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Fall Vacation in Door County, Wisconsin
Although avid world travelers, who truly enjoy God's global creations, we also take pleasure in hiding ourselves away from the adventures and pressures of intercontinental flight schedules and hotel reservations by visiting the rural tranquility of places not too often frequented by hoards of undiscriminating sightseers.
The county of our refuge is named after the strait between the Door County Peninsula and Washington Island. The dangerous passage between them, long scattered with many shipwrecks, was quite well known to the local Potawatomi American Indian tribe and early French explorers. Because of the natural hazards of the strait, it received the French appellation Porte des Morts Passage, which translates in English to "Door to the Way of Death" or simply "Death's Door."
Luckily, nowadays, one does not have to travel through the Door of Death to reach Door County. One can reach this idyllic place either by taking Interstate Highways 41/42 or Highways 43/42 or, better still, a combination of narrow-lane country roads. We are always in the habit to take the road less traveled. It takes a little longer, but the enchanting vistas provided by the Kettle Moraine more than compensate for the loss of time.
The Kettle Moraine is dotted with many varied-sized kettles caused by buried glacial ice that subsequently melted. This process left depressions ranging from small ponds to large lakes and enclosed valleys. This should suffice in explaining the geology of our home area in Wisconsin.
Leaving downtown Delafield, we quickly reach the majestic site of Holy Hill Basilica in Erin, Wisconsin. Since this photograph does not really do justice to this Christian edifice, we also offer an aerial autumn view of this blessed house of God.
Next, our country road takes us by many horse farms that are very prominent and pleasant to behold in this region of the country. The United States Army no longer maintains any cavalry units, not considering a few mounted color guards that are being maintained for ceremonial purposes only. However, America's metropolitan police departments continue to order their replacement horses from the horse farms pictured below. (Sorry, when these photographs were taken, autumn and cloudy-sky weather dominated the scenery.)
Other, general purpose farms are also prominent and in abundance in Wisconsin, as may be seen below.
As our esteemed readers will have undoubtedly noted, the preeminent color of most Wisconsin farms, especially the barn and outbuildings, is red. This is an old Swedish tradition, allowing for farm buildings to be more easily recognizable during blizzard conditions in the winter months.
As our traveling day progressed driving ever further north, the sun eventually made one of its several short-duration appearances, allowing us to enjoy the fall foliage of the Door Peninsula forests.
Eventually, the Door County Tourist Information Office comes into sight. We have finally arrived! Heide and I are always amazed about the efficient duty discharge of its totally customer-oriented and dedicated staff. Often we wonder how, despite all the administrative work going on in this spacious building, the employees still find time to operate what seems to be a highly benevolent, free-of-charge bicycle rental service.
At last, we are parked at one of our favorite restaurants in Rawley's Bay, Door County.
"Grandma's" Restaurant at the Wagon Trail Resort is finally ready to accommodate us. Our valued readers are invited to inspect the immensely clean premises of this ethnic eatery that was established two generations ago by hardworking Swedish immigrants.
Finally, we are being served. The dinner buffet has never disappointed us in this particular establishment.
To track back into early American history for a little while, for historians like Heide and me, it is our duty to mention that American Indian peoples have inhabited the Door Peninsula for about 11,000 years. Artifacts from an ancient village site at Nicolet Bay Beach have been dated to about 400 BC. This site was occupied by various Native cultures until about 1300 AD.
The Door Peninsula eventually was settled by Norwegian, Danish, but most of all Swedish immigrants during follow-on times. The founder family of the Wagon Trail Resort is exceedingly proud of its Swedish ancestry and cultural association, as manifested by the two photographs provided below. Similar sentiments hold true for other permanent Door County residents with Scandinavian roots.
Our next vacation day was rained out. Still, this is no reason not to have a good time while venturing out to reconnoiter the countryside. The advantages enjoyed in such weather basically amount to drastically reduced traffic on roads and highways and unoccupied parking spaces wherever one goes.
