Journal entries are just that – the digital copy of my hand-written entries in my journal. If you aren’t interested in the daily details of our adventure, feel free to skip on to the next “regular” post.
Today’s the day we’re celebrating our 7th anniversary! It’s officially tomorrow, but we’re going to explore the sea caves by kayak to celebrate and it’s an 80% chance of thunderstorms tomorrow.
Ashley fixes breakfast while I prepare to unload the motorcycle and gather some snacks for the trip. We load up, check our directions one last time and head over to Cornucopia, WI.
It’s a bit chilly riding in hiking pants, and they’re too loose legged and thin of a material so they really flap in the wind and ride up my legs. Jeans are better, for sure!
We arrive about 45 minutes early, so after we sign away our lives in the waivers and get wetsuits on we head next door to a local everything store (hardware, groceries, bakery, decorations) and get a rhubarb muffin as a snack.
Walk back over to the outfitter, eat our muffin, and the rest of our party has arrived and is wet-suiting up. All of us gather, along with Tessa, our guide, and introduce ourselves. Then it’s time to load into the van.
The put-in is a couple miles down the road, where we unload everything and receive intructions on how to safely operate our tandem kayaks. The water is super smooth – the only disturbances being wakes from far-off boats. We can see all the way across the lake, over to Minnesota.
We strike out, aiming for the cliffs that start at the point. I’m sure we only scratched the surface during our half-day visit. We paddled into “the Crack”,
the “Garage”
and through a very low “Washing Machine” a cave that opens to the lake from the “Garage”, but is so low that you lie down and propel yourself by pushing off the ceiling with your hands!
There was the “Keyhole” and more.
All too soon we have to head back. Going back is straight across open water and in the sun the whole way. The sun wears us out more than the paddling!
We return and load everything back on the trailer. So glad I brought snacks and water – ate all my snacks during the trip (it was lunch time) and almost all of the water in my camelbak.
When we go back to the Bayfield, WI area, definitely go back to Lost Creek Outfitters and see if Tessa has any excursions open. They also teach wilderness/survival skills – how awesome would that be?
Back on the motorcycle, we head to Bayfield and park so we can explore this quaint town on foot. It’s a beautiful little downtown area and we thoroughly enjoy ourselves. We enjoy finding Fazer Chocolate, salted licorice, and Moomin books in the Scandinavian Design store – good memories from Finland for both of us! We stop at the coffee roasters/shop for a shared latte. Delicious!
Everyone seems to have ice cream in their hands (what is it with these northerners and ice cream on every block?) so we search for the shop – but don’t find it until leaving on the motorbike. A wedding seems to have just wrapped up on the pier.
On the way back to Washburn and our RV we detour down a side road in search of falls and cliffs that Tessa told us about. It’s a short hike to reach them. There would be some very pretty falls if it rained.
Back at the RV I prep for tomorrow’s departure while Ashley puts together stuffed peppers and corn on the cob.
Without a water hookup it’s annoying to have to lug over 7 gallons at a time from the spigot and pour it into our fresh water tanks. It is nice to know there’s plenty more water available and that we can empty our tank as we head out, though.
I hang the hammock for a moment of leisure and try to pick up someone on the nearest radio repeater. No luck. I can never seem to catch anyone, but that may be due to only trying intermittently.
After supper Ashley hammocks while I do dishes. We pour in 2 more jugs of water to the tank then it’s shower time before bed.