Camping On Madeline Island! (2015)

We took two family camping trips last year.  Our first was part of a family reunion in July.  Initially I thought that would be enough, but we had so much fun we planned another for just the six of us over Labor Day weekend.

We've always enjoyed Madeline Island, so that is where we headed.  A late start and a detour landed us in Duluth the first night.  No one seemed to mind an unexpected night in a hotel.  We managed to get a suit, which was a handy way to make room for everyone and use some of the food we'd packed using the kitchenette.  Charles had been reading of The Adventures of Cugel by Jack Vance to the kids on the way up.  (For anyone familiar with the book, rest assured, he edited it on the fly and made sure everything was PG).  They loved the zany adventures and impossible vocabulary of this 1950s sci-fi classic.  After a little time in the pool the next morning, we were off.

We got to Bayfield had lunch at Greunke's and boarded the ferry for Madeline Island.

On the Ferry

Despite adding in an extra day for driving, somehow we still managed to be setting up our tent in headlights.  Not my favorite part of camping. Theoretically avoidable, but we still run into it every couple years.  This time, I blamed the dying light of September.  Sundown is much earlier than in July, and I'd forgotten to take that into account.  We even had a lantern-lit dinner that first night.  

The next day the kids got to check out an arial tent one of our neighbors was putting up.  

 

 

We spent some quality time on at the State Park beach and headed into town for dinner.  Our table was dockside, allowing for a little wading while waiting. 



The kids are all sporting souvenirs of a practical nature--flip flops, sun dress, straw hat, skirt (somehow half the group thought we were only going to the beach and neglected to wear a complete, restaurant worthy outfit.  The other half talked me into souvenirs on grounds of fairness).



Canoeing through the Town Park Lagoon struck me as a beginning version of the Apostle Islands themselves, complete with miniature achipelagos.  It was perfect for our family.   Each canoe got a big kid, a parent, and a little kid as duffer.

 

                                                                                                                                                  From there we went swimming at the Town Park beach.  Or maybe I should say we went sandcastle building--that was the favorite activity, as you can see.  Charlotte found and interesting array of rocks, which she spread out on the brim of her hat back at the camp site.  I was reminded of Rhoda's Rocks by Molly Beth Griffin.

Solomon loved the cold of Lake Superior like no one else.  I love this photo of him, all alone in the lake.  The truth is there are tons of people on the beach and in the shallower water--no one else thought it was warm enough for swimming that day but him.  

A whimsical cabin on the road to town

I got in one lone bike ride before it was time to head back home--an exploratory one to see if the trip to the north end of the island was a worthwhile for the whole family--it was not, but the solitary ride was worthwhile for me.  I was hoping we might be able to see the other islands to the north. Maybe next time we are in the Apostle Islands we will find a way to get to the rest of the archipelago--maybe kayak or sailboat.  From there it was time to pack up, stop for ice cream get back on the ferry. The very next day was the start of school.  The very next weekend Charles and I had a wedding to attend in LA.  Taken together, this ten day stretch was a whirlwind for sure, but worth it.


 

  

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