Ice Road?

So far it's a pretty liquid ice road this year. Perhaps it just isn't going to be that cold this winter? It takes some pretty cold nights to freeze the channel to thickness. Even when it's feet thick it's such a odd feeling to me to drive across something that normally requires a ferry. It's a uneasy feeling that is quite strange knowing it's 200 feet deep under you.

Santa made a stop in Bayfield.

I failed to mention that Santa did make his pre Christmas stop via the Madeline Island Ferry. He arrived in snow which made it much more Christmas like.

Dreary Day

It’s a dreary day in the Northland and in Wisconsin today. Perhaps the mood for the country. Yet again another mass shooting in the nation has to be on everybody’s minds. How can that have happened again? What can be done to stop this madness?  How can anybody shoot young kids? The news goes on for hours with experts and news anchors just repeating the same facts over and over again. Even interviewing young surviving children on their thoughts. Some of the news coverage is sick. You have to just turn it off as it’s just too much. Now the big debate begins again on gun control. The Brady Bill expired. The NRA lobby in Washington. The right to bear arms. Does anybody need automatic weapons with extended clips for hunting?  So when you exclaim this can never happen again ask yourself, did you vote for it?  Do you call anybody against automatic weapons a liberal?  We certainly are paying the price for our right to bear arms. Our founding fathers in the colonies couldn’t imagine this as they didn’t have extended clips. They had a musket that shot a ball with gun powder. The world has changed.

Here it comes! Perhaps a real winter this year?

Sunday Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 33. East wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Winter is here

The Sioux River south of Bayfield is very scenic with the new snowfall.

Boats to bed and waiting for spring.

Winter comes in a flash

Feeder time

The bears are going to bed soon and it's safe to put out the feeders again. You might think it's safe but they always manage to reach the feeder somehow even if they have to hang upside down to do it.

Snow time

Here comes winter! A bit of snow on the ground and flurries in the sky. By evening the ground was covered.

Late Fall

And just like that fall is over. Leaves are gone and Thanksgiving is around the corner.

The signs of November

You know it's November when the boats are out of the slips and all wrapped up for winter. The leaves are gone and thoughts are starting to turn toward the holidays.

Fall is nearing it's end....

Apple Fest has come and gone and the leaves are leaving the trees. Fall is nearing it's end. But then comes the Holiday Seasons in Bayfield. Plenty of events yet to come. While the leaves are past peak it's still very nice in the woods and the bay can be seen better when driving up Hwy. 13.

Fall color view in Bayfield area

Looking toward Chequamegon Bay from the Bayfield area at peak color is very scenic. Fall goes so fast.

Apple Fest 2013

A different Apple Fest this year with the threat of rain and perhaps flurries? Many recent years have had very warm and sunny weather. This year perhaps is more seasonal. There have been years that it snowed. So bundle up and go walk around and get some hot apple cider.

Peak fall color is on the way in Bayfield.

Just south of Bayfield on Highway 13 last year. In two weeks it's Apple Fest time and peak fall color. My favorite time of year. I was standing in the road walking up from the lake. I wasn't driving in the wrong lane FYI! A wonderful time of year with cool evenings and hopefuly sunny days for Apple Fest. The Fish Boil is always good. I don't know what all they put in the pot but it's very tasty.

Fall Harvest Fest

As part of the Fall Fest there is a scarecrow contest. They are all over the area. Some of which are very entertaining.

Blue Moon on the Channel

A wonderful Blue Moon on the channel between Bayfield and Madeline Island.

More on the Seagull Bay motel

I emailed the owners of the Seagull Bay Motel and the older unit pictured in the postcard yesterday was built in the 60's. The cottages in the 40's. The newest units the two story building pictured below on the left of this postcard was built in the early 90's. It's a wonderful place to stay when in Bayfield. But it books up fast! You need to plan ahead for the weekends.

http://www.seagullbay.com/

Old postcards reveals some history

Seagull Bay Motel postcard in 1975.

Before it was Seagull Bay Motel it was Seagull Bay Cottages. Not sure the exact date the motel was built but I'm guessing it was late 1960's early 1970's?

Bayfield harbor sunset

Sunset is coming earlier now as summertime runs it's course. Wonderful down at Memorial Park at dusk. School starts in just a few weeks. Better take that trip now!

Down at City Dock

Everybody should take a stroll down on City Dock each evening while in Bayfield. The view is just wonderful at sunset.

