If you are used to attending boring meetings, you ought to attend this one with 20,000 of your co-shareholders (there are currently nearly 530,000 Packer shareholders). It’s fun, we cheer while watching the highlights and clap for the report on the coming season. We even applaud the treasurers report and are amazed by the report of the outreach committee. It’s the best meeting you’ll ever attend, at least IMHO! If you want to join us next year, let me know and I’ll see about the tickets. By the way, they are free for shareholders, one of our only perks.
Happy Birthday!
During this past July, we went for dinner at a couple of supper clubs that dot Door County. One evening, we celebrated the birthday of Billye, the mother of the Son-in-law. We had a grand time with excellent food, drinks, and service at The English Pub near Fish Creek. Later that evening we continued the celebration with cup cakes from the Pink Bakery in Egg Harbor.
Game Night at the Farmhouse
Many evenings after dark were spent on the farmhouse porch playing games. On other evenings, we watched movies on the lawn after dark on a blowup screen. Never a dull moment in Door County.
There’s one more episode in this series about our recent trip to and from Lincoln, Nebraska. Watch for that next week.
Until then, happy travels!
Tom
PS: Click here for a link to the post about my book “Farm Boy.” Contact me if you are interested in purchasing a copy. Thanks to all have plunked down your hard earned dollars and read the book. TM