Back in June we worked one week with Constructors for Christ to start the build of a new distribution center for God’s Appalachian Project (GAP). To read about our week there click here. During the next 4 weeks other mission volunteers with Constructors for Christ continued to work on the building. We started with a concrete slab and at the end of the five-week project the building looked like this:
In the five weeks that Constructors for Christ worked on the building 318 mission volunteers from 71 churches and 10 states answered the call to be the hands and feet of Christ in the Appalachian community. This is the real church.
As always, we receive more blessings from these projects than the recipients of our efforts.
On Saturday, August 17, we said goodbye to Antigo, WI and began making our way south. We drove through Green Bay and found our way to Door County. A number of years ago Anne’s mother told us we needed to visit Door County and since then several friends have recommended a visit. Door County is a small peninsula on the east coast of Wisconsin. Some people call it the “Wisconsin Thumb”. To the west of the Thumb are the waters of Green Bay and to the east is Lake Michigan. The Thumb is 75 miles long. There are many restaurants of all types, a lot of busy, touristy, communities, and also some very beautiful and tranquil areas. Our first stop was at Bailey’s Harbor Range Light. “What is a range light?” we asked. It consists of two lights aligned one above the other as ships approach the harbor. Ships that keep the lights vertically aligned or “on range” safely pass the rocky shoals as they enter the harbor. There were also two docents at the lighthouses where the two lights are located. The main house has been very nicely restored. The docents were great. They were volunteers and get to stay in the lighthouse while they are working as docents.
The front range light is several feet shorter so the rear light can be seen over it. When we first stopped, we thought it was just a model of a lighthouse, but after our visit decided these range lights were some of the most interesting we have seen.
The docents live in the rear range light
Looking from the rear range light over the front light into the lake.
When the lighthouse was restored more to its historical condition, these old newspapers were found under the carpet.
We were blessed to make contact with some friends from Wisconsin who happened to be staying at one of the local RV parks for two weeks, and we met them for an early pizza dinner. It was in Sister Bay which is a beautiful village on the west shores of the Thumb. We were so excited to see our friends that we forgot to take any pictures. (Oops).
We were treated to fireworks while boondocking in Sister Bay.
Sunday morning we drove on out to the tip of the Thumb where there is a ferry to take you to Washington Island. We didn’t visit the island, but we understand it would be worthwhile for another time. We did drive the iconic “Curvy Road” Highway 42 between Timberline Road and Ports des Morts Drive. This road is known for its 15 serpentine curves as it nears the ferry dock. This road leads right to the Washington Island Ferry and then leads to what is known as “Death’s Door”, which is a section of water between Door County and Washington Island where there have been over 275 shipwrecks. (Maybe a reason to not go to Washington Island.)
The Curvy Road
On our way south from The Curvy Road, we made a quick stop at the Cana Island Lighthouse.
We could walk across the causeway to the lighthouse, but on some days it is covered by water and the visitors ride across in a farm wagon.
Next stop was at Cave Point County Park in Sturgeon Bay. This was a popular local park with free admission. This park is known for its Dolomite/limestone ledges, underwater caves and great view of Lake Michigan. At times water sprays from blowholes 15-30 feet.
Cave Point County Park shoreline
The “beach” at Cave Point
There were quite a few locals at Cave Point County Park. It seems to be the local swimming hole.
We made one last, quick stop in Algoma on our way back south. We went there to walk the breakwater to the light house, but ended up just walking around the quaint village streets.
It didn’t take us long to figure out we weren’t going to walk this breakwater.
An interesting looking building in Algoma
We seem to always find beautiful churches
Once we left Door County, we drove south to Bloomington, IL for the night. From there on Monday we drove to Pawnee, IL to visit with friends at Midwest Mission. It was great to visit with friends there. On Tuesday we made one last stop to visit more of our Bible Study/Switch Crew friends in Roodhouse, IL. So great to see them! From there is was a drive south back to Camp Sumatanga in Alabama.
Some of the flags at Midwest Mission showing counties they have served
Moochdocking at our friends’ house
On our way back into the state on I-65, we stopped at the new Alabama Welcome Center.
We visited with friends, shared meals with friends, and went to church Sunday at our home church, which is always such a blessing. Sunday afternoon we returned to Debra and Randy’s home in South Carolina. We don’t know exactly how long we will stay here but it will be family time and we will probably post no more than once a week (if that). Thanks for traveling with us.
