Aug 28-29, Racine, WI

We left our dock at the Discovery Center in Milwaukee with calm winds, overcast skies and patchy fog and motored 20 miles south to Racine, Wisconsin. The water temperature in Lake Michigan is a warmer 55 degrees as we come down the coast. Air temperature is 62.

Milwaukee skyline as we leave the Discovery Center

Freeway bridge over the Milwaukee River

Lighthouse marks the entrance to the Milwaukee Harbor.
Large freighter in the distance on the way into Milwaukee.

Windy Point Lighthouse

Breakwater at Racine

We are docked in Racine at the large Reefpoint Marina (over 900 slips) and were welcomed to the dock by 'the trawler welcoming committee' and some people we met in Pt Washington. This is a friendly place. Yesterday's weather here consisted of waves of heavy rain all day and I think the people are just happy to be 'out and about' even in the drizzle today.

Reefpoint Marina

Not many vacant spaces

Most slips are leased for the whole season.
Many slips are personalized. This one 'Redneck Yacht Club'.

We found the local trolly (25 cents) and rode the entire route to see what's here. Very pleasant small town dominated by the boat slips and recreational boating. There are quite a few four story condominium projects along the marina that look relatively unoccupied.

Downtown Racine

Episcopal Church

Windy today and temperature in the low 60's. Where is summer? We walked the town and found lots of shop and a few storefront vacancies. Not as many vacancies as some of the other towns along this side of Lake Michigan.

There is an arts program sponsored by racinedowntown.com that involves painting or otherwise decorating Adirondack chairs. Each chair has an artist who finds a sponsor or a sponsor who finds an artist. The chairs are displayed in the downtown business district and/or in front of sponsoring business for the summer. The chairs are then auctioned off in the fall with the proceeds to a support next years effort and to a worthy cause.

This is the oversize one

Past subjects that were painted and decorated (artists can modify the shape, too) have included large garden globes (30"), dogs, cats, fish, birdbaths and lighthouses. We enjoyed looking at the various efforts and thought some were very good. They always do one 'oversized' which they display in the town square. Good project to showcase the local artists.