We splurged today and visited the Apostle Islands on a private boat. It was just Dave and I, the kiddies and the Captain. The three hour cruise (?) was so much more fun on a small boat.
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore comprises a stretch of shoreline and 21 islands at the northern tip of Wisconsin, on Lake Superior. On the mainland, the Lakeshore Trail winds past cliffs and sea caves. Many islands have trails, beaches and marinas. Wildlife includes bald eagles, falcons and black bears. Sand Island and Raspberry Island have 19th-century lighthouses. The Lucerne shipwreck is just off Long Island.
The Captain was great at telling us little off the wall stuff about the Islands. For example, Stockton Island, until recently had the largest black bear population, per capita, as well as the most campgrounds. And I didn't know, the bears swim to different Islands.
He also told us that in certain years, when Lake Superior freezes over, which is not every year, people have been known to drive their vehicles on the Lake from Bayfield to Devil's Island, 23 miles one way. Don't know if I would have that nerve.
Devil's Island is the most picturesque, with the striations and sea caves molded out by the sea. The Lighthouse keeper, his family and two assistants, lived on the Island from early Spring to December. I can't imagine what they did all day, every day.
When the Park Service started out purchasing the Islands, they ended up buying them outright, paying half and giving the owner 20 years to continue living there, as well as life ownership, when the original owner could stay on their islands until death, when it reverted to the Park Service.
The last few pictures are of a bald eagle nest, which weighs over 1,000 pounds and one of the eaglets sitting beside it. We waited a while for the parents to come back, but they must have been hunting for food. Nonetheless, it was still great to see the baby and its nest.
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore comprises a stretch of shoreline and 21 islands at the northern tip of Wisconsin, on Lake Superior. On the mainland, the Lakeshore Trail winds past cliffs and sea caves. Many islands have trails, beaches and marinas. Wildlife includes bald eagles, falcons and black bears. Sand Island and Raspberry Island have 19th-century lighthouses. The Lucerne shipwreck is just off Long Island.
The Captain was great at telling us little off the wall stuff about the Islands. For example, Stockton Island, until recently had the largest black bear population, per capita, as well as the most campgrounds. And I didn't know, the bears swim to different Islands.
He also told us that in certain years, when Lake Superior freezes over, which is not every year, people have been known to drive their vehicles on the Lake from Bayfield to Devil's Island, 23 miles one way. Don't know if I would have that nerve.
Devil's Island is the most picturesque, with the striations and sea caves molded out by the sea. The Lighthouse keeper, his family and two assistants, lived on the Island from early Spring to December. I can't imagine what they did all day, every day.
When the Park Service started out purchasing the Islands, they ended up buying them outright, paying half and giving the owner 20 years to continue living there, as well as life ownership, when the original owner could stay on their islands until death, when it reverted to the Park Service.
The last few pictures are of a bald eagle nest, which weighs over 1,000 pounds and one of the eaglets sitting beside it. We waited a while for the parents to come back, but they must have been hunting for food. Nonetheless, it was still great to see the baby and its nest.