Island 2018 - Second Trip Third Day: Blueberry Muffin

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

After Athena's walk I hightailed it to Mission Hill Coffee for one of Marie's famous homemade blueberry muffins. I commented to her how nice and quiet it was in the shop. Based on what she told me I think she was enjoying the post 4th of July lull. She recounted how crazy the whole week had been. With the holiday falling on a Wednesday it was like there were two 5-day weekends to pick from on either end of the big day. I wouldn't be surprised is some folks just took the whole week off. She also mentioned that demanding and entitled customers are really at an epidemic level this year. I told her that based on some of the things I've seen I had to agree with her. One example was a man at the Beach Club who asked the bartender if she'd go to the shop across the street and buy cigars for him. Another example was a woman who drove onto the ferry to Bayfield, left her car to go get coffee and kept the ferry waiting while she was gone.

Madeline Island 2015: First Trip Day 3 - The Fourth of July

Saturday, July 4, 2015

What a fantastic 4th of July. I started my day with coffee on the deck with Dale. I then ventured off to Mission Hill for another blueberry muffin (mission accomplished). Had a nice chat with Fran, Charlie, and Dale upon my return. We hit the 4th of July parade at 10:00 a.m.  It was full of, as it was last year, cheesy, corny, kitschty, sentimental goodness. Afterward the pledge of allegiance was said, the flag raised, the national anthem sung, Common Sense by Thomas Payne read, choir anthems sung, and parade award given. Afterwards we all took a nap!

Fran and Charlie made a fantastic dinner of ribs, coleslaw, fried potatoes, and black beans. Absolutely fabulous. What a load of fun today was. Tonight we're off for the strings concert at the Clubhouse and then fireworks after.

Madeline Island 2015: First Trip Day 3 - 4th of July Parade with Fran and Charlie

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Madeline Island 2015: First Trip Day 3 - 4th of July Parade: Gilligan's Island

Saturday, July 4th, 2015

I thought the Gilligan's Island float was loads of  fun. After the parade I found Ginger and Mary Ann and asked if I could have my picture taken with them. They were so sorry that Gilligan and the Skipper had disappeared for the moment and couldn't be in the picture too. They came back about 15 minutes after the first picture with their fellow cast-aways and allowed me to get another photo. Sweet folks. They made my day!

Madeline Island 2015: First Trip Day 3 - 4th of July Parade: Turk's Inn

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Was so disappointed to find out that Turk's Inn in Hayward had closed. Glad to see they still had a presence for the parade.

Madeline Island 2015: First Trip Day 3 - 4th of July Parade: Flag Festooned Jeep

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Madeline Island 2015: First Trip Day 3 - 4th of July Parade: Star Wars

Saturday, July 4, 2015

A very colorful cast of characters.

Madeline Island 2015: First Trip Day 3 - 4th of July Parade: MIMC

 Saturday, July 4, 2015

When the Music Camp's float went by (the sign carriers preceded the violins) the woman standing in front of me as I watched the parade cupped her hands to her mouth and kept screaming "Sing, sing!" She finally shut up when she saw the kids playing violin on the hay bales. 

Island 2014: Second Trip - Fireworks

Friday, July 4, 2014

The fireworks tonight were fantastic. We left the apartment moments after they started to set them off from the breakwater. Ellis was a little frightened by the noise so he and Alyn stayed and watched from the driveway. Dale and I walked down to the ferry landing and watched from there. I took an actual photo of one of the fireworks and treated it with some different filters online and those are the images you see above. Overall I have to say that this is one of the best 4th of Julys I've had since I was a kid.

Island 2014: Second Trip - More 4th of July

Friday, July 4, 2014

Top left: Yesterday city workers started covering the no parking signs to handle the huge amount of cars that are on the Island for the holiday.

Top right: Main Street was packed. Much of the mass of people in the background are heading to the foreground for the flag raising ceremony.

Bottom left: Flag raising ceremony.

Bottom right: Boats in the harbor.

Island 2014: Second Trip - Parade

Friday, July 4, 2014

Alyn, Ellis, Dale, and I headed down to Main Street to watch the parade around 10:30 a.m. La Pointe is the only place I've ever experienced a small-town-down-home-main-street-4th-of-July parade and they do a fantastic job. It's nothing extra ordinary and it doesn't need to be because that's what's part of what makes it so fantastic. 

Island 2014: Second Trip - Happy 4th

Friday, July 4, 2014

Dale and I figured out that I haven't been to the Island for the 4th of July since 2005. Why such a long wait? It just hasn't worked out for me schedule-wise for the past 9 years. I had a great time this year.

Island 2014: Second Trip - The Island Gets Ready for the 4th

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Signs of the approaching holiday. More flags out than usual and lots of bunting.

Madeline 2013 - 2nd Trip: Drive with Dale

Met Dale in Duluth yesterday as he had to return a rental car.  We drove the rest of the way together and made it to Bayfield in time for the 7:00 p.m. ferry.  It was something of a slow evening for the ferry line.  As we waited  Dale told me the 4th of July had been insanely busy with people coming to the Island and that all four of the ferry boats had been running pretty much non-stop all day.  I had really wanted to come up for the 4th this year but, due to the volume of work required for my summer course, decided against it.  Ah well, maybe next year.

Fourth of July

This photo was taken just a few days after the Fourth of July 2011. The Fourth of July is a big holiday on Madeline Island. The Island is full of people by this point and the town of La Pointe hosts a July 4th parade. Photo taken July 9, 2011.