Are we fishing? Or just drowning worms? aka Wisconsin Aug 2010

So from Aug 25-30 I went up to Mercer, Wisconsin in the North Woods almost to the Upper Peninsula to visit David's family. We had beautiful weather to take full advantage of all of the rivers and lakes.

Day One - we get off the plane from a red-eye, have lunch AND... go fishing. David's parents live on the Turtle River which drains Spider Lake.

I caught a little perch, but it swallowed the hook, so when released, he did not look so hot... I was cheering him on and a seagull swooped in and ate him. Boo!!! Sorry?!


Day 2 - We wake up and David's dad makes a most excellent breakfast. Seriously - we ate well the entire trip. We were planning a bike trip - but the tire looked like it might blow, so we rode 2 mile up the road to the dam and catch several "pan fish". Then - we fish some more! Yup, back up to Spider Lake where at some point I couldn't figure out how I ended up rowing while David was fishing?! Something was terribly wrong and quickly resolved...

Later - BACK on the water. I was in a kayak, David and his parents in the canoe and we paddled down the Turtle River, Ox Bow Lake into the town of Mercer for Friday Fish Fry and New Glarus Nut Brown Ale. YUM! Oh and frozen custard...man I hope they have that stuff in Portland.




Day 3 - Ha ha, fooled you. No fishing!! We made apple and blueberry pie in the morning. Then off to David's grandparents house on the Turtle Flambeau Flowage. We did boat around to find a nice secluded campsite on a peninsula accessible by boat.

Here I am - Deet in tow. Wisconsin skeeters are wiley creatures. You put on Deet spray, well, they just attack armpits, scalp, and between your fingers where you may have missed... and if you have to go to the bathroom in the woods, they will bite you in mean places!!

We went back for dinner at his Grandparent's then back to the site for Smore's and camping. Some sleeping. Loons are really cool by day, but at 2am from a distant lake, they sound eerie, almost like a person screaming out. River otters splash at night and you spend a lot of the time convinced raccoons are sneaking into the boat you have pushed off shore with your smore's goods. If you hear something outside your tent, it's not a raccoon, but a porcupine, and god only knows what the heavy thumping and warning screeches are 50yds from your tent. Black bear? Deer? Fat Raccoon? David asks "Did we learn something?" Yes - no more remote camping in Wisconsin!!

Day 4 - After a night of restful sleep, we go fishing with Grandpa Joe. Over 2 hours, no nibbles, no bites, no fish. But beautiful weather and relaxation.

David's sister arrives with her husband and we go to German restaurant for the best German food EVER!! Bread dumplings, red cabbage and sauerkraut YUM!!

Day 5 - Breakfast, then the drive back to the airport to go home. Thanks Wisconsin!! I'll be back!!

More photos at http://picasaweb.google.com/dollymaepuppy/WisconsinAug2010#