Door County - Day 2

An early morning start got us headed up the thumb of Wisconsin (or the spout of the teapot) into Door County. Scenery included small fields of corn and soybeans as well as cherry orchards. Several of the communities we passed had a Belgian heritage. At the end of the road, the tip of the thumb, we had time for a coffee break before meeting our step-on guide and boarding the ferry for Washington Island. The six-mile strip of water was treacherous enough before modern navigational equipment that it was called "the door of death," giving Door County its name. Washington Island is just one of many islands that are part of Door County. The island has a strong Scandinavian heritage, and our first stop was at a stave church in the woods. Our lunch (we got to take dessert first!) featured open-faced Scandinavian-style sandwiches. Our afternoon on the island included a stop at a maritime museum right on the edge of the water. With a clear, warm, sunny day, it was a perfect spot to enjoy both the fishing history of the area as well as the peaceful view. We shopped at their version of a shopping center (one building combining hardware and gifts and clothing and a bookstore with a sod roof and resident goats) and drove the rural roads. The island is heavily forested, so individual homes are nestled in the trees, and traffic is very light. We took the ferry back to the mainland and checked into our hotel in Sister Bay. The evening meal was exciting as we went to a Door County fish boil, started by early Scandinavian settlers. Potatoes, onions and fresh whitefish from Lake Michigan are boiled together over an open fire. Diesel fuel is thrown on the fire at the last minute to create a whoosh of flame and a blast of heat, causing the pot to boil over. Oils from the fish flow out, leaving a great tasting meal. Cherry pie for dessert, of course!-Laurel Johnson, Tour Director