Visit to Little Sand Bar Apostle Islands

The main reason we are in the small town of Cornucopia is to visit the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, and hopefully figure out how to best see it.  After we drove to Ashland on Monday, we stopped in Bayfield to visit the Visitor’s Center for the Apostles.  You can visit 20 of the 22 islands by kayaking or by boat.  Saw the orientation movie to the park then went looking for the tour company that would give us the most bang for our bucks.

Dark areas represent what is under federal protection

The group were from University of Minnesota - Duluth

Secured our tickets for the ‘grand tour’ for Tuesday (yesterday) morning, then drove on back to our RV.  But first we stopped at the Little Sand Bay Apostle Island National Lakeshore visitor center.  There are 3 visitor’s centers - one in Bayfield that we just visited, one at Little Sand Bay, and one on Stockton Island.

The National Lakeshore and Islands have 6 lighthouses which were constructed mid 1800’s, all are automated now.  The original reason for so many lighthouses was that large boats (freighters and pleasure steamships) would be guided down the western passageway along Bayfield to Ashland.  But now once every 3 years or so a freighter would come down, bet that would be unique to see.  The lighthouses are now used mainly on the outer areas (Devil’s Island and Outer Island) to guide ships AWAY from the Apostles and to continue down to Duluth, or up past Copper Harbor of Michigan before they begin the swing down to Straights of Mackinac.

The center was closed so we were only able to view some of the outside interpretive signs.  We observed a large group of young women with 2 female instructors rigging up kayaks to walk to the lake to go out.  As we walked the grounds, visiting a fish cannery that the park is restoring, we noticed the women were now down at the water’s edge getting further instructions.

Getting ready to go

And they are off

And being pulled back in

One by one the kayaks were launched, we could tell this was probably the first time in the water in a kayak by most.  2 of the kayaks drifted out too far and they needed help.  One of the instructors quickly paddled out, tied the kayaks together and she pulled them back into shore.  With the water temperatures at 50, you have only 10 minutes to survive if you capsize.  Imperative you know what you are doing, and you are with others, not alone.  We were fascinated watching these women, remember our years of owning kayaks and going out on Lake Erie, specifically doing our 'sunset cruise'.  It is not easy to kayak - it is a skill that utilizes your arms and back muscles.  So we commiserated with those that were pulled in to shore to safety.

And, significant, Monday was our first day of no rain.  Hoping for no rain on Tuesday for our 3 hour boat ride to the islands.