Today we head to Bayfield to get out on a boat and explore a little of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
1008 Stopped on the way and checked out all thirteen sites at Big Rock Campground. Finding open campsites in the middle of July was a pleasant surprise.
Water is available from a hand pump. Two permanent pit toilets are the only bathroom facilities. We didn’t see any cell service through Verizon.
Wild blueberries and the sounds of a pretty stream made for a peaceful setting. We will keep this campground as a back-up plan as there are no reservations accepted and it is only $15/night.
Moving on, we noticed a neat old building, so pulled into the Les Voight State Fish Hatchery. They had nice displays, but you
can’t actually walk inside to see the fish unless you are part of a pre-arranged tour.
Hatchery Visitor Information.
1145 47,704 Bayfield – Iron Bridge Trailhead Parking 68°
Leaving the van, it was nice to see the solar panels would be hard at work charging our house batteries while we were off exploring.
Bayfield has lots of interesting architecture. This Queen Anne style home built in 1890 is now the Old Rittenhouse Inn B&B. Passing rain clouds looked a little ominous, but we didn’t get wet.
We booked a trip to Raspberry Island departing at 1415, so that left time to explore the town. Our first stop was the Maritime Museum where admission was free. Preserving local maritime history and passing traditional skills on to a new generation are great goals for this small museum.
Museum members were close to finished with the construction of this rowing skiff.
Homes in town had lovely gardens.
And we found a place to spend the afternoon in case our boat trip is rained out.
Walking down to the docks, we watched the fully loaded car ferry come in from Madeline Island.
Transportation for trip to Raspberry Island was provided by Apostle Islands Cruises, while the site tour was conducted by the National Park Service.
While a bit chilly, the open upper deck provided great views. With only six passengers and three crew, we had lots of options for seating.
Looking aft, we could see showers were still in the area.
Passing Red Cliff we could see that the Buffalo Bay Campground has good water views. The large building is a casino.
The lighthouse was b
uilt in 1862 and enlarged in 1906.
A helpful park ranger waited for us at the top of the stairs connecting the dock to the lighthouse. Rails on either side of the stairs allow a cart to be lowered and raised to deliver supplies.
Inside, the keeper’s quarters are furnished as they would have been in the early 1900’s.
A few of us climbed the ladders and stairs to the top of the lighthouse. I’m the one without hair.
It really is a delightful view from the top.
It wasn’t long before we were protected by the Bayfield Peninsula. Kayaks and a sailboat were checking out the caves along the protected shoreline.
Beth moved up to the top deck as the sun came out.
Even though we’re dedicated sailors, this speedy and fully enclosed little C-dory looks like a fun vessel for adventures on the big lake.
We docked behind the NOAA Research Vessel Shenehon.
She was originally built for the US Army in 1953 and currently serves the
Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory.
The sturdy 49 foot vessel Ashland Bayfield Express docked easily inside the breakwater. We thanked the captain and crew for the fun adventure as we disembarked on the town dock.
Looking back towards the lake, we both would recommend this tour for folks who are comfortable with small spaces, stairs, and ladders. There are other cruises available for those that would prefer to stay aboard and enjoy the scenery.
Signage on the wharf was a reminder of Lake Superior’s power.
As we were leaving, a new set of visitors headed out to explore the Apostle Islands.
We ended up at Greunke’s Inn with some of our fellow Raspberry Island voyagers.
Outdoor dining in the back garden was perfect on a July evening. The local whitefish dinner was delicious and the chocolate milkshakes were pretty awesome too!
1903 47,718 Washburn 68°
Today’s routes. Google doesn’t (yet) track voyages by boat very well.
2 responses to “Apostle Islands”
It looks like it was a wonder trip. Most favorite picture – the house with the garden.
Glad you enjoyed it. It was obvious that people were putting lots of time and care into their gardens.