Travels with KOKOMO II: Aug 10-11, Sister Bay, WI

We moved 5 miles north this morning to the Village of Sister Bay. We made contact with Jack Mainers, a friend of Margaret, who lives here in Ephraim in the summer and in Boca in the winter. Jack and his son John and daughter in law Alice joined us for our trip from Ephraim to Sister Bay. Jack told us some stories of the early days here as he and his family have been in Ephraim since the 1940's. John Mainer, Jr and Alice live in Ft Lauderdale and we have many friends in common. Andy Carroll, Chuck Schmidt. Small world. It was a beautiful morning for a cruise.

We see a parasail boat operating just offshore Ephraim
as we get underway.

Sister Bay Marina

We checked into the Sister Bay Marina and then decided to go to Washington Island (about 15 miles) for lunch. We cruised past the very small villages of Elliston Bay and Gills Rock on the Door County peninsula and then crossed 'Death's Door' to reach Detroit Harbor on Washington Island. 'Death's Door' is a notorious stretch of water between the peninsula and Washington Island made hazardous by high wind, fog and fast running current that gives 'Door County' it's name. This area was formerly known officially as 'Deaths Door County'. Our weather was clear with almost no wind and we did not notice any current. Washington Island seems pretty and rural. We returned to the Village of Sister Bay in mid afternoon. Water temperature is a warm 75 degrees as we head back toward Sister Bay.

Kap's Marina on Washington Island.

The ferry from Northport docks on Washington Island.

Death's Door Bluff.

Driftwood made into something by some beachcomber.

Sister Bay was settled by Swedes and Norwegians (the topography and climate reminded them of home) and there is still some Scandinavian influence here.

Main street in Sister Bay.

We explore the town and find Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant which has a real grass roof and real goats that eat the grass on the roof throughout the summer. We have never seen anything like it.

Al Johnsons Swedish Restaurant has grass on the roof.

Goats! They keep the grass trimed all summer.

We went around back and found the stairway used by the goats
to access the roof. The goats are on the roof 9 to 5 every day.
This billy goat has his nose in the cooking exhaust.
Must smell delicious.

Linda and Cookie in front of the 'Cookie Lady'.

Otherwise, the town is quiet with a few shops and restaurants. There is a grocery and bookstore but they are more than a mile from the marina. We love having a car.

We visit the Mainer's at "Cliffhouse" their home in Ephraim which is located at the end of a secluded lane perched 200 feet above Green Bay with a view to the west. They can watch the sunsets and see the storms come in from the Northwest (which they usually do). We even chat with Margaret's friend Jan Jessup who has just returned home to Florida from Costa Rica. Cliffhouse is a great spot!

Sister Bay Marina breakwater serves as a prominade and is a great spot to watch the sunset.

We are enjoying the marina and other boaters here in Sister Bay. There are good facilities here including a good breakwater, docks and showers, barbeque's and picnic tables on the breakwater and the location is very close to town.