Wild & Three Thursday!

It's 8:00 P.M. and we are safely back at the Meadow. For the most part ROADA is unloaded. What a great trip. The big win was getting to Isle Royale! After stopping in Grand Portage, MN and finding the ferry service only running on weekends we thought, okay, another trip, another time. But on Sunday we rolled into Copper Harbor as a way to get around a rainy damp day in Wisconsin and scored. The joy of spontaneity is alive and well as we strolled around town and happened to stop at a bakery that was right next door to the dock. As it happens the very dock that is home to the ferry for going to Isle Royale. We inquired about IRNP passage and believe it or not they have service tomorrow...and yes there are two seats available! We are IN, parking at 7:00 a.m. boarding at 7:30 with departure at 8:00.

This was a bucket list item so what a boon to just walk up and get on this normally booked ferry and at the half price rate since it is the off season.

It was a 3.5 hour ride. The boat was full but with comfy seats; we made it just fine. It was a bit of rolling in the beginning but calmed down after the first hour or so. The return was a bit bumpy but not terrible. Bit of conversation and a good book made the long journey easier. The island itself was extremely pristine. We had just under three hours to explore so we set off hiking immediately after our NPS briefing.

I had hoped to see a moose but really we were not in the right area for that though there are about 1800 in the park according to the ranger. We did see lots and lots of cool lush lichen, moss, mushrooms and fern in all shapes and sizes. The trees were mostly green. It was a nice day for a walk in this plush, lush, unspoiled environment. While three hours is much to short to really experience the island it was enough to make us want to return.

From Copper Harbor we headed on to Wisconsin. We wanted to make a loop through Door County to return to the quaintness of the area and have cherry strudel. We were hoping for cherry donuts,too  but it's apple harvest time so it's apple cider donuts this time of year. They were outstanding (but cherry are still my favorite). The honeycrisp apples they had were the absolute best I have ever had. We also tried smoked fish as that is a local thing. We decided on the Atlantic salmon as it is boneless. We will definitely have that again and try some of the other local choices they had. Charlie's Smokehouse is the place! And they ship...

It was a bust on fall colors once we left Michigan. The rest of the area just isn't there yet. It was still very green all the way down. In Missouri not only is it green everywhere it is also quite warm and still very wet. It is certainly feeling more like summertime here rather then heading into fall. Gonna be near 90* for the next week!

It was another good trip! Gotta get some grass mowing down and cleaning up of ROADA as she is a very dirty girl after her voyage around Lake Superior.