rock island refuge

model of Rock Island

There is an island off the tip of Door County that you can ferry to with your car.  It is wildly popular during the summer and is filled with bike-riding tourists visiting the beaches, the lavendar farm, and the historical sites.  When the family reunion was over, we drove to this island, and then left our car and made our way on a passenger-only ferry to a much quieter place with few campsites and one flush toilet.  It was exactly what we needed.

We registered for a remote camping site, about a mile away from the dock, past bushes loaded down with raspberries and thimbleberries.  Dan and I had visited the island in '94 and were eager to share it with the girls, but honestly, until we actually sat down on the ferry, I wasn't sure how happily they were going to participate in the carrying of supplies and setting up of camp.  Once we were afloat with our backpacks, however, they were happy, happy, happy.  Hard not to feel like it was a very special place.  I also took it as a good omen that as we docked I looked up to see four huge white pelicans soaring over the boathouse.  Wow!!

"Georgia"

helleborine orchid (Epipactis helleborine)

knapweed

cedar waxwing