Island 2015 - Fall Trip: Packin' Up

Thursday, October 15, 2015

I've been looking forward to this road trip we're taking with Warren and Gary for a while now. The idea of it has gotten me through some tough weeks of work. I've never been to Madeline Island outside of June or July so I'm looking forward to seeing it in autumn. And no, there were not tons of drugs involved. Only some gin martinis.

Island 2015 - Fall Trip: And We're Off

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Dale rented a van for the trip so Athena would be nice and comfy.

Island 2015 - Fall Trip: Athena

Thursday, October 15, 2015

What a good little traveling companion.

Island 2015 - Fall Trip: Construction

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Stuck in traffic. The delay stressed Dale out as he had planned to make the 5:30 ferry. Missing it would mean having to wait for the 7:00 which would cause us to arrive and have to find our accommodations in the dark.

Island 2015 - Fall Trip: Lovely Day for a Drive

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Gorgeous sunny day for our drive.

Island 2015 - Fall Trip: Welcome to Wisconsin

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Island 2015 - Fall Trip: Waiting for the Ferry to Madeline

Thursday, October 15, 2015

We made it just in time for the 5:30 ferry but boy were we close!

Island 2015 - Fall Trip: The Ferry Ride Over

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Island 2015 - Fall Trip: Cocktail Hour

Thursday, October 16, 2015

Checked in to Treehouse 2 just in time for happy hour.

Island 2015 - Fall Trip: Cocktail Hour

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Kicking back after the long but pleasant drive.

Island 2015 - Warren's Dinner

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Warren made a great Mexican themed dinner. Quesadillas, casserole, and rice. Delicious.

Island 2015 - Treehouse 2

Friday, October 16, 2015

Beautiful morning. View of the porch off our bedroom.

Island 2015 - Treehouse 2

Friday, October 16, 2015

Island 2015 - The Cottages

Friday, October 16, 2015

Morning walk with Athena with Dale at The Cottages. Athena got to be off-leash.

Island 2015 - Morning Drive with Dale

Friday, October 16, 2015

Fall is beautiful on Madeline Island.

Island 2015 - Morning Drive with Dale

Friday, October 16, 2015

Looking toward the mainland.

Island 2015 - Morning Drive with Dale

Friday, October 16, 2015

Looking toward Bayfield.

Island 2015 - Mission Hill Coffe Shop Stop

Friday, October 16, 2015

World's Best Blueberry Muffin

Island 2015 - Around Town

Friday, October 16, 2015

Dale had to do some errands for work so Gary, Warren, and I amused ourselves around town. This was my first time inside the post office.

Island 2015 - Distinctive Vehicle

Friday, October 16, 2015

Island 2015 - Goofing Off

Friday, October 16, 2015

At the marina.

Island 2015 - Fall Trip: Lunch at The Beach Club

Friday, October 16, 2015

Lunch (and a brandy old-fashioned for me) at The Beach Club.

Island 2015 - Fall Trip: Heading to the Ferry

Friday, October 16, 2015

After lunch we headed to the ferry.

Island 2015 - Fall Trip: Dale Buys Tickets

Friday, October 16, 2016

Dale buys tickets for the ferry ride to Bayfield.

Island Trip - Fall 2015: Bayfield

Friday, October 16, 2015

After arriving in Bayfield we headed to The Candy Shoppe so Warren could order some wine bread for Gary and him to  pick up on their way home tomorrow.

Island Trip - Fall 2015: Bayfield

Friday, October 16, 2015

Signs of the Bayfield Apple Festival were still all over the main drag. 

Island Trip - Fall 2015: The Steak Pit

Friday, October 16, 2015

Had the opportunity to try a Wisconsin supper club tonight. Warren, Gary, Dale, and I are staying on Madeline for the long weekend and we made a special trip to Washburn to try The Steak Pit restaurant.

Island Trip - Fall 2015: The Steak Pit

Friday, October 16, 2015

Upon walking in we found the decor to be very unassuming, but why would it need to be with its incredible view of the lake? Kathy, our server, was a no nonsense albeit pleasant person who provided excellent service. We could tell shortly after she greeted us that we would be in good hands.

We ordered cocktails to start. I, of course, began with a brandy old fashioned. Warren had Myers run, his favorite dark rum. Gary had Dale both had red wine.

We ordered a couple of appetizers, the shrimp basket and the clam basket. Both were deep fried and fabulous.

Island Trip - Fall 2015: The Steak Pit

Friday, October 16, 2015

In true supper club style they had a Friday night fish fry. I simply HAD to have it. It was a generous portion of trout that was lightly breaded and lightly fried - not greasy at all! It came with the option of French fries or baked potato. I had had fries with lunch so I went with the baked potato. Dale had the broiled Lake Superior trout. He said it was awesome. Warren had the surf and turf. I think they called it a tug and hoof. Hoof, for the steak and tug (as in tugging the tail) for the shrimp. Gary had a steak.

We all had dinner salads to start. Gary asked what the salad dressing options were and Kathy said she would bring all of them out when serving the salads. When the salads appeared, she brought a caddy of three dressings including green goddess, blue cheese, and French. She also produced four bottles of dressings. I can’t remember all of them. One was a cranberry something or other which Dale loved. Another was a Hawaiian poppyseed which sounded divine. I went with the green goddess which is something I’ve never tried before. I loved it. It’s basically ranch dressing blended with avocado.

The dessert tray which Kathy brought over had a lot of different cheesecake options all under Saran Wrap. One was cheesecake wrapped in a flour tortilla. That’s how it was presented on the dessert tray, although if ordered they would deep fry it and then cover it with something like cinnamon and sugar, possibly caramel sauce. The non-cheesecake item was a chocolate hot lava cake which is what Warren ordered to split with Gary.

After going through all the options on the tray Kathy mentioned that they also had ice cream drinks. I wanted to tell her she was a woman after my own heart but thought better of it since she didn’t come across as a warm-fuzzy kind of gal. Instead I simply asked if the pink squirrel was an option. She said that it was along with the grasshopper. Since I had a grasshopper most recently at Jax I decided to go with the pink squirrel. I almost fell out of my seat when she brought it over as it was massive. Absolutely delicious though.

Island Trip - Fall 2015: The Steak Pit

Friday, October 16, 2015

Our server, Kathy, was exceptional. She was not overly familiar with us but courteous and very attentive. I could tell shortly after she greeted us at our table that she would take exceptional care of us which is exactly what she did.

Lots of supper club hallmarks at The Steak Pit: attentive and friendly service, great cocktails, Friday night fish fry, prime rib, ice cream drinks, and of course, cloth napkins (purple ones at that). Didn’t see any evidence of live music but that’s not to say there isn’t. Next time I call ahead I’ll definitely have to ask. We’ll most certainly be back.

I've heard it said that a supper club is always for sale.  Interesting to find the above sign outside.

Island 2015 - Fall Trip: Walking Athena

Saturday, October 17, 2015

We decided to take Athena to see the cottages again so she could run off leash. 

Island 2015 - Fall Trip: The Cottages

Saturday, October 17, 2015