8-11-18 Washington Island, It’s a Jeep Thang

Washington Island is at the northern tip of the Door Peninsula between Green Bay and Lake Michigan.

The first night we were there we anchored in Nicolet Bay on the north end of the island. It is a popular place especially on the weekend, but we found a spot to drop the hook. The paddle boards were used to go to shore. I was a little chicken to stand up, because of all the wakes from boats.  But I did it and never fell off.  I must be getting better. At the end of the bay is the unique Schoolhouse Beach Park Beach.

The beach is covered with white, smooth sandstones similar in size and color.

The beach, however, has a problem. For years people have been enamored with these smooth stones and have been taking them home.  This unique beach is disappearing stone by stone.  There is now a $250 fine for taking  stones from the beach.  A sign was posted showing where the rocks used to come to on the shore.  The beach is half its original size now.

We walked up to the top of the road.  There stood St. Michael’s Chapel.

It was once a store, but a friend’s grandmother purchased it. Seeing there were no Catholic Churches on the Island, she arranged to have an appropriate altar sent up from Chicago, so they could have Catholic Mass there.  A traveling priest came to say mass there on regular basis. The family told us, that the building has been sold. The altar has been sent back to Chicago.  A Lutheran church allows the saying of a Catholic mass at alternate times in their church .

The friend who has a place on the Island, arranged to have his sister and Brother-in-Law bring us a Jeep to use to sightsee on the Island.  There is quite a bit to see, but it is not conducive to bike-riding. They met us at the post office gave us the Jeep and told us we will likely get some 2-finger waves.  It’s not the “Jeep Wave” but close. It is the island wave. It was a warm day and the older jeep with top off and windows opened was the perfect transportation.

The Island Stavkirke (church) was an interesting stop.

It was built in 1991 patterned from an ancient style of church build in Borgun, Norway in 1150AD. This construction was common in Norway during medieval times. The church is a tribute to the Island’s Scandinavian Heritage. It is a place for spiritual meditation and worship.

Next to the church is a Prayer Path.  The entrance has walking stick for anyone to use.  Both the church and the path had a very spiritual feel to them.  You somehow feel closer to God there. I was moved.

On down the road we came upon a Lavender Farm.  Not something you see every day.  The rows of purple fragrant flowers were ready to be picked and made into one of the many things they had for sale in their gift shop.  Touristy, but neat to see row after row of flowers.

Mountain Park and lookout are exactly what it sounds like….  Lots of steps uphill!  The exercise felt wonderful and we were blessed with beautiful woods on the way up and a spectacular view once on top of the Lookout.

Siever’s School of Fiber Arts is where you want to go if you are into any fiber, cloth for quilting, many yarns for knitting, and crocheting. They teach classes and have retreats both instructed and non-instructed to do your own thing. They have cabins for you to stay in.

We then proceed to the northwest tip of the island where there was a log cabin build by Mr. Jacboson There were exhibits of things from the area, like the rudder off a shipwreck, a rock crusher and a stone wagon that was used to build Mr. Thordeson’s stone boat house. On top of a small hill stands another tiny log cabin.  It is the historical museum.  For such a tiny place, it was packed with all kinds of historical artifacts, from Indian arrowheads and clothing to, unique stones from the area, and more modern items.  It is one of those places you can walk through many times and not see it all.

We needed to get the Jeep back as Kevin and Kathleen were leaving the next day. They invited us to their place Lehman Camp.  That’s a whole other story. Watch for my next blog “Tresspassers Will Be Violated”

Thanks for reading,

Enjoy your day,

Scott and Karen

m/v Last Call

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