Northern Wisconsin

While paddling on the Au Train River it occurred to us that we would be moving the next day, but had no definite home for the next three nights before our reservation in Ely MN. The next night was a Friday, and it is always scary trying to find a new home on a weekend.  We wanted to be somewhere between Ashland and Iron River in Wisconsin so we could paddle the Boise Brule River.  While on the river, Lynda told us she had inquired about Twin Bear Campground operated by Bayfield County, but they were full up for the weekend.  However, the lady had also told Lynda they had another campground nearby, Delta Lake that did have space. We stopped on the side of river and made the call.  Ultimately, we scored 2 adjacent sites at Delta Lake Campground.

The badger: Wisconsin's official mascot

We departed Christmas MI on a rainy Friday morning and drove 244 miles to Delta Lake Campground east of Iron River WI. While passing through Ashland we spotted a station selling diesel for $2.899, which was a nickel or 2 cheaper than anything we had seen since leaving Ohio, so we stopped and pumped 84 gallons.

We really hadn't expected Delta Lake to be a great park, but I was mildly surprised.  Our 2 sites were really more like one one large double site with lots of grass.  The voltage on our pedestal was good (rare at small public parks) and the internet service was outstanding.  Usually internet at parks like this is very slow, with a weak signal, if it even exists at all.

Camp Delta Lake

The weather had improved and the rain had stopped when we arrived at camp.  The forecast for the next day was excellent, so we decided we would take a cruise through the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Dorcas went online using our superfast internet and bought us tickets for the 10:00 tour the next morning.

Gull's eye view of camp

Bayfield Commercial Fisherman's Memorial

Our boat, the Archipelago 

Waiting to board the Archipelago

Captain Zack

There are two abandoned brownstone quarries in the Apostle Islands. Stone was mined, cut and shipped all across the midwest for building.

Brownstone blocks

Devil's Island is the northernmost post in Wisconsin.

Devil's Island Light Tower

Lighthouses of the Apostle Islands

Wayne complained about not being able to see anything. Go figure

Cranberry Island Lighthose

Our cruise was about 50 miles

After the cruise we had a nice lunch at the Copper Trout and then visited the Bayfield Maritime Museum. At the Maritine Museum they had 5 live sea lampreys in a tank.  Sea lampreys are invasive and parasitic and entered the Great Lakes from the St. Lawrence Seaway  By the 1940s lampreys had decimated the lake trout and whitefish populations.  Today lamprey populations have been reduced due to the use of lampricides to kill larval lampreys and the use of barriers and traps to prevent spawning in creeks.  The lake trout and whitefish populations have significantly recovered.

Finally we visited the Apostle Island National Lakeshore headquarters and visitor center so Wayne could buy some patches, and we could get our National Park Passport books stamped.  The headquarters has 2 RV overnight parking spaces in their parking lot. In September 2013 we camped here. The price was normally $8.00 per night, but with our senior's discount it was $4.00.

File photo from 2013

On Monday we move to Ely MN!!!!