During the summertime, fishing and small-harbor activities are in abundance in Door County, as witnessed by the boat crew, consisting of Captain Paul and sleeping First Mate Terry, pictured below.
Now, during autumn, weather conditions on our favorite peninsula are constantly changing, with rain providing the principal meteorological element.
With a little bit of patience, the sun will not remain hidden for the entire day and a host of activities beckons to be attended to.
Being a military-maritime oriented family, it fills our hearts with proud satisfaction that the people of Door County have not forgotten their most prominent local heroes.
Monument dedicated to First Lieutenant E. Eugene Helgeson, Jr., who gave his life with valor during the Vietnam War on 6 March 1968. His decorations include the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal and Purple Heart.
Retired U.S. Army Major Paul next to the Helgeson monument, which is shaped in the form of a small light tower.
An unexpected, unpretentious art gallery partially surrounded by the waters of Lake Michigan invites potential buyers.
Everywhere in Door County one observes artistic flower arrangements and landscaping. The county is dotted with quaint and picturesque dwellings of yesteryear, testifying to the hardiness of its early Scandinavian and northern European settlers.
The inhabitants of Door County are, by and large, God-fearing, church-going people.
Fruit stands and produce shops are also in great abundance in Door County. The following two photographs will hopefully do this phenomenon justice.
It is sheer amazing, just how many treasures have accumulated at the various antique malls and stores on this relatively small peninsula over time. Naturally, American antiques do not reach as far back in time as European antiques do. Nevertheless, those with the inclination and the necessary funds could purchase nearly everything for their houses to give them the aura of a very historic home, going back at least to the American Revolutionary War. The following photographs show some of those treasure troves mentioned above.
Next to Grandma's Restaurant and Bakery at the Wagon Trail Resort, there are, of course, also other prominent restaurants featuring outstanding cuisine. The next two photographs portray an upscale restaurant featuring English fare, we, in the interest of our budget, did not sample. We were, however, very enchanted by its exterior appearance and exquisite landscaping.
An idyllic restaurant that is not too heavy a burden on one's purse strings is "Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant" in the community of Sister Bay.
Al's unique restaurant is a favorite for parents with children, because the little ones just stand in awe of the domestic goat feeding arrangement put in place by the Johnson family. Some adults also find it difficult to believe that goats can sustain their life on top of a restaurant's roof. However, for those of us who have seen wild goats in the Alps and the Andes, a goat habitat like the one pictured below does not represent to shabby a lifestyle for our horned friends.
The Swedish restaurant operated by the Johnson family offers excellent food, non-alcoholic wholesome drinks, delicious desserts and an adjacent shop features Scandinavian fashions and accessories. The latter are a favorite with the ladies. They just feel incomplete to walk out of Johnson's without a Swedish sweater, a Norwegian hat and Danish shoes. I, Paul, particularly enjoy the warm embrace from one of their beauty queen waitresses, who just know how to make a hungry traveler feel welcome.
The next day, we embarked upon exploring the remainder of the enchanting Door County peninsula, while enjoying the solitude, rest and recreation that the absence of too many people and too much noise guarantees.
On our return trip from Door County, we cannot help but feel our heavy hearts as we are compelled to say good bye to this lovely part of God's universal and oh so beautiful creation.
On 22 February 2010 we learned of the impending hospitalization of our most dear and greatly appreciated friend Valery for 1 March 2010. Knowing just how precarious Valery's general health situation is, we immediately became deeply concerned about his overall well-being. Brainstorming just how we could prevail upon our Lord God to hold His protective hands over him, Heide and I resolved to make a pilgrimage to the Shrine dedicated to St. Mary, Mother of Jesus, at Holy Hill's Basilica National Shrine to pray for his speedy and uncomplicated recovery.
On 10 March 2010, we were informed of Valery's safe return from the hospital. He feels much improved and is on his road to recovery. He is presently convalescing at his comfortable home, surrounded by his caring and loving family.
All rights reserved • Copyright © 2006-2011 by Commodore Prof. Dr. Paul Margrave Gulgowski-Doliwa • |
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