Washington Island was the main event for Day 4 of the tour. We opted to shuttle to and from the ferry to get the most time on the island and because we’re not in the high mileage club. Our membership is in the clean plate club 🙂
We got the story on why this is called Door County. The passage that we are crossing between the mainland and Washington Island was used as a shortcut for ships to avoid going all the way around the island – until they built a canal farther down the peninsula which cut off even more sailing. The whole peninsula is part of the Niagara Escarpment, so there are steep ledges alomg much of the shoreline, and outcroppings from them just below the surface. When srong winds came up, many ships were driven into the outcroppings and were sunk. The French named the passage Portes des Morts (Death’s Door). Hence the name – Door County.
We spent about 1 1/2 hours riding to the lunch spot at the other end of the island stopping to enjoy the scenery in a couple of spots
It was riding at it’s best. Quiet roads, rolling hills that really rolled, lake views and breezes. Doesn’t get much better than that! Lunch was at a lovely spot with a stone beach. After we ate (easy to be in the clean plate club when you’re cycling), we took a route spur out to Little Lake and made a new, not so little, aquatic friend
Ann had insisted that everyone visit an old Norwegian church and although it meant a bit of a climb in the ever blazing sun it was well worth it! We dubbed it House Dave.
We had to catch the 3PM ferry to get our shuttle back so we booked it down to the ferry dock. The breeze off the water on the ferry ride back to the mainland was very much welcomed.
There were only 3 of us in the shuttle and Ann offered up the scenic route as well as a stop at this Swedish restaurant that actually has goats eating grass on their roofs! We had caught a glimpse of the goats on the morning shuttle but apparently they had retired for the day. Probably too hot up there.
The day ended with a beautiful sunset right at the end of our street.
