First big winter storm??

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING
TO 6 PM CST MONDAY.

* TIMING: MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW WILL DEVELOP TONIGHT AND CONTINUE
THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY. LAKE EFFECT SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED TO
INCREASE SUNDAY AND CONTINUE INTO MONDAY.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: AVERAGE AMOUNTS OF 6 TO 8 INCHES OF SNOW
ARE EXPECTED. HOWEVER...LOCALLY MUCH HEAVIER STORM TOTAL SNOW
AMOUNTS FROM 12 TO 18 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS PARTS OF THE
BAYFIELD PENINSULA AND THE GOGEBIC RANGE FROM MELLEN TO
HURLEY.

* WINDS AND VISIBILITY: NORTHWEST WINDS FROM 20 TO 25 MPH WITH
GUSTS TO 40 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT...
REDUCING VISIBILITY TO LESS THAN A QUARTER MILE AT TIMES IN
SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW.

* MAIN IMPACT: HEAVY SNOW COMBINED WITH GUSTY WINDS WILL CAUSE
CONSIDERABLE BLOWING SNOW AND SEVERELY LIMITED VISIBILITY...
ESPECIALLY IN OPEN AREAS NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR AND ALONG HIGHWAY
2.

Where is the snow and cold?

Where is the snow? There is a bit in the U.P of Michigan but nothing in the Bayfield area. It's 46 degrees right now in Bayfield the day after Christmas. Odd? Just a bit, it's been a full decade since this has happened. Matter of fact December might set a record for average warm temperatures. But of course we have a few days left in the month. Looks like the record is secure however. The National Weather Service better revise their previous forecast for a snowy cold winter? Or not? Will see won't we!

Merry Christmas

Hanging the stocking on Christmas Eve was a big deal in 1961. Happy Holidays and a good
2012.

Here comes Santa!

Get down to the Bayfield Lakeside Pavilion tomorrow! Between 11:30am and 1pm Saturday.
Santa will arrive on the Ferry at about 11:30am and then be seeing children at the Pavilion.

Where did the snow fall?

It wasn't in Duluth or along the shore of Lake Superior! It was inland in a swath thru Wisconsin:

Wisconsin
•8 inches - Montreal
•7 inches - Gile
•7 inches - Butternut
•5.8 inches - Sarona
•5.5 inches - Park Falls
•5 inches - Hayward
•4.1 inches - Winter
•4 inches - Stone Lake
•3 inches - Cornucopia
•3 inches - Shell Lake
•2 inches - Poplar
•1.5 inches - Maple
•1.5 inches - Bennett
•1.2 inches - Superior (7 miles SE)


Minnesota
•2 inches - Sawyer
•0.9 inches - Holyoke
•0.5 inches - Duluth
•0.2 inches - Alborn

Holiday Season in Bayfield

The tree has been lit and starting tomorrow the December Holiday season begins. First Friday on Dec. 2nd stores are open in the evening for Christmas shopping. Spend your weekend shopping and enjoying the lights around town. You can also dine in local restaurants and get into the holiday mood.
http://bayfield.org/festivals_events_hometown_holiday.php/
The tourist season used to end with Apple Fest but that is no longer true. Bayfield is open for the holidays of course.

End of the Fall

November is nearing a end and the Bayfield Harbor is quiet and empty. The Thanksgiving Week had holiday vacationers around town. Now a bit of a lull and then comes Christmas. Santa will arrive on the Ferry boat. Shops are open for holiday shoppers on weekends.

It's here.....

After the prolonged fall you knew it has to happen!

Port Superior/Pikes Bay boats all put to bed

All the boats have been put to bed for the winter as a storm approaches for this coming weekend. It has been a very nice fall and perhaps even longer then usual. The holidays are next on the list for Bayfield Activities. Soon Santa will arrive on the Ferry Boat. Deer hunters will have snow for tracking this weekend. I'll be out and about Thanksgiving week taking more pictures. I've been lax with my camera since the fall colors went away.

Ashland Wisconsin's last remaining ore dock.

The removal of the last remaining Ore Dock in Ashland Wisconsin has begun. It's a passing of a era of industry. Ashland is mostly tourism,services and retail now. The city looks great with the new improved Lakeshore drive and a nice Main Street. There is now a Walgreen's and a new Super Walmart. There is a transition taking place. Like most small towns in America right now they would love some high paying jobs but wouldn't we all. Overall I think Ashland looks very good. It has the wonderful location on the Chequamegon Bay. The old Ore Dock will be missed.

