Up North
Back from what was, quite possibly, a perfect weekend. T and I left for the Apostle Islands on Thursday. What had originally been planned as a camping trip turned instead into a two-night stay at a small motel south of Bayfield. A strange place -- no management was on site, and on Thursday night, we were literally the only humans there. Kinda spooky, but the place was nice, so I dealt with it. The pine tree across the road was home to a bald eagle, and the view was of Lake Superior.
Our activities that day: a haircut for T at Oly's, Wisconsin's Northernmost Barbershop (done by Oly himself, a cool-looking guy with a Viking tattooed on his calf),
BEFORE
AFTER
and then an evening of free pie and politics at the Big Top Chatauqua, which featured a speaker who specializes in sustainable agriculture. And the pie was fabulous!
We took a ferry to Madeline Island the next day and biked around, then ended the evening with a sight-seeing boat tour,
which included lighthouses and the sea caves. Having grown up in Door County, I'm used to beautiful scenery, but the sea caves were truly, astonishingly beautiful.
And another eagle soared overhead as we were sailing by. Absolutely stunning. T pointed out a rock formation that looked exactly like a skull -- but no mention of that was made by the boat captain.
It's not called "Skull Rock" or anything like that. Nope. Just a gorgeous and spooky rock formation that's unbranded and there for your interpretation, if you take the time to notice it.
The boat tour ended with a breathtaking sunset,
followed by a beautiful moonrise.
I mean, seriously -- it was getting ridiculous how beautiful and perfect this weekend trip was turning out to be.
The next day brought more perfect weather -- blue skies, a breeze, and just the right amount of warm and cool. A walk along a completely deserted beach,
and then we hit the road. Stopping at Copper Falls State Park along the way -- a spur-of-the-moment stop when we saw the sign by the side of the road. Not only was the scenery lovely (I'm running out of adjectives for lovely, breathtaking, gorgeous, etc.),
but we got to watch two fawns, still with their spots, munching in the woods.
But one of the best parts of the trip lurked just down the highway. A sign announcing "Wisconsin Concrete County Park," though odd, gave no indication of the incredible-ness of what was to come. There, on the side of the road, was a park full of some of the most bizarre statuary ever. Strange men/women of concrete, embedded with shards of broken glass. It was like discovering a lollipop forest or a chocolate river while out on a hike. I had no idea this place existed! Wonderful and disturbing all at once.
Most disturbing was the very strong theme of nursing. Not that nursing is disturbing, but it's strange to see a lethal, broken-glass-covered concrete foal nursing at a lethal, broken-glass-covered concrete horse WHILE she and another deadly, broken-glass-covered horse are hooked to a plow.
Next to the sea caves, this was my favorite part of the trip, and the mere fact that a park full of statues that would shred your flesh should you pass too close to them is still open to the public in this age of lawsuits gives me hope for America. Jarts might have been outlawed, but at least the Concrete Park remains!
I couldn't help but think, throughout the whole trip, how much better it will be when we can visit the Apostle Islands with our future dog. Really and truly, this was one of the best trips ever! I'm in such a good mood!
Our activities that day: a haircut for T at Oly's, Wisconsin's Northernmost Barbershop (done by Oly himself, a cool-looking guy with a Viking tattooed on his calf),
BEFORE
AFTER
and then an evening of free pie and politics at the Big Top Chatauqua, which featured a speaker who specializes in sustainable agriculture. And the pie was fabulous!
We took a ferry to Madeline Island the next day and biked around, then ended the evening with a sight-seeing boat tour,
which included lighthouses and the sea caves. Having grown up in Door County, I'm used to beautiful scenery, but the sea caves were truly, astonishingly beautiful.
And another eagle soared overhead as we were sailing by. Absolutely stunning. T pointed out a rock formation that looked exactly like a skull -- but no mention of that was made by the boat captain.
It's not called "Skull Rock" or anything like that. Nope. Just a gorgeous and spooky rock formation that's unbranded and there for your interpretation, if you take the time to notice it.
The boat tour ended with a breathtaking sunset,
followed by a beautiful moonrise.
I mean, seriously -- it was getting ridiculous how beautiful and perfect this weekend trip was turning out to be.
The next day brought more perfect weather -- blue skies, a breeze, and just the right amount of warm and cool. A walk along a completely deserted beach,
and then we hit the road. Stopping at Copper Falls State Park along the way -- a spur-of-the-moment stop when we saw the sign by the side of the road. Not only was the scenery lovely (I'm running out of adjectives for lovely, breathtaking, gorgeous, etc.),
but we got to watch two fawns, still with their spots, munching in the woods.
But one of the best parts of the trip lurked just down the highway. A sign announcing "Wisconsin Concrete County Park," though odd, gave no indication of the incredible-ness of what was to come. There, on the side of the road, was a park full of some of the most bizarre statuary ever. Strange men/women of concrete, embedded with shards of broken glass. It was like discovering a lollipop forest or a chocolate river while out on a hike. I had no idea this place existed! Wonderful and disturbing all at once.
Most disturbing was the very strong theme of nursing. Not that nursing is disturbing, but it's strange to see a lethal, broken-glass-covered concrete foal nursing at a lethal, broken-glass-covered concrete horse WHILE she and another deadly, broken-glass-covered horse are hooked to a plow.
Next to the sea caves, this was my favorite part of the trip, and the mere fact that a park full of statues that would shred your flesh should you pass too close to them is still open to the public in this age of lawsuits gives me hope for America. Jarts might have been outlawed, but at least the Concrete Park remains!
I couldn't help but think, throughout the whole trip, how much better it will be when we can visit the Apostle Islands with our future dog. Really and truly, this was one of the best trips ever! I'm in such a good mood!