Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 5: Tommy's

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Had no idea Tommy's was a Power Ranger Headquarters.

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 5: Cigar Time

Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Cigar time on Dale's deck this afternoon. Enjoyed the view. Dinner at The Pub after Dale came home from work. I ordered crab and that turned out to be quite the adventure due to it being in the shell. Our waiter, Mitch, asked me after I finished how I did. I told him I felt i was successful considering the whole thing was WAY outside my comfort zone. I really had to work to get to the meat.

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 5: Big Bay Town Park

Monday, July 12, 2016


Big Bay Town Park

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 5: Kayaks

Tuesday, July 12, 2016


Kayak tour in progress as we walked the trail to the lake.

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 5: Athena

Tuesday, July 12, 2016



After yesterday's all day rain, today's overall gorgeousness was most welcome! Athena and I made a trip to Big Bay Town Park for a walk which didn't last long due to the flies. Oh my God, the flies! They bit. Literally. Athena did better than I did as I think it was a little harder for them to get to her skin. 

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 5: Big Bay Town Park

Tuesday, July 12, 2016



The beach at Big Bay Town Park.

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 5: Big Bay State Park

Tuesday, July 12, 2016


The boardwalk along the lake front leads to the border between Big Bay Town Park and Big Bay State Park.

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 5: Waterfall

Tuesday, July 12, 2016


Hard to see but there's a baby waterfall in this photo. Taken at the beginning of the trail at Big Bay Town Park. 

Friday, August 5, 2016

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 3: Sunset

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Gorgeous day. Gorgeous sunset.

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 3: More Putt Putt

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Alyn, Ellis, and Dale squeezed in one more game of putt putt golf before departing. Look closely and you can see them in the background of this photo. Alyn got a hole in one at the last hole. The attendant gave her a free game because of this. She gave the coupon to Dale to use later as they had to catch the ferry. 

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 2: The Fat Radish

Saturday, July 9, 2016


Upon returning to Bayfield we stopped at the Fat Radish to get some sweets. They were delicious and we ate them while awaiting the ferry back to Madeline.

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 2: York Island

Saturday, July 9, 2016
Departing Raspberry Island. In the background is York Island.

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 2: Time to Board

Saturday, July 9, 2016
Oak Island in the background.

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 2: Raspberry Island

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 2: Raspberry Island Lighthouse

Saturday, July 9, 2016
Raspberry Island Lighthouse

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 2: Alyn On Raspberry Island

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Alyn photographs the mainland from Raspberry Island.

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 2: Photos with the Lighthouse

Saturday, July 9, 2016

After our beach trek we headed back to the lighthouse. We arrived with a little bit of time left before our boat was to leave for the return trip to the mainland. We took some pictures of ourselves with the lighthouse.

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 2: The Beach on Raspberry Island

Saturday, July 9, 2016

After the tour of the lighthouse the three of us took off on a .75 mile trail that lead to a beautiful beach on the east side of the island. You can see in the above picture how close Oak Island is. Below, Ellis and Alyn walk the beach. Ellis and I had quite a wonderful time skipping stones. I'm not quite as good as I was as a kid but it all started coming back to me after a little practice. Ellis did pretty well also.

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 2: Raspberry Island Lighthouse

Saturday, July 9, 2016

The lighthouse was having some work done to it. Sadly, this meant we could not get up to the tower as it was closed off. 


Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 2: Lighthouse Dining Room

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Lighthouse Dining Room. Note: The pie was not real although it sure looked delicious.

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 2: Lighthouse Bedroom

Saturday, July 9, 2016
One of the lighthouse's bedrooms.

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 2: Lighthouse Living Room

Saturday, July 9, 2016


Raspberry Lighthouse. View of the Wisconsin mainland from the lighthouse living room. Our tour boat is visible at the bottom of the hill.

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 2: Lighthouse Kitchen

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Raspberry Island Lighthouse Kitchen

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 2: Ranger

Saturday, July 9, 2016


Our ranger who led the tour was quite a  lovable character. He was something of a combination of Garrison Keillor and Lewis Black, if that in any way makes sense. On top of this he was an excellent tour guide. He even sang us a song called the Lighthouse Keeper's Blues.

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 2: Exploring Raspberry Island

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Although the current lighthouse is not the original and dates to 1906, there are a couple of civil war era buildings next to it; a building from where the fog whistle sounded and another one no bigger than a small shed.

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 2: Arrival at Raspberry

Saturday, July 9, 2016



Once we got to Raspberry we were met by a dock at the bottom of a long set of steep steps. The three of us got off the boat and clomped up all of them to the tippy top. You could also see the lighthouse from the dock but once at the top of the steps it became apparent that there was something of a compound up there.




Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 2: Ride to Raspberry

Saturday, July 9, 2016


Once in Bayfield we picked up our tickets and headed toward the dock. (Note to self: You need to pay separately for the ranger led tour. The boat ride to Raspberry is done by a private company. The ranger led tour is through the US Park Service. They did not make this clear when I reserved the boat tickets over the phone. Upon arrival you're given an envelope in which to put cash, $5 per person or $10 per family, although they also give you the option of writing down a credit card number.)

Alyn gave me a bit of a fright before the boat left. She needed to use the restroom and I was afraid she wouldn't make it back in time as she cut it very close. She turned up just before the boat took off. Turned out there was a restroom on board.

The boat ride took about an hour and I got a better look at Basswood than I've ever gotten before. It's much longer than it looks from the the view you get on the ferry ride to Madeline. We also got a good look at Oak Island which is quite long as well.


Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 2: Grandpa Tony's

Saturday, July 9, 2016


Ellis and Alyn headed to Big Bay State Park prior to our trip to Raspberry Island. They lingered there a little too long in my opinion but when they returned we hightailed it to Grandpa Tony's to grab a quick lunch before catching the ferry to Bayfield.

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 1: Good to Be Back

Friday, July 8, 2016
Good to be back on Madeline Island.

Island 2016 - Second Trip Day 1: Athena

Friday, July 8, 2016