Since leaving the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, we drove to Wisconsin and turned southwest landing in Antigo late Tuesday afternoon. In May of 2023 we were last here in Antigo. It was our second time to work a project with “A Year To Volunteer” at the Raptor Education Group, Inc. REGI is a nonprofit organization that rehabilitates injured birds and educates the public about birds in general. They specialize in raptors. We met with Marge, the Director of REGI, Wednesday. It was so good to see her and the staff again. We had a great time catching up with each other. Today we returned to REGI to sit in with one of the tour groups visiting the center. This tour was hosted by Samantha, the Director of Education. She does such a great job with the tours and all the birds. While most of the birds they take in are rehabilitated and released, the birds used during the tours are non-releasable for various reasons so they become ambassador birds for REGI. They live a very comfortable life and are very well cared for. One of the owls we saw today we saw last year, shortly after he was rescued. He had grown so much! Those of you who have read the blog for very long know how much we love owls. Well, owls and eagles and hummingbirds, etc. We just really enjoy birds. Today’s favorite owl was the Northern Saw-whet Owl. Too Cute! Saw-whet Owls are some of the smallest owl species in North America. They can be found in dense thickets, often at eye level although they can also be found some 20 ft up in trees.
Marge speaking to the tour group
Northern Saw-whet Owl
The great horned owl we saw last year
Eagles in an enclosure we worked on last year. REGI takes in about 100 eagles a year along with many other birds.
It was great to see Marge and her staff again.
We are probably going to take another rain day tomorrow to just catch up on things and then move again Saturday. Hope you are all having a great week.
We were up bright and early again today to return to the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. We were the third car at the trail head. The parking lot was almost full when we left. Today our focus was on the Presque Isle East and West River Trails. These trails follow the Presque Isle River, the largest river in the park and three of the biggest waterfalls in the park. The hike includes sections of boardwalk and stairs, wooded trail, and a suspension bridge. Usually, the two trails make a 2.4 mile loop but currently one section of the west trail is closed to hiking due to erosion. This means that the hike as we hiked it today was almost 4 miles. All-Trails classifies it as an easy hike even though there were a lot of stairs on the boardwalks – mostly on the West trail. There were also many roots to navigate especially on the east trail along with elevations changes. The waterfalls were very nice. We enjoyed the east trail as it was very quiet and peaceful with fewer hikers. We were also able to follow the river to the juncture with Lake Superior which was really nice on this beautiful day.
Might be the last time we use our Michigan Non-resident Annual Recreation Passport. But we got our money’s worth.
If you remember, we were in another Presque Isle a few days ago. A ranger explained that there are several because Presque Isle in French means “almost an island.”
The West River Trail boardwalk has a lot of boardwalks.
The East River Trail was a little more rustic.
The largest of the falls we saw on the hike.
We waited for a family to get out of the way to get a good picture of these falls.
These falls are best viewed from the east side of the river.
Interesting erosion in the river bed
The trails are in an old growth hemlock forest. Some of the trees are over 400 years old. This is a hemlock cone.
One more brief stop on a Lake Superior beach
Interesting driftwood on the beach
Apparently mountain trails have plenty of stairs.
It’s nice to come back to the van and have everything you need to rest and fix a meal.
When we were planning our route today, we had an icon pop up for Interstate Falls. On a whim we decided to find it. The parking lot is in Wisconsin but the state line between Wisconsin and Michigan goes through the the falls. It was a short 1/3 mile hike. While viewing the falls we met a nice couple from Wisconsin. We had a nice conversation with them. They gave us some suggestions on other things to do in Wisconsin. They have done Habitat projects in the past but now work in the Habitat ReStore. They were very interested in BB and requested a tour. After their “tour” we had lunch before leaving the parking lot.
The Porcupine Mountains area is ski country
Interstate Falls
This picture of Interstate Falls in the winter is posted at the trailhead.
We even took time to find a couple of geocaches today along the trail.
As we pulled onto the road, Max looked across the way and saw another white Beyond in the veterinary parking lot. We pulled across the road and parked right beside the other Beyond. As it turns out, we were all at the Ocala show in March. We spent the next hour talking all things Beyond. They just got their rig in December and wanted to see all the mod’s we have make to BB and asked lots of questions. We of course exchanged contact information and they generously invited us to their home. We already had commitments in Wisconsin but we may visit them another time.
Another chance meeting with a Beyond family
We had a wonderful time visiting the Michigan UP. We are a little sad that time is over. We have some new places to explore but just might plan another summer trip to the UP.
RVing With a Purpose 