Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

The main reason we came to northern Wisconsin is to meander up to the UP of Michigan and visit the Pictures Rocks National Lakeshore. We missed it a few years back, and really wanted to take the boat ride (the only way to see it) along the shore and see it for ourselves.

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Our tour starts on land, on the hiking trails near the National headquarters. The picture of the large wagon was used for hauling lumber. You might think of it as the original lumber truck. All the pictures above were taken on the national grounds. The next photos are taken from the tour boat. I will present them mostly without comment, as they speak for themselves.

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

The above formation is called Indian Head, for obvious reasons. Millions of years of minerals leaching through the soft sandstone have created the remarkable colors.

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

This formation is called flower vase.

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

On the return trip, I catch a photo of this old lighthouse on Grand Island. No longer in use, it stands as a silent symbol of years-gone-by.

Ashland, WI - City of Murals

From Ashland WI - City of Murals

This is our second visit to Ashland WI, and this time, we are taking the time to walk the city and get pictures of the many murals.

From Ashland WI - City of Murals

This old hotel is now a Country Inn, or some such thing, but even without seeing the interior, sitting right on the lakefront, you can see how majestic it is.

From Ashland WI - City of Murals

From Ashland WI - City of Murals

From Ashland WI - City of Murals

From Ashland WI - City of Murals

You can see how pretty the town is, complete with hanging flower baskets, colorful murals, and sparkling blue Lake Superior, it is a great tourist destination, and only about a half hour drive from Bayfield. The mural of the ore dock is especially interesting. The city is in the process of tearing it down, as it is no longer used, and Popeye is in a city RV park right beside her! Note the dock is so large, they had to use two buildings to depict it!

From Ashland WI - City of Murals

From Ashland WI - City of Murals

From Ashland WI - City of Murals

From Ashland WI - City of Murals

From Ashland WI - City of Murals

Many of the murals are only partially shown. We really needed to get up and out around 5 AM before cars are parked on the streets. Still, you can get a pretty good idea of how vivid these murals are, and the history they depict.

From Ashland WI - City of Murals

From Ashland WI - City of Murals

From Ashland WI - City of Murals

From Ashland WI - City of Murals

From Ashland WI - City of Murals

We take a break in the cute little vine covered coffee shop, and when I go upstairs to use the restrooms, I am so happy to see these old fixtures, still in service. Obviously a converted house, I pulled back the shower curtain to take pictures of this old tile. When is the last time you saw a ceramic told holder of this vintage?

From Ashland WI - City of Murals

From Ashland WI - City of Murals

From Ashland WI - City of Murals

From Ashland WI - City of Murals

The final murals I get pictures of, and lastly, the lovely campground next to the ore dock near sunset. Life is good!

From Ashland WI - City of Murals

From Ashland WI - City of Murals

Bayfield, Wisconsin

From Bayfield WI - Gateway to the Apostle Islands

Moving north, we are now in Bayfield WI, gateway to the Apostle Islands, which we visited on a previous trip. It's a lovely little town and we so enjoy the picturesque views. Can't imagine what this place looks like in February!

From Bayfield WI - Gateway to the Apostle Islands

From Bayfield WI - Gateway to the Apostle Islands

From Bayfield WI - Gateway to the Apostle Islands

Regrettably it's late in the afternoon, and the Maritime Museum is already closed. They certainly have an impressive building.

From Bayfield WI - Gateway to the Apostle Islands

From Bayfield WI - Gateway to the Apostle Islands

From Bayfield WI - Gateway to the Apostle Islands

The one thing we consistently notice in colder climates is how nice the gardens are. Everyone, it seems, takes advantage of the warmer weather to include a garden. As a special bonus, this one even has a garden fairy!

From Bayfield WI - Gateway to the Apostle Islands

From Bayfield WI - Gateway to the Apostle Islands

From Bayfield WI - Gateway to the Apostle Islands

Hey, we even find a fish boil. We participated in one of these when we were in Door County a few years back. All I can say is, everything tastes better drenched in butter.

From Bayfield WI - Gateway to the Apostle Islands

From Bayfield WI - Gateway to the Apostle Islands

Finally, a look at the National Park Service Headquarters with a view of a typical street and house in Bayview. Very nice!

From Bayfield WI - Gateway to the Apostle Islands

From Bayfield WI - Gateway to the Apostle Islands

From Bayfield WI - Gateway to the Apostle Islands