Sinking a Boat - It's not a Lund!

When we launched our boat at Stone Quarry boat launch in Sturgeon Bay the local fire department and law enforcement personnel from Menominee, Wi were practicing water rescues and recoveries. They were sinking a boat on purpose and then diving down to it. We didn't really understand what sinking the boat was all about since they typically don't bring boats back up -- just bodies --but we didn't ask.

We had to take a picture of our pretty boat when we were beached again at Horseshoe Island. The water is such a pretty color and so clear you can see 10 or 12 ft down in most areas of the bay. They say the zebra mussels really cleared up the water. We talked to a guy from the DNR and he said the zebra mussels have just about died out but now the Quagga mussels are taking over --another exotic species. Its a never ending battle with exotic species on the Great Lakes.

We are gearing up for the onslaught of campers coming for the 4th of July holiday. The campground is almost totally booked so its guaranteed to be very, very busy.

Giant Walleye!

Jim finally caught a giant walleye out of the waters of Green Bay. The walleye-- not the greatest picture-- was 29 inches long making it around 9 pounds. We were trolling around a reef outside the mouth of Sturgeon Bay. Jim was using a large purple lure that I had just purchased. The fishing report had said that purple and green were the colors that were catching walleye. I went and bought another purple one so I can try it too. Jim was so excited -- it's his first walleye in two years -- since we fished up in Rainy Lake before we left Minnesota. I was the one that caught walleye down in New Mexico our first winter south. We didn't catch any walleye last summer here in Door County. It took us all summer to learn how to fish here. Hopefully we will have more luck and we will both catch some really nice walleye.

I had to take a picture of the giant orange fungus I spied in the campground. It was so pretty it looked like a giant flower. We don't know what kind it is and now its faded to a normal mushroom beige color.

Even though we live in our "camper" year round sometimes we forget to just enjoy "camping". The other night we had a nice campfire and we roasted some weiners and I even made smores. Life just doesn't get any better!

Sightseeing around the "Door"

We launch our boat out of two different launches. One is up in Fish Creek at Peninsula State Park. As you drive into the park at the north entrance the first thing you see is the state park golf course. It is a very beautiful golf course -- many of the holes overlook the waters of Green Bay. We've heard it is a little on the spendy side to play the course but you get quite a view while you golf. Jim also noted that they have every piece of golf course equipment ParAide sells. Having worked at ParAide he wants to try and get a picture of a ball washer with a beautiful scene behind it and send it to the owner of the company.

The other launch we use is the Stone Quarry launch down by Sturgeon Bay. I took a picture of one of the mansions along the water. This place had its own marina, boathouse, greenhouse, etc. We fished a lot by this place because the bass liked all of the boulders around it. Bass fishing is still good. We also are hearing that the salmon fishing on Lake Michigan is doing very well. We don't really like salmon and don't really want to fish on the big lake.

Lady Slippers

We went to Ellison Bay Bluffs County Park and along the road at the entrance to the park was a mass of blooming yellow lady slippers. They were so huge they looked like I could slip one on my feet. If you haven't ever seen them they really do have a hollowed out center just like a real slipper.

I have only seen pink lady slippers twice in the wild and that was up along the Canadian border.

We had more great fishing although this fish was smaller than the last. I caught two this size -- about 3lb fish but Jim caught the most fish. We actually lost count and I almost ran out of bait. The bass are still in spawning mode and they were biting like mad. It's strange because back in March we were fishing during the bass spawn and now we are at it again. It's great to enjoy the spring season twice without having to go through a winter!