Apple Fest

48th Bayfield Apple Festival,October 2-4, 2009
The Bayfield Apple Festival is listed among "Top Ten Autumn Festivals in North America" by the Society of American Travel Writers. Click on the link above to read the whole article. Bayfield Apple Festival is also one of Discover Wisconsin’s Top Ten Favorite Small Town Festivals

Embarrassing for our good state.

State Troopers are looking to crack down on drunk driving, regardless of who you may be.
In the past week, both Wisconsin Representative Jeff Wood and Bayfield Police Chief Ellis Casper were arrested for suspected OWI, showing no one is above the law.The Wisconsin State Patrol says they're out to protect the public from anyone who may be dangerous on the roadways.
"The reason these laws are in place are to protect the safety of everybody, and it really doesn't give any exemption to any particular individual," says Lt. Timothy Carnahan with the Wisconsin State Patrol.

End to the long saga............

Warren Nelson severed ties with the Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua, resigning as artistic director in the face of two criminal charges within nine months.

A very talented man with real stage presence, he truly can write a great song.
Sadly, he has problems with help that can be corrected. I am sure he will be back to sing more songs in the future. The Big Top has some younger wonderful performers that can help carry the tent shows into the future. If they book some good acts next year, they will be fine. It is good to see the current saga end.

Biggest Black Bear ever shot in Wisconsin!

Just when you think last weeks big bear was incredible somebody tops it. A new confirmed record shot in Price County. A 727 pound MONSTER Black Bear! That is one large teddy bear.

Imagine coming across that in the woods?? The entire story can be found on the link posted.

I am neither pro or con on hunting. But I find this sort of thing very interesting.

http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/news/news_wluk_wisconsin_hunter_tags_record_bear_200909220736_rev1

Monster Bruin shot near Bayfield

There are unconfirmed pictures floating around the Internet of a 639 pound Black Bear shot just outside of Bayfield. This is interesting as I spotted a huge bear this summer and the police have twice chased a huge bear out of town with their squad car. But this bear seems to be much much larger! The all time world record Black Bear was shot near Glidden Wi. in 1963 and that bear weighed 665 lbs and can be seen near the Glidden Fire Station in a display. What else is walking around the Chequamegon National Forest? Really makes you think. The hunter pictured looks like a young Matt Damon I think. Still waiting for details in the Ashland Daily Press or another newspaper.

Old Postcard memories

I found this old postcard recently and if you study it closely you can see the railroad station and the tracks. Perhaps the remains of a mill or canning factory? There are no slips in the harbor and the old Bayfield Hotel is visible. My guess is early 1940's? Does anybody else have any ideas? A different view then what we see present day! Click on image to enlarge!

The FOG

No not the movie by that title but this mornings weather. Fall is here with some warm weather from the south hitting the cooler air near the lake. Mornings are cooler now but it's warming nicely during the day with much sunshine. With dry weather you have to wonder what that means for fall colors this year? Will they be muted and dull? Will the leaves go quickly? Or will we still have a nice colorful fall? When will the peak fall color be this year?

Apple Fest is coming in about three weeks!

5th Annual Bayfield Scarecrow Festival

Five years ago, Bayfield came up with a very clever idea. A Scarecrow Festival! I have never heard of it done before. It starts today and continues to the end of October. It is very entertaining to see what ideas people come up with for their scarecrows. They can be found all over town in front of businesses and homes. Click on the link below for more details:

http://bayfield.org/festivals_events_scarecrow_festival.php

We only have to wait nine years!

MADISON, Wis. - Gov. Jim Doyle says new quarters minted nine years from now will feature the Apostle Islands. The America's Beautiful National Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008 requires the U.S. Mint to issue quarters featuring national sites in each state, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. The coins will be minted at a rate of five per year and issued on the date in which the landmarks were first established as national sites. The Apostle Island National Lakeshore quarter will be minted in 2018. The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore includes more than 42,000 acres of land, including 22 islands, and 27,000 acres of Lake Superior.

Crystal Clear Waters of the Apostle Islands

As seen in the picture the water is pristine and clear. I am always amazed at just how clear the waters are in the Apostles. You can see down in 30 feet of water on a calm day. Along the coast you can see ancient tree stumps on the bottom and even a ship wreck. There are two outfitters in Bayfield that will take you on tours. The temperature on Labor Day is projected to be 79 degrees! A bit above average, is the El Nino effecting the Midwest already?