Bayfield, WI and the Apostle Islands
Apostle Islands
We found a great little City Park right above Bayfield overlooking Lake Superior. The weather didn’t cooperate for the few days we were there but we did manage to take a morning tour of the Apostle Islands before the rain set in. It was a long tour, we visited nearly every one of the 21 islands which comprise the Apostle Island National Lakeshore. We enjoyed the rock formations and views of some of the lighthouses but from the lake, there was a sameness about them. We felt that they were most probably best enjoyed when accessed by sailboat or kayak.
The Town of Bayfield
Prior to written history, legends have placed the Ojibwe (Chippewa) and others, including the Huron, Ottawa and Sioux, in this area. A turning point, after the European invasion, was that the Chequamegon Bay region was developed; in 1855, the “Soo” locks at Sault St. Marie opened, allowing for the first large ships to enter Lake Superior; and in 1883, the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Omaha Railroads finally steamed into Bayfield, carrying quarried rock and tourists.
“You’ve gotta try whitefish livers, it’s a specialty here.
We really thought locals were ‘pulling our leg’. Whitefish livers? Being the adventurer, Colin tried this dish and decided they were tastier than chicken livers! Cheryl was the eye-witness to this event. Walking off our meal, we strolled the town, and visiting homes that were in the local Garden Tour. A fun evening.
Click on any thumbnail below to see larger image gallery.
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- Sunrise at our campsite
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- Campsite overlooking Lake Superior
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- Red copper water
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- On the tour boat
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- Devil’s Island
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- Devil’s Island Lighthouse
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- Devil’s Island Lighthouse
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- On the tour boat
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- Raspberry Island Lighthouse
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- Cormorants on break
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- Town from the waterfront
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- Big sailing marina
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- Whitefish livers, a Bayfield specialty
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- He really is going to eat a whitefish liver!!!!!!!
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- Flower tour
Click on map below to see larger version
Bayfield, Wisconsin, gateway to the Apostle Islands
Well, if codfish can have livers – they must, cuz my grandma insisted on cod-liver oil for preventing and curing everything, including broken limbs – why not whitefish? Lovely. Keep them cards . . . A
From Cheryl: Cod, right. Of course a fish that has already given his liver to the cause. And well known. Completely forgot about good ole grandmas. They all did it! You are right again Arnie!
Colin I applaud your intestinal fortitude. I consider myself an adventurous eater, but fish livers would have tested that adventurous spirit. Keep the posts coming.
From Cheryl: Ha! Another friend talked about cod liver and all its uses, so why not whitefish? Indeed, why not? Funny. Glad you liked the story.
So how did the Apostle Islands come to be so named? If there are 21 of them, they outnumber the original 12. Maybe the original namer was dyslexic . . .
From Cheryl: You are right Bob, they didn’t know how to count. Strange. From ups.gov “It is reasonable to presume that the “Apostles” name was applied by the early Jesuits who drew up the first maps of the region in the early 18th century, as they had the habit of giving holy names to new places.”