Day 8 & Day 9

Door County, WI to Menomonie, WI

Trip 280 miles 

Total Distance: 1,420

Our Route:

We took hwy 57 back down the Peninsula to Green Bay, WI where we picked up hwy 29, through Wausau and Eau Claire. We then drove on to Menomonie, WI where we stopped at Twin Springs Campground for the night.

The Bridge at Green Bay over the Fox River

Looking North at the River

The landscape

Mallard ducks

Clouds

More clouds and landscape

Menomonie, WI to Alexandria, MN

Day 9

Trip: 200 miles

Total Distance: 1,620

We left out of Menomonie fairly early, but Dad decided the fuel filter needed changing so we pulled over in the Walmart parking lot. Perhaps that was causing our problems with the engine skipping. After buying a fuel filter at the local Ford dealership (they couldn't help us change it til Monday), Dad tried to change it himself, but didn't really have the right tools. We gave up and drove on to Minneapolis/St. Paul. 

There we looked up another Ford Service Center and they took good care of us. 

You should have seen the way Dad drove that RV right into the bay. He had about 3 inches on either side and people were standing up in the waiting room watching him.

A real pro!

We felt like clapping.

The folks at Tousley Ford in St. Pau, MN are good people.

We drove off around 5pm right in the middle of rush hour traffic and construction work.

Unfortunately, the engine started skipping again not long after we got back on I-94.

We are pressing on,...

Evening clouds heading into the sunset.

We drove on til about 8pm and found a Walmart in Alexandria, MN where we could park overnight in their parking lot. 

We woke up to 48 degree temperature and sea gulls. 

(in the parking lot?!)

They do say MN is the Land of 10,000 Lakes. We sure saw alot of them.

Day 7: Door County, WI

Door County, WI

Today we started our day with a stop at the Cana Island Lightouse. Built in 1870, it has a 65 ft. tower and a keeper's dwelling that is attached.

Our mission today was to come back with at least one fact about the lighthouse or surrounding area we did not know before.

There are alot of unusual berries and trees we are trying to identify.

Nana and Paw were trying to figure out what kind of the trees these were. 

A picture of the gang in front of the lighthouse.

The path leading down to the lake front.

Beautiful flowers along the coast.

Looking up the coast. No sand. 

Mostly rocks. Very beautiful.

FACT 1:

Adam learned today that Lake Michigan is the name of the lake in the background and even though he thought he could smell salt in the air, it is a fresh water lake. 

FACT 2:

Natalie learned a nemonic for the 5 Great Lakes:

Just remember H.O.M.E.S.

Huron

Ontario

Michigan

Erie

Superior

FACT 3:

Nana learned that there are no wells on Cana Island and that all water has to be brought in. Or they catch the rainwater for use.

Looking out the porthole.

FACT 4:

I learned that they use a Fresnel lens to cast a beam of light 18 miles into the darkness.

And that only one bulb is used at a time.

The view from the top was spectacular!

There have been several ships over the years to run aground.

The inside view.

FACT 5:

Natalie also learned there a 97 steps to the top.

FACT 6:

Paw learned that you need to be careful when you come out of the stairwell at the top or you bump your head.

There is a narrow causeway leading to the mainland.

A closeup picture of the rocks.

Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant for lunch.

In Sister Bay, WI

There are goats on the roof!

Natalie loved the Swedish pancakes with Lingonberry jam.

I tried the creamed chicken and wild rice soup and turkey sandwich. Oh, it was so good.

Afterwards, we strolled across the street to the marina.  

We drove up to the very top of the peninsula to Gills Rock to see the ferry leave to go over to Washington Island. We didn't have time to take the ferry, but it was interesting to look at anyway.

Then we headed back down south to Ellison Bluff on the west side. 

The view was fantastic. You could see for miles. 

This is the view of the coastline. 

Adam wasn't too keen to be out on the ledge like this. 

You can tell how he's gripping onto the fence.

Another view of the coastline and rocks.

We saw turkeys in a field of cherry trees on the way back to the main hwy.  We gobbled, but they ran away. Must have been our Georgia accents.

here is the road not taken....

which we took.

 and that made all the difference....