Signs of the Season...

The clouds can be nice to see over water, it gives depth and distance to a shot. The signs of the next season can be seen all around. The changing weather and the empty slips. The sailboats all in layup and wrapped nicely. In a few weeks we could see the big change? NOAA has warned of a rough winter so that will be interesting to see what develops.

Bayfield Park

As you enter Bayfield there is a wonderful little park on the left side of the road that is always decorated for the season. The Tinman and Mums. If you look close at the detail, somebody got quite creative making Mr. Tinman.

Bayfield Weather

I really enjoy the Satellite flyovers each day showing Cheqaumegon Bay and Bayfield Area.
It's almost magical what you can see. The details and weather. Speaking of weather the talk is about our big bad winter that is coming. We have the La Nina influence this winter. This alters the jet stream and brings cold air from Canada and moisture from Lake Superior to the Snowbelt of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. It would be a great boom for the Ski Resorts. I'm not sure it's going to be as bad as they are making it out to be. I think perhaps just a bit below average is all.
But considering how mild winters have been the last few years it might seem bad. Either way there is nothing one can do about it so you might as well just enjoy yourself watching what happens.

Flawless Fall Day

Weather couldn't be better today, clear skies and wonderful temps. This is fall at its best. You don't care what you're doing as long as it's outside. A nice walk and a drive. Enjoying the last of the fall colors as we know what comes next.

Legendary Waters Casino, Bayfield Wi.

While not a gambler, I do enjoy a nice lunch with a incredible view. I found the burger and sweet potato fries just excellent. Really nice burger. And my gosh, what a view! Just wonderful to sit there and look out that window. In the summertime that deck will be very popular. I'm going to try a dinner next time. The building is very nice and I think they will do very very well. In other news our forecast for winter looks rough. But we are due for a real old fashion winter. The kind that Grandpa talks about.

http://www.legendarywaters.com/

Edwin H Gott

This was the ship that was anchored all weekend in Chequamegon Bay. It's not going to Gary Indiana after all as I just spotted it on the tracking in Lake Huron. So it's going to another steel Mill. It's fascinating to track these great ships and shipping in general. Bayfield area does see a few ships from time to time taking shelter or taking coal to Ashland. Also a few cruise ships dock in Bayfield at City dock sometimes in the summer. The tall ships will be coming again to Duluth and sometimes also spend a evening in Bayfield.

Big weekend gale on Lake Superior

Big Gale on Lake Superior this weekend due to a huge low pressure system that passed north of Bayfield and continued into Canada. We knew that the lake was angry when we saw a 1,000 foot Iron ore ship anchored in the Bay just south of Bayfield. There is only one thing that causes a ship like that to leave the open lake. That is massive waves. At one point Saturday night the Real Time Wave chart was showing near 25 foot waves in Eastern Lake Superior. The gale was howling and I woke a few times during the night due to the wind in the trees. But who was this ship anchored in the bay? Some minor research found this to be the Edwin H Gott. I've only seen ships go back and forth to Xcel Energy Electric plant in Ashland with coal and have never seen this large of a ship in Chequamegon Bay. Current Wave map still shows some larger waves on the lake on Monday night. This morning the GOTT was anchored behind Manitou Island near Copper Harbor Michigan. Now she is on the move again heading to Gary Indiana to unload the taconite pellets for a steel mill. Perhaps for cars being built in America. Get that economy rolling again! If she can get there in the bad weather! Imagine what this storm has cost shipping.

Link to the ship information:

http://duluthshippingnews.com/edwin-h-gott/

More Apple Fest Parade.

The Apple cores and the bottom picture is the Two Harbors High Agates Band.
Bands from all over the area were in the parade. Might be the largest parade in Wisconsin? Unless they start up the Circus Parade in Milwaukee again that is! Weather really was perfect, the big change is coming next week. Back to reality weather wise.

Apple Fest Parade

Just a few shots of the Apple Fest Parade:

Apple Fest 2011

The 50th year for Apple Fest! Keep that rain away for the parade on Sunday!

