[This was Day 2.  The Biddies had been up here a couple of years ago and took the ferry to Madeline Island.  I have been to all 50 states (I think I have the supervisor there), 17 countries (she has me by a few here), and a hog callin’ contest (OK, that’s a lie), but Madeline Island will have to remain on my Bucket List.]

[My first task upon awakening at Lucy’s Place was to shoot all her quilts.  This is just a small sampling for all you quilters out there.]

[We hied down to the waterfront to catch our tour boat.  The Lucy’s owners suggested we walk as parking can be difficult the closer you get to the water.    ]

[The super wanted to get there 45 minutes prior to boarding to get the rooftop seats.  We weren’t quite that early – there was a line – but we were good for topside.  Chatted with a couple originally from Milwaukee but who have lived in Seattle for 13 years.  They were back “home” basically doing their Bucket List thing.]

[We’re pulling out with a view of Bayfield from the rooftop.]

[A sister boat was heading out with a slight head start.]

[To the untrained eye, a sail boat.  Well, and to the trained eye as well.  “Sailing” the Apostles is quite the popular thing to do.]

[DYK, that the surface temp of Superior around the Apostles is 61 degrees, so riding topside, open air, at 20 mph, bring a sweatshirt or jacket. DYK, Superior surface temp in the middle of the lake is 41 degrees. DYK, the lowest point in the United States is in Superior. DYK, the water from Superior would cover the entire Americas to a depth of one-foot.]

[Bayfield recedes as we begin our 3-hour (oh, oh – Gilligan’s Island?), 15-minute (whew!), 55-mile cruise.]

[Not too chilly yet – most still in shortsleeves.]

[This is early on so I’m guessing that’s the east side of Basswood Island.  The captain gave a regular commentary during the cruise (not constant or annoying) about the history of the islands.  I found it quite interesting though now, of course, I remember very little.  Check your “National Geographics”!]

[Some boats and an island.  Common themes on the tour.]

[Other than Madeline, only a couple of the other islands are inhabited – by human beings, that is.  There are bears out here and they do swim between the islands.]

[A straight shot north – refer to map at the top of this page.]

[An island shoreline . . . since I was sitting on the port side (I pick up on them nautical terms fast!), this is likely Oak or Otter.]

[If you look center middle, you can see this island was once quarried.]

[Wonderful sandstone shorelines.]

[And a beautiful day to see them.]

[There was a natural bridge across here that collapsed just a few years ago.]

[An old fish camp, sailboats, and signs of other habitation.]

[Aha, have caught up with our sister boat.]

[We’re now at Devils Island, the most northern of them all.  Thus, it has a lighthouse – and it still works, though like others on the islands mostly for show as all navigation now is done by GPS, radar, sonar, and all that techy stuff.]

[Our sister boat is cruising back to us, as we would do.  The captain makes passes in both directions for photo ops for everyone – as he said, he doesn’t want all passengers scurrying to one side of the boat for such or we’d spin over like a top!]

[The sandstone on Devils Island is softer than on the others . . . ]

[Thus, you see much more “caving” here caused by battering from the waves.]

[Hey everybody!  You’ll notice that jackets and sweatshirts are on now.]

[If you weren’t quite sure, this is a lighthouse.  🙂  ]

[Caving]

[A cormorant has a perfect lookout position.]

[Now we’ve reversed direction and our sister boat is coming back at us again.]

[Did I mention these are not the famous “ice caves” of last winter’s lore.  They are on the mainland, though you have to walk out on the ice covered lake to get to them.]

[Sailboats really do capture the photographers’ eye.]

[An ore ship, a/k/a, a “thousand-footer.”  They are now all in the 1,000-foot+teen size range.]

[Well, hi there sailor!]

[Open water]

[Yup, another sailboat.]

[I believe that is Minnesota in the far distance.]

[Kayakers intrude on the sailboat photo op.  Sea kayaking is also quite popular on Lake Superior.]

[Heading into the homestretch . . . ]

[As I recall, this lighthouse complex is on Raspberry Island.]

[Two ducks and a buoy walk into a bar . . . ]

[Even more sailboats!]

[Sailboats galore . . . now I know we’re almost “home.”]

[Leaving the islands, and the sailboats, in our wake.]

[“Selfie!”  I’m nothing if not a trend follower.]

[So long, Lucy’s Place.]

[Welcome to the UP!]

[We found the eastern third of the UP to be quite barren.]

[One of the few signs of activity.]

[We’ve arrived at our next overnight residence in Marquette – looking out our window you know exactly where we are!  Tomorrow we’re off to Mackinac!]

Oh, and before we left home . . .

[The various lodges at Theatre L’Homme Dieu (I’d forgotten they were named after area lakes?) . . . and two complete and total strangers on Grandma’s counch.]