pixstix.biz: Days 42 - 44, July 19

There has been a lot of rain and consequently washed out roads. People talk about needing to repair our crumbling infrastructure, my traveling around the country has certainly proved that. I must also say that this is particularly true for all the Northern States where the winters are severe and heavy trucks (logging and oil) use is extensive. I know that it is farmland, forests and mountainous in parts and the locals are fiercely independent maybe even isolationist (Trumpians) but they are also the first to complain that their local roads get worked on after the US highways and the Federal lands (i.e. Reservation lands). They don't want Federal money - Tax cuts by Republicans??? I know this is a bit simplistic, but it does get a bit old bouncing along the highways and hearing my coach get shaken apart because of terrible roads.
I digress -
I moved on from Duluth to the East to Ashland at the South end of Chequamegon Bay in Lake Superior. Found a quiet little city park (there are many up here) and settled in to see the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. That's an archipelago of some 20+ island where Madeline Island is the main and most populated. Tuesday started out as laundry day (yes, must do that upon occasion) and since the only laundromat was a new one in the town of Washburn on the way, it was only right.
Bayfield is the main jumping off place for the Apostle Isles and I booked a seat on the sunset cruise of the major island. Here are some photos of that day: