Thursday July 11 - Friday July 12 Days 40-41 Bayfield, WI 16 miles / 864 total

Another gorgeous, sunny day with light winds.  Day Dreams joined us for late brunch on the back deck, then it was time to move.  Garry needed reliable phone and wifi service for a couple of Friday calls, so we loaded up the dinghy and headed out.

Overnight it had been so calm that we had
turned every direction causing the "trip line" (a short line attached to the anchor to mark it and to assist in raising it if caught on rocks or debris on the bottom) to wind around the anchor line.  With assistance from Doug and Jan in their dinghy, we got it un-wound and were on our way by 1 p.m.  It was a short, smooth, beautiful ride over to Pike's Bay Marina about 2 miles south of "downtown" Bayfield.  It is the newest marina in the area and it showed.


Where's Waterford??

As you can see, sailboats prevail!

After stopping at the fuel dock for a pump out, we pulled into our assigned slip ------- right next to a Beneteau 42s7  just like our great friends', Skip and Linda's original "French Kiss"!  Although this one had a black dodger, you couldn't mistake the beautiful lines.




We'll come back to this later.................


There is a great clubhouse with lounges, excellent shower facilities, kitchen and laundry --- just a bit of a hike up the hill from the docks.  With some great tips from the marina staff, we got the bikes down and took off on the 2 1/2 mile bike/walking path to downtown Bayfield. 



City docks and ferry dock from the bike path.

We pedaled along the shoreline past several beautiful homes tucked into the hillside with a view like the one above.  Once in town, we scouted out the hardware store, several interesting shops and the waterfront.  It was nearly 6 p.m. by then and time to locate a restaurant.  We decided on Maggies --- a local favorite with a "pink flamingo" décor and Mt. Gay rum!  It's claim to fame is the whitefish livers (just can't do it) and their fresh fish, of course.  We opted for sautéed whitefish sandwiches, yumm!

Friday, July 12
While Garry took care of business, I did some laundry and other chores (I'm building great calf muscles going up and down that hill).  We're on a great dock with a fun group of sailors who've given us lots of tips about the area.  We may see them on the north shore later in the trip -- what fun!

Now about that 42s7 docked next to us .................  The captain, Kelly, arrived this morning and when Garry got to talking to him, we found that this IS the original French Kiss!  We've traveled nearly 900 miles to once again be docked side by side.  So many happy memories.  Garry and I learned the joys of sailing under the patient tutelage of Skip and Linda.  The result was 12 happy years on our 45 Jeanneau, Waterford, and now the trawler, Waterford II.  Thanks, you two, for introducing us to the "big water".





       Side by side again!   









Day Dreams arrived around 10 from their second night at anchor in Julian Bay.  Once settled, they took the bike path into town, where we joined them when Garry finished his last conference call.  First stop, the hardware store, of course.  We checked out the Maritime Museum, did a little shopping and then had "refreshments" on the deck of the Bayfield Inn overlooking the harbor.

After showers, we took a "docktail" tour checking out all the boats, followed by dinner at the marina restaurant.  Fresh local strawberries (they're about 3 weeks behind schedule up here), great scallops, and barbecue ribs?  We've certainly enjoyed out time at this great facility.