Post Card Memory

Before the Pier Restaurant sat on the corner down at the waterfront there was a A&W I have
been told. But long before that there was the Trading Post. I'm not certain the years? But perhaps
somebody will chime in with that information?  1940's?  Earlier? 

Ice Caves possible again this year?

BAYFIELD, Wis. - Continued calm and cold weather could create the right conditions for people to access the ice caves on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands again this year.
Julie Van Stappen is chief of planning and resource management for the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
She tells the St. Paul Pioneer Press there's a "very good chance" that thick and stable ice along the shoreline could happen if cold temperatures and low winds continue. But she says they should have a better idea next month.
The caves opened last Jan. 15 for the first time in five years. Over two months, an estimated 138,000 visitors made the mile trek to view the ice formations. The popularity prompted the park service to propose a $5 fee. The proposal hasn't yet been approved

A picture says it all........

A picture from the Bay cam at Northern State Bank in Ashland says it all. Winter is here!
Chequamegon Bay is frozen over.

It's back!

Misery for some, joy for others. Great for ski hills and winter sports. It's back! Lake Effect snow.
This shot provided by UW Madison on the daily satellite fly over. I find it just so interesting to see a shot of the big lake. This was Tuesday November 18th. Upper Michigan and parts of Northern Wisconsin got heavy snowfalls. Winter has started early. What is in store?  NOAA says about average on the long term projections No polar vortex this year?  We shall see? 

Fall is the best season!

Nothing better then fall on the bay. I must say it's the best season of all. I missed Apple Fest this year and traveled to the Boundary Waters of Minnesota. You can't be at all places at once but you can try. I did stop for a visit on the bay before heading south again.

Labor Day weekend

Labor Day weekend is breezy this year but that is great for the sail boats. This shot is from the HD camera on top of the Bayfield Inn. What a great viewpoint whenever you wish to get a view of the harbor.

Wonderful Bayfield Summertime

Sumertime eves are wonderful in Bayfield down on City Dock. The full moon on the channel is
very nice. Sorry for the lack of postings, I was lost in the Scottish Highlands for three weeks in July.

Summertime in the Apostles

Little Sand Bay is a nice spot on a summer day. A nice quiet area to kayak or just walk around on the sand.

Bayfield Race Week Regatta


Sunday Jun 29, 2014 - Friday Jul 4, 2014 .

Bayfield Fourth of July.

Snow on Memorial Day Weekend

The ice chunks in the channel and around Madeline Island were much talked about in the news recently. But my favorite thing to do is search for snow on Memorial Day and find it deep in the woods each year.

Slowly the Ice Cap melts

And Bayfield has a new Web Cam:

http://www.bayfieldlive.com/

Lake Superior's icy grip

It's been reported that the Ice Road in Bayfield over to Madeline Island is still open
and has set a record for longest in a season. Lake Superior as seen in today's Satellite shot
is still holding it's icy grip on the Northland. When will the ice go out this spring? That might
be a record as well?

The never ending winter of 2013-14

And more to come.........right into spring!

Who got the big snow?

It's Fourth of July in February

Bayfield has a unexpected boom this year due to the Polar Vortex. You can walk to the Sea Caves this year. Thousands are coming to the area to do just that. It's a influx of tourists not normally seen in February. Motels are full, restaurants are busy. The Chamber of Commerce said it's a 5 million dollar boom. There are visitors from all over the world. Word of mouth and postings on Social Media are fueling the interest. Stories on the Weather Channel and Nightly News. Pictures in Newspapers around the Midwest. The above shot taken by the National Park Service shows just hundreds of people treking to and from the caves. I did the trek in the 90's and it was never like this!
We have some real gems right in our own backyard.

The vast frozen lake

For the first time since 1996 Lake Superior is mostly frozen. Just a section along the Minnesota North shore remains open. The Sea Caves north of Bayfield are getting great attention this year in the news. I've even seen them featured on the Weather Channel and the National News. We have these gems right in Wisconsin's backyard. Now the outside world is seeing them too and maybe even making special trips to Bayfield.

Lake Superior ice

Alot of ice around the Apostle Islands this year. The Sea Caves are making the news even on a national level. The lake is about 80% ice this winter to date. A real old fashion winter.

Sea Caves are open

Sled Dog Race Feb 2nd!

http://bayfield.org/aisdr

Cold and snow, its a real Bayfield Winter this year!