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Door County Short Week, 2026_07_26
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Door County Short Week, 2026_07_26

Rosanne and I brought C-Traveler up to Door County for the week. Read more
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  • Trip start
    July 26, 2026
    C-TravelerDoor County Short Week, 2026_07_26Traveler
    This was an older tire that blew out last week.
    This was an older tire that blew out last week.My Inreach track towing the boat up to Door County.1All loaded up and ready to leave home.Passed the EAA event on the way north. This was it's last day.A new buddy in Fish Creek.Eagle Bluff Light StationLooking over the top of C-Traveler at the Peninsula State Park Boat Launch. Anchored in Nicolet Bay.

    Launch Fish Creek in Door County

    July 26 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    Decided to come spend a short week in Door County with Rosanne and the boat. First trip since coming back from out west, unless you count the one on our local Lake Mendota where I just made a run from the boat launch to Babcock Ice Cream at the UW. We plan to be on the water here for five nights. Launched at Fish Creek Town Dock this afternoon. On the way up, we passed by where the EAA Adventure is held. Today was it's last day, so saw a lot of folks leaving. Rosanne got a nice photo of the Goodyear blimp and a helicopter overhead. After launching, I docked C-Traveler at the town dock, sliding into a very tight space, the only one left. Rosanne went with me to park the truck and trailer, and then we stopped at Bayside Tavern for supper, followed by some ice cream at Dippys. We are now anchored in Nicolet Bay. No plans for the week, other than relaxation. Note, I would have spent more time this past Thursday on Lake Mendota, but before I was even two miles from the house, one of my trailer tires blew. Glad it happened then, and not on the way back from the west cost or on the way to Door. I didn’t get any pictures of the trailer fender damage, but I had to do some repair work on that. No damage to the boat fortunately. I ended up buying two new tires at Farm and Fleet and had them back on the trailer that evening. Removed, fixed and reinstalled the fender Friday. All ran fine on the drive up here.Read more

  • C-TravelerDoor County Short Week, 2026_07_26Traveler
    Stormy looking skies in Nicolet Bay this morning.
    Stormy looking skies in Nicolet Bay this morning.So. Damned. Tired. Of. Wind.! I put up with it too many days out west also.Admiral Rosanne in her favorite spot.Anchored in Fish Creek BayKayaked over to Not Licked Yet.Not Licked Yet has a nice playground for the kids.Not Licked Yet.Not Licked Yet Moose art sculpture.Fish Creek Bay mooring field.Part of Peninsula State Park in the background behind C-TravelerMy kayak track today in Fish Creek BayInreach water track. No, we didn't cut across land. Inreach spots every 10 minutes and I ran fast.

    Nicolet Bay-Ephraim-Horseshoe Island, Fish Creek

    July 27 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 70 °F

    Rather warm night, so didn’t sleep all that well. However, fortunately the forecasted storms never materialized over night, so I’m glad I left the windows and V-berth hatch open. While Rosanne made breakfast, I inflated our kayaks and thought we might ride them after breakfast. However, the thunderstorms finally arrived. By 11:30am they had passed over and the sun came back out, but the wind started to come up. We headed over towards Horseshoe Island, but the winds were still somewhat out of the south, so it wasn’t real calm in there. Headed over to Ephraim to check out the bay there, but the winds were blowing a little harder and it was rough. Also, on the way, Rosanne’s kayak, (I was towing both hers and mine,) flipped over a couple times from the wind. And I was towing slow at 6mph. Headed back to Horseshoe to see if it was anymore calm as the winds would be turning more out of the east. There is a large barge dock there, and I docked alongside it. Brought both kayak’s up on the dock. Decided we wouldn’t stay there, so tied my kayak on the side of the boat and placed Rosanne’s in the boat’s cockpit. Then headed to Fish Creek Bay where I felt it would be smoother as we have protection from the south and the east, and even a little from the northeast. The winds were up to at least 15-20 kts on the open water by now, and a couple times my kayak “flew” up from the side of the boat. Finally in Fish Creek Bay, and it was mostly calm back where I like to anchor in here. I got the kayaks down, and peddled mine over to Not Licked Yet Frozen Custard through a small weed choked channel, while Rosanne sat on the back of the boat in the sun, and read. There is music in the park scheduled in Ephraim this evening, but think we'll just stay put here in Fish Creek Bay. Unless the winds die down substantially, not looking to get beat up with the waves again.Read more

  • C-TravelerDoor County Short Week, 2026_07_26Traveler
    Fish Creek Bay Sunsetting
    Fish Creek Bay SunsettingFish Creek Bay SunsettingFish Creek Bay SunsetHorseshoe Island Bay dock. Notice how calm the water is.This barge & excavator has been in Horseshoe Bay for over a year. ???North side of Horseshoe Island. Water not so calm. Winds N 10 or so.On the Horseshoe Island trail looking northeastr towards Sister Bay.Horseshoe Island trail.Looks like a woodpecker has been at this tree.Navaid on SW corner of Horseshoe Island.C-Traveler at the Horseshoe Island bay dock.Other boats enjoying the water just outside the bay at Horseshoe Island.Horseshoe Island location relative to Peninsula State Park and Fish Creek.My 1 mile hike around Horseshoe Island.Only one of these tracks from Fish Creek Bay to Horseshoe Island today.