Yorktown departs Bayfield

Quite the big cruise ship for Bayfield. They are limited at the locks of the Soo. You can't get a much bigger ship thru to the Great Lakes. But this is plenty large for touring. Open your wallet,
it's expensive but wouldn't it be something.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/Great_Lakes_Cruise/Great_Lakes_Cruises/prweb8789461.htm

Mystery Cruise ship

This morning down at City Dock was a Cruise Ship that stopped during it's tour of Lake Superior. These ships come from time to time but I have no idea whatsoever who it was?

Tug boat on the wreck again?

Just below Seagull Bay Motel the tug is on the site of a ship wreck again. I still can't recall the name of the ship? Or barge? I'm sure the owner of the motel would recall. I'll have to ask him next time I see him. Makes a nice sunset scene.

Bayfield Festival of the Arts

http://business.bayfield.org/Events/details/48th-annual-festival-of-arts-bayfield-chamber-visitor-bureau-3358

Next weekend is the 50th Festival of the Arts!

Concerts in the Park

Something new this year down at Memorial Park on the harbor!

2012 Concerts in the Park schedule:
July 17: Foreign ObjectJuly
July 24: Hoff Stevens (Eric and Adam Doane)
July 31: Yazmin and Beat Zero featuring Bruce Bowers
August 7: Alpha City
August 14: Andy Noyes and Stevie Matier
August 21: Orienta Carwash
August 28: Liz Woodworth Trio

Another reason to visit Bayfield and the Chequamegon Bay

Summer forecast, HOT!

The forecast for this summer is very hot for the country. But if you study the forecast map it's going to be bearable near Lake Superior. So it's time to get to Bayfield for the coming summer events. Anything happening near the cool lake is a big positive.

City Dock View

A peaceful scene taken with the I-Phone during a walk on City Dock. A lovely evening.

Summer Holiday Time

•Bayfield fireworks begin at dusk in Memorial Park on July 4th
•4th of July parade on Madeline Island, also including fireworks at dusk
•Experience the traditional Chippewa culture during Red Cliff’s annual Pow-wow held annually the first weekend in July
•Enjoy musical performances of all kinds including the Summer (Mostly) Thursdays and Madeline Island Music Camp concert series’, and shows at Big Top Chautauqua, StageNorth, Legendary Waters and local taverns
•Race Week sailing events and sailing charters at area marinas
•Authentic WI Fish Boils at Greunke’s Restaurant
•Go berry picking in the “Berry Capital of Wisconsin.” Buy fresh berries ready-picked or pick-your-own at one of Bayfield’s fruit farms.
•See lighthouses on a tour with the Apostle Islands Cruise Service. A variety of cruises are offered daily including a Raspberry Island Lighthouse Keeper’s Tour
•Take a walking history tour with Bayfield Heritage Tours including A Lighthearted Walk Thru Old Bayfield, Sven’s Architect Tour, and More Ghosts and Legends of Old Bayfield
•Browse the fine art galleries and shops throughout Bayfield
•Visit the Bayfield Maritime Museum, Bayfield Heritage Association, or Madeline Island Museum
•Taking a 20-minute ferry ride across the bay to nearby Madeline Island
Bayfield offers the opportunity to do so much. Or, if you prefer, so little. It’s all up to you.

Big top season 2012

Another season of the Big Top at the Ski Hill just south of Bayfield on Highway 13 is about to begin next weekend. The lineup looks very good. It all starts with the Duluth band Trampled by Turtles. A excellent band of the Northland. Others that catch my eye are Emmylou Harris, Glen Campbell, Mary Capin Carpenter,Greg Brown,Nitty Gritty Dirt band and many other good shows. For a small northern area there is quite a impressive lineup for the summer. Bayfield is off the beaten path for touring bands. But that is what makes the area special. A bit unspoiled
and remote.

http://www.bigtop.org/

Blessing of the Fleet

June 10, 2012 at 1:00pm
Blessing Ceremony on Sunday at 1:00pm: commercial fishing boats, tugs, powerboats, sailboats, excursion and transportation craft, and rowboats parade through Bayfield’s City Harbor. As they pass by the tip of the pier, clergy from the Apostle Islands community grant each vessel a blessing for safe passage and a prosperous season on Lake Superior.

Sunset

Nice sunset tonight over the bay looking toward Bayfield.

May in Bayfield

Garden lovers are in luck on Saturday, June 2 and Sunday, June 3 when 20 Bayfield area gardens will participate in a weekend of garden tours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

The Apple trees were blossoming when we took a tour up the hill. And down at the harbor the big boats were going in for the first big holiday weekend. Summer is about to begin! This last week Bayfield County just got drenched in rain so it's about as green as possible. Lush would be the word. Sadly a few roads were washed out and the cost is a hardship to Bell Township. There was a drought so perhaps it has been ended. Lake Superior may return to normal levels again.

