I did it! Cross it off the list! I went with 4 girlfriends and their girlfriends to the Apostle Islands! It was a wonderful, exhausting, exhilarating, lovely (as Angel would say) achievement! I can't wait to share it with my husband and our kids.
Sheila picked me up and we went to Ana's to pick her and 3 friends up for the trip. We stopped to eat in Superior at a Chinese restaurant and then drove to Bayfield, WI. We walked the pier and enjoyed a little Bayfield nightlife. Michelle, Amy and Charity joined us there. We slept in a studio apartment above a restaurant in Bayfield after a climb up the fire escape.
We were up early and had breakfast at Greunke's restaurant downstairs. Angel prepped us for the day ahead with some oga stretches right at our table. We headed to Living Adventure, three miles down the road. We met our guides, Alex and Sean. Alex is from Mexico and speaks with a thick Mexican accent, which made me listen more closely. Sean is an intern with Living Adventure and is learning from a great teacher. They helped us find the right equipment and Alex taught us all about the islands we'd visit on our trip and some safety guidelines and tips for making the trip the best it could be.
We had lunch on shore and then headed out for our beginning paddle. We enjoyed a snack on a sandy beach. It was really windy and the lake was choppy when we headed across the channel to Oak Island. Our guides were very encouraging and helpful along the 6 mile trek on Day 1.
After a treacherous paddle across the channel (Michelle was in the single kayak and learned quickly! The waves were wild and Alex kept yelling, "Keep paddling! Keep paddling!!") we landed on Oak Island. We set up camp while Alex made a fire and made dinner. We enjoyed some time around the fire and a hike before dinner. We had a great meal of Lake Superior Whitefish, rice, bread with Brie Cheese and a great (yet burned) mixed berry pie that is Alex's speciality. Some of us enjoyed a little Root 100 (that's 100 proof root beer schnapps), even though it hurt to just lift to our lips. We went to bed early, exhausted and looking forward to a new day.
We were up with the sun - well, we were up even though the sun wasn't shining. I had an early morning think-time on the lake. It was cloudy and about 50 degrees at 6 a.m. Angel led us through some comforting yoga postures that helped to stretch my aching muscles. Now I can say, "I did yoga on Oak Island!" Alex made coffee, which I gleefully drank, scrambled eggs and black beans for breakfast. My regular breakfast of Diet Mt. Dew and a salted nut roll from the gas station was not being served. We took down the tents, loaded the boats, and were on the water by 9, when the sun started to shine. We toured the coast of Oak Island and made it across the channel to Raspberry Island where we took a hike to and a tour of the newly restored Lighthouse.
We paddled across to the mainland and toured the shoreline back to Living Adventure. It took a very long time to paddle the 12 miles back, but it was a beautiful day and I wouldn't have traded it for anything. My soggy arms were not much help getting me out of the boat. I felt like it would have been easier if they would just tip the boat over and let me fall out. :)
It was a great trip. I would recommend Living Adventure and Alex to anyone willing to work a little for a great experience. In fact, I will send my kids and maybe even go with them sometime in the future.
View many of my pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/28659974@N07/
Sheila picked me up and we went to Ana's to pick her and 3 friends up for the trip. We stopped to eat in Superior at a Chinese restaurant and then drove to Bayfield, WI. We walked the pier and enjoyed a little Bayfield nightlife. Michelle, Amy and Charity joined us there. We slept in a studio apartment above a restaurant in Bayfield after a climb up the fire escape.
We were up early and had breakfast at Greunke's restaurant downstairs. Angel prepped us for the day ahead with some oga stretches right at our table. We headed to Living Adventure, three miles down the road. We met our guides, Alex and Sean. Alex is from Mexico and speaks with a thick Mexican accent, which made me listen more closely. Sean is an intern with Living Adventure and is learning from a great teacher. They helped us find the right equipment and Alex taught us all about the islands we'd visit on our trip and some safety guidelines and tips for making the trip the best it could be.
We had lunch on shore and then headed out for our beginning paddle. We enjoyed a snack on a sandy beach. It was really windy and the lake was choppy when we headed across the channel to Oak Island. Our guides were very encouraging and helpful along the 6 mile trek on Day 1.
After a treacherous paddle across the channel (Michelle was in the single kayak and learned quickly! The waves were wild and Alex kept yelling, "Keep paddling! Keep paddling!!") we landed on Oak Island. We set up camp while Alex made a fire and made dinner. We enjoyed some time around the fire and a hike before dinner. We had a great meal of Lake Superior Whitefish, rice, bread with Brie Cheese and a great (yet burned) mixed berry pie that is Alex's speciality. Some of us enjoyed a little Root 100 (that's 100 proof root beer schnapps), even though it hurt to just lift to our lips. We went to bed early, exhausted and looking forward to a new day.
We were up with the sun - well, we were up even though the sun wasn't shining. I had an early morning think-time on the lake. It was cloudy and about 50 degrees at 6 a.m. Angel led us through some comforting yoga postures that helped to stretch my aching muscles. Now I can say, "I did yoga on Oak Island!" Alex made coffee, which I gleefully drank, scrambled eggs and black beans for breakfast. My regular breakfast of Diet Mt. Dew and a salted nut roll from the gas station was not being served. We took down the tents, loaded the boats, and were on the water by 9, when the sun started to shine. We toured the coast of Oak Island and made it across the channel to Raspberry Island where we took a hike to and a tour of the newly restored Lighthouse.
We paddled across to the mainland and toured the shoreline back to Living Adventure. It took a very long time to paddle the 12 miles back, but it was a beautiful day and I wouldn't have traded it for anything. My soggy arms were not much help getting me out of the boat. I felt like it would have been easier if they would just tip the boat over and let me fall out. :)
It was a great trip. I would recommend Living Adventure and Alex to anyone willing to work a little for a great experience. In fact, I will send my kids and maybe even go with them sometime in the future.
View many of my pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/28659974@N07/
