We are experiencing outstanding late summer weather here in WI. Crossed Lake Michigan with an easterly wind and it has sustained itself over the past several days. Consequently, the wind flow has kept anything from approaching this region as temps have gradually risen to the upper 70’s / low 80’s. After finishing our second cup of coffee this AM we headed through the canal, under two bascule bridges and into the bay of Green Bay, a fairly large body of water bounded by Door County to the east and the mainland of WI to the west. The trip was short, about 20 miles, and we cruised at about 10 mph. I don’t think the fuel gauge budged at all! Egg Harbor is tucked into the western shore of Door County with an expansive view of the bay of Green Bay. We’re temporarily docked on a t-head waiting for two day-tripper boats to leave our dockage spot near the fuel dock. I don’t prefer docking by the fuel dock but it will cut significantly our walk to the mainland.

We plan on touring the town tomorrow and want to attend the Ale Festival on Saturday. Sunday we move on - to where we haven’t determined yet. It appears our return weather window may be closing on Tuesday as a cold front moves in. I’ll keep an eye on the forecasts but if it holds true we’ll need to focus on getting back across the lake before we get into any extended bad weather pattern. We’ve been invited to dinner at the Mackinac Island Yacht Club on the 21st so that date also influences our travel plans.

On our way out of the town of Sturgeon Bay we passed the shipyards where large great lakes and ocean going freighters and tows are manufactured and refitted. It’s a massive industry and locals say the ship building companies have scheduled work through 2020. Ships are fabricated, manufactured and assembled on site. Components are delivered to “dry locks” where they are welded together. Once the assemblage is complete, pumps that have been used to keep the lock chamber “dry” are shut down and water gradually seeps through the lock gates, flooding the chamber which allows the hulls to be tested for water tightness. When everything gets the okay, the lock gates are opened and the new ship floats out into the river / canal. I’ll attach some photos showing work in process.