Spring is here and the bears are roaming around.

There are bears about! It's spring and they are very hungry after sleeping all winter. Time to fatten up. If you drive around the countryside of Bayfield you might be lucky enough to spot one. I've seen them crossing highway 13 just outside of Bayfield when going to eat one night. They are also known to come to town and raid bird feeders and trash left out. Sometimes the police chase them out of town with the squad car and a siren. One spent the winter under a front porch. The stories are endless and just another bit of entertainment in the north land.

Bayfield in Bloom

The Bayfield in Bloom spring Festival kicks off with Garden Talk on Wisconsin Public Radio.

http://business.bayfield.org/Events/details/garden-talk-with-larry-mueller

A big treat for gardeners and people that enjoy Public Radio. See your favorite midday radio host in person. I seldom miss the Larry Mueller show as it's entertaining and informative. A great program that is on the radio daily at 11am. Sure helps pass the workday with pleasure.

Sulfide minerals in soil near Mellen Wi.

It was reported today on the news that soil samples near Mellen Wisconsin showed that there were sulfide minerals. These minerals are quite toxic to ground water and streams. So if you dig a open pit mine and disturb the soil you release these minerals. You have to have containment barriers and holding ponds or?? You can't have them seeping into the local rivers and streams
that drain into lake Superior. We came so close to having a open pit mine in Northern Wisconsin. Were these things considered? I have no idea? Was there a environmental plan to prevent this if the Mining Bill passed? I sure hope so! Below is a picture of a stream that has been effected. Imagine that in Northern Wisconsin? Jobs Jobs Jobs was the cry but is it really worth the risk?
Below is a link that shows more information about drainage from a mine. What does all this have to do with Bayfield? Tourism and the crystal clear waters of Lake Superior are key to Bayfield
and all of the region.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid_mine_drainage

Northern Lights

The Northern Lights are very active tonight in the North land. You might even be able to see them to the north of Bayfield. We are entering what they call the solar Maximum. The sun runs in cycles of about 11 years and the flares and plasma from the sun that causes the Northern Lights becomes very active. So for the next summer and fall you might be lucky enough to see the Northern Lights on your next visit to Bayfield. You can drive north of Bayfield to Little Sand Bay and have a clear view to the north across Lake Superior from the National Park Service dock. I did just that in the past. What a view with Sand Island in the foreground. There are many interesting things to do when up in the north.

Earth day, Gaylord Nelson and the Apostle Islands.

When you think of Earth Day you think of Gaylord Nelson and the Apostle Islands.

http://www.nelsonearthday.net/nelson/environmental-decade.htm

Traveling with web cams and weather.

We always want to be where we aren’t. Thankfully we have web cams online. You can now check the progress of the Ashland Ore Dock removal, who is parked at the Pier Restaurant in downtown Bayfield and the weather. The weather I find interesting. Bayfield it seems has it’s own micro climate. Of course that isn’t news to the Apple growers or berry growers behind Bayfield on the hill. They know that the climate is greatly effected by the lake and the fact they are located on the side of the hills. The concern lately is the early warm up followed by some chilly nights and even some snow.
You don’t want a too early apple blossom event followed by a freeze. Apples in Bayfield are a huge part of the local economy. The largest festival is Apple Fest of course. And if you don’t have a web cam in your area it’s because nobody wants to be there.

Now it snows?

Just when you thought spring is here to stay it snows. Flowers are up and trees are budding.
Bayfield got a few inches and the totals for the area are as follows:

Wisconsin


•3 inches - Ashland


•2 inches - Oulu


•1.5 inches - Hawthorne


•1 inch - Hayward (8 miles S)


•1 inch - Cornucopia


•0.5 inches - Wentworth

Already into April

Bayview Beach

Trees leafing out

And just like that the spring has arrived early and trees are leafing out. Allergy sufferers well know this if you are bothered by tree pollen. Counts are very high. Certain trees effect different people I've noticed. One day somebody is sneezing while others aren't bothered until later.Different trees releasing pollen at different times of course. Oak tree pollen seems to bother me.Spring never was much of a problem allergy wise but it's worse now that is gets warm so fast and just bursts forth all at once. I'll take the early spring pollen and all. It's fantastic and while Bayfield in Bloom isn't until May the Daffodils are blooming already. Nobody told them that Garden Talk at the Pavilion isn't until May. Wisconsin Public Radio does that program each year in Bayfield in May. The host does own a cabin in Bayfield County. We are gaining daylight very fast now. Soon the beach will be full of people again.