News from the Flash of Door County

Greetings but you better read fast because I am tired and going to bed!!!

1. White Gull Inn in Fish Creek, Door County, Minnesota

2. The Fire for the Fish Boil

3. Cooked White fish

4. Joanne, our waitress, boning Judi's fish

5. The Gotta Go Girls with Lake Michigan in the background

6. Caves which have been dug out by the water

7. Pigging out at...

8. Al Johnson's in Sister Bay, WI

9. Goats grazing on the grass roof of the restaurant

Judi was up early to take the car into the Toyota dealership for an oil change and check-up. The fellow gasped when he saw the dirty oil filters. Judi explained we had brought part of North and South Dakota, as well as Montana with us! We left for Door County when she returned, the Green Avalon in top notch condition! Door County is a peninsula that is very beautiful with little villages, farms, shops, Lake Michigan, Green Bay, and lots and lots of boats. It might be compared to Carmel stretched out in a long line. It is a popular tourist destination both summer and winter. We drove a few minutes out of the city of Green Bay and we were on our way to a delightful day.

The weather was cold! and we used this for an excuse to stop in a bunch of shops and buy some new layers of clothes. The temperature should get down to 33 tonight and today with the wind blowing it was cold! There were white caps on Green Bay and Lake Michigan wasn't far behind!

We had outrageous desserts at Al Johnson's, a Swedish restaurant out near the end of the peninsula. It is pretty kitschy but enjoyable and his idea of planting grass on the roof of the restaurant and bringing in a bunch of goats to graze during the day is a real crowd pleaser.

Another big event in Door County is the Fish Boil. It