Slow to turn this year

The leaves seem slow to turn this year despite some cool nights and shorter days.The weather this week is forecasted very nice. Perhaps too nice? Leaves need cooler nights.Apple Fest weekend starts on Thursday and it looks great weather wise. Past years have had snow flurries and cold. The leaves will improve this week but perhaps peak fall color might be later this year? Pictured is the meadow below the house and it's very green.

The Tug is back!

Along the shore just below Seagull Bay Motel a tug is anchored above the ship wreck again?
I don't know if it's just a diving excursion or something more? I've not found anybody that knows. But it's very interesting. You can see the Maple on the shore showing good color. Apple Fest is fast approaching and that should be a peak color weekend. Or at least close, hope for good sunny weather for the big parade.

What may come??

A bit of sleet and rain just occured in Bayfield this late afternoon. Which brings the question?
What will the winter bring? The upper air is very cold for sleet to happen of course. The front has blown thru and changed the weather to more fall like temps. The forecast from NOAA is for a La Nina winter. Which is a warmer then average dry fall followed by a average winter with above average snowfall depending on where you live. If you're in the snowbelt you might see more snow this winter? Will see? But hopefully it's a very pleasant fall first.

http://www.elnino.noaa.gov/lanina_new_faq.html

The next season is coming

My favorite season is about to arrive, fall. Bayfield has a Fall Festival with a scarecrow contest.The bottom picture will be blazing with color in about a month when the leaves change.Just in time for Apple Fest.

Fun at the Hauser Farm

The start of fall can be declared after Labor Day weekend. The apples are coming. The fall Harvest Festival is coming. There is even a contest to win a trip to Bayfield. The scarecrows are also fun.

http://bayfield.org/bounty-of-fall/

This device at the Hauser farm reminds me of how our Government runs our economy.

The actions in Washington tend to kick our butts. But we just keep cranking away without understanding that fact.

Island Queen Ferry Boat

While the ferries in the Carolinas aren't running anymore they certainly will be running as normal this weekend in Bayfield. No hurricane warnings for the West Channel between Bayfield and Madeline Island. Count your blessings that you don't live on the Eastern Seaboard.It will be a lovely weekend in Bayfield and area. How fortunate we are in Wisconsin.

Local Bears

August in Bayfield

It's August in Bayfield, the Tent shows are in full mode and it's peak sailing time. Plenty of visitors in town including a few bears roaming around. A cousin biking on Madeline Island spotted a bear about 30 yards from her. That is the stuff of good vacation conversations when you go home. I was over to my other favorite place, Grand Marais Minnesota. Just across the finger of the big lake. Nothing better then driving near the shore of Lake Superior no matter which side of the lake you happen to be on. Coming back on HWY 13 toward Bayfield I stopped and shot this sunset.

http://lakesuperiorregionblog.blogspot.com/

Bayfield shipwreck?

I know there is a shipwreck in front of Seagull Bay Motel. There has been a boat anchored there all day? Does anybody know what may be happening there? Are they diving on the wreck? Are they salvaging some parts of it? I don't recall the name of the wreck but it's a smaller ship.If you're interested in some historic ship wrecks click on the link below:

http://www.wisconsinshipwrecks.org/explore_lakesuperior.cfm

Full Moon Weekend in Bayfield Wi.

The moon will be full this coming weekend in Bayfield and the waterfront is always a nice place to be in the summertime.

Lush Green

The weather has been good this year for growing alot of lush green trees.
The woods has filled in greatly this year. The rain is always needed as Lake Superior is still below average but gaining. Summer temps are warmer then average and Bayview Beach visitors enjoy it.

Where in Bayfield?

Where is this bear in Bayfield? In the Brownstone shopping center of course! And while it looks brown it's a black bear. Some black bears are brown in color I've read.And the bears are wandering around town. I saw a big Sow with four cubs last weekend which was a real thrill. I've never seen that before. The smallest cub the fourth was a little runt. Hope he makes it,can they run fast. Before I could take a picture they were gone. So you have to take my word for it. There have been reports around the Bayfield area of bears. One up on a deck sniffing around a grill.

Bayfield Fireworks Fourth of July

Fourth of July at Bayfield harbor is always a nice treat.

Bayfield July Holiday time

A deer in the Lupine along the county road on the Fourth of July Holiday.