    Fish Creek Bay & HorseShoe Island

    July 28 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    Another sleepless night, but at least it was cooler. While I had expected the winds to stay a tad bit east of north, since the forecast was for ENE, I thought we’d be in mostly smooth water where we anchored in the far east side of Fish Creek Bay. I was wrong. Winds turned to straight out of the north at 13 kts, and it was pretty rolly last night in 1 foot waves. Most all the bays on the Green Bay side of Door County, are open to the north. So other than getting into a well protected marina, Horseshoe Island is pretty much the only place that provides protection from northerly winds. We left Fish Creek Bay this morning around 7am, and fortunately, the dock at Horseshoe Bay was wide open. One can also anchor in the small bay, however it is pretty weedy and hard to get the anchor to set. So we tied up to the dock, and enjoyed the day, after taking a nap… After lunch I walked the trail around Horseshoe Island, while Rosanne sat in the sun on the back of the boat and read. Very little cell service here, and I have my Star Link in standby or slow mode right now, so limited on the internet.Read more

  • C-TravelerDoor County Short Week, 2026_07_26Traveler
    Sunset at Horseshoe Island
    Sunset at Horseshoe IslandC-Traveler slipped at Sister Bay MarinaRosanne enjoying her sun and the scenery at Sister Bay Marina.Can't say you weren't warned. ;-)Walk downtown Sister BayMusic in the Park, featuring the People Brothers Band.Zoomed in on the People Brothers BandHave a listen to the People Brothers Band (turn up your volume)Sister Bay Concerts/Movies in the park schedule.Tall ship Edith Becker going out from Sister BaySunset at Sister Bay Beach.Yours truely, with the sunsetting.Sun is just about set.Inreach track today from Horseshoe Island to Sister Bay.

    Sister Bay

    July 29 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    Ah, much better last night in Horseshoe Bay. Calm water, cool night time air, and sleeping for 10 hours. Made up for the last two nights. Then today the wind was just light and variable. Very nice day. We only traveled another 5 miles to Sister Bay, and got a slip in the marina here. It’s a very nice marina, with beautiful sunsets. Also, their Wednesday night Music in the Park featured the People Brothers Band. Very good band. We pulled into the slip just a little before 11am. Got set up, relaxed at the boat, and then after lunch walked around town, including to Analog Coffee and Ice Cream, for some ice cream! Walked around some more, and then just relaxed at the boat. I enjoyed talking to our neighbor boater from the Chicago area. He is a retired High School teacher who had also driven school bus, so we traded stories about busing and boating. Supper at the boat, and then walked over to the park band shell to listen to the band.Read more

  • C-TravelerDoor County Short Week, 2026_07_26Traveler
    Al Johnsons. Goats and Rosanne in the picture.
    Al Johnsons. Goats and Rosanne in the picture.Al Johnson's Restaurant goats on the roof.Colby and Rosanne enjoying breakfast at Al Johnsons.Docked at Fish Creek Town Dock wall.Another view, with the Fish Creek Tour Boat and Alibi Marina in the background.Sunsetting sky at Fish CreekInreach tracks for this week and today.Enjoy this short clip of the People Brothers Band from yesterday. Wouldn't upload last night.

    Fish Creek Town Dock

    July 30 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F

    Another nice night in Door County. This morning we went out for breakfast to Al Johnson’s. It’s famously known for its goats on the roof. And for their great food. Especially breakfast! Got there at 8am, and told it would be a 50-60 minute wait. So we waited. Got seated after about 70 minutes. But again, great food. After breakfast, we left Sister Bay for Fish Creek. Initially I had planned for us to head to Egg Harbor to enjoy their music this evening. However, it wasn’t going to be in the park above the marina, but rather in conjunction with a farmers market at the Performance Arts Center, a few more blocks above the marina. Also, winds were back up to 10-15kts out of the SW, so a bit lumpy on the water outside of the marinas. I thought about maybe just pulling the boat out, and “boaterhoming” at Peninsula State Park. Check in time isn’t until 3, but figured we could drop the boat in their overflow lot, and then drive around Door County. Rosanne preferred we just stay at the Fish Creek Town Dock, and from there we could go get the truck, disconnect the trailer, and still go drive around Door. So that’s what we did. Stopped at a few shops, mostly clothes, a home furnishing store, and a kitchen store. Rosanne found a nice shirt, and I found a nice corn on the cob cutter! (I hate eating the corn off the cob, and always cut it off with a knife.) We’ll call them our anniversary gifts, as our 17th wedding anniversary is tomorrow. Lol. After hitting up a few shops, we drove on to the Sechrist Farm Market, and then the Koepsel’s Farm Market. Bought a few items at each. While out shopping, rains moved in to the area. It then rained off and on the rest of the late afternoon. Looks like it’s done for the night now.Read more

  • C-TravelerDoor County Short Week, 2026_07_26Traveler
    Loading C-Traveler back on the trailer. Sorry about the lousy focus! Time to upgrade my iphone!
    Loading C-Traveler back on the trailer. Sorry about the lousy focus! Time to upgrade my iphone!All set to head home.Me picking cherries.Rosanne takes a pretty good selfie of us picking cherries.Inreach track home.

    Back Home

    July 31 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 70 °F

    Last nice night in Door County. After breakfast, I went to pick up the trailer and then we loaded C-Traveler back on it. I took a video from the helm while loading on the trailer, but it failed to focus… Got everything put away and ready for the drive home. On the way we stopped at several farm markets to buy a few tasty items. Lautenbach’s, where we also picked our own cherries, Door County Cherry Hut and Wood Orchard Market (my favorite). Back in Madison, we stopped at Red Lobster for our anniversary dinner. Back home after that, and unloaded our purchases and supplies. This ends our short week in Door County trip.Read more

    Trip end
    July 31, 2027