What's left of the Ice Road and a lone sail skier.

The ice road is all done for the season and the wind sled is taking island residents back and forth to Bayfield for errands and groceries. A lone para-skier had the channel all to himself. The ice still plenty thick to support

a man. Nobody managed to break through the ice this year with a vehicle. Thankfully! Hopefully no ATV's or snowmobiles will fall in as the lake thaws in weeks to come.

They wait in silence but soon will wake.

Soon the boats in dry storage will wake from their long winter slumbers. On a grey cloudy day it's hard to imagine spring is right around the corner. The ice is still thick in the slips. Two weeks will make a huge difference in this scene. Shops are starting to prepare for the season and some are open on weekends.

Lee's Shoe Store 1950's Main Street

Back in the 1950's Lee's Shoe Store was the place to get your Hush Puppies. This old postcard takes us back to the days when you got shoes from your local shoe man and not a Walmart. You put your foot into the special sizing tool made from stainless steel with the size markings. He would measure the width and length of your foot to insure proper fit. It was a profession in the 1950's. I'm sure all customers were greeted by name and had a long term relationship with their shoe store man. Now our shoes are made in China. Of course it's a opinion on changes today!

If we lose our Professions then what are we left with?

When will the Ferry be free???

You could run a raffle with people guessing what day the ferry will be free from the ice and running again. With recent rains and warm weather it won't be long now.

I'll come trollin' home to you.......

Back in the 1950's trolling and charter fishing was one of the reasons you came to Bayfield. Down

at the city dock were many charters you could hire. Even today there still are a few down at the dock. To catch a huge lake trout or salmon is a good thrill and a even better dinner. Have you seen the price of salmon today?

Don't give me that Eagle eye!

The Eagle out searching for prey on a blue sky day. Today is the first day of spring but you would never know it with flurries this spring evening.

Ice Road done for season??

The Ice Road looks to be finished. A few ice fisherman are still venturing out on the bay and of course one had to be saved in Ashland. Pushing the ice fishing season to the limit.

Oh deer get out of the road.

The deer are all over roaming around lately. Spring is in the air with 50 degrees and sunshine.

Quiet for now but soon.......

The harbor is still frozen with local fishing boats wintering over. The ferry in wait for the summer season. But soon it will be filled again with sail boats and activity. March however is a good month, longer days,more sun and you can still enjoy the snow without the sub-zero temps.

Ice Interstate to Madeline Island

Even a ice road needs to be plowed and maintained. Working at the beach area approach to the ice road to make is smooth. The road tends to be pretty rough near the beach due to the warming of the shoreline. You smooth and allow it to pack and refreeze in that area.

Recent cold nights will really help in keeping the ice road safe longer into the season.

DNR says there are less deer???

It's because they seem to be all behind the house! Not sure what to think about the claims the deer population is down in numbers. I've seen alot of deer driving around in the Northland.

Upper Midwest Blizzard

The Weather Channel crew was in Duluth today at Canal Park broadcasting live about the storm that is going to leave Bayfield with 4-8 inches. It's going to be very windy blowing all that snow around. Followed by some arctic chill temps. Winter isn't done yet. The ice road lives on for more traffic with that weather. The view in the picture is Lake Superior which of course can't be seen due to the snow. Or look at the weather LIVE on the Bayfield Harbor Cam:

http://www.apostleislands.com/webcam.html

City Dock then, Deer here now

City Dock looked pretty quiet back in the day when ferries took just a few cars at a time.And the local deer have come to the meadow searching for something to eat. The frozen bay still very thick with winter ice. When will the ice go out this year? Mid April? I watched it on a April day in the past disappear when the wind just blew the thin ice away.

GarHow History

GarHow ferry boats, short for Garry and Howard. I recall taking the car over to Madeline island on the largest GarHow in the pictures back in the early 1980's. Which of course required backing off the ferry at the dock when you arrived at LaPointe. I had a bigger car at the time and we were closely packed together. It was a adventure as we never had been on a car ferry before.

Soon if it stays warm this sign will really mean something

Very warm air this weekend and the ice road is still safe but soon if the warmth continues this sign will be something to take very serious.

Quiet Season

The calm before the summer storm on Madeline Island. Nobody to be seen and locals have it all to themselves. Some I'm sure enjoy the quiet time. It's very unique to drive over on the ice from Bayfield to see the island in winter.

Sunny shot of the Bay.

Yet another view of the Frozen Bay on a nice day.

Who cares what is happening on the news.

Ice Road Truckers?

So you have seen Ice Road Truckers on the History Channel. You said honey,I would love to do that. Now is your chance! The Ice Road between Bayfield and Madeline Island is still open and plenty thick. It's a odd feeling to drive on Lake Superior with 180 feet of water under your wheels. It's one of the few in the Great Lakes area. Certainly something different then the everyday commute to work.

Winter Carnival Weekend Madness!

The winter carnival weekend was nice and sunny but it was still too chilly to be jumping into 29 degree Lake Superior water. The run on the ice road to Madeline Island and back was followed by the Polar Plunge in the afternoon. It was a sunny 18 degrees but then the wind picked up a bit and the windchill made for some cold plungers. I would think your feet would really suffer barefoot on that ice waiting to jump. But 50 people did so and raised alot of money for the Rec Center. That is my nephew bundled up for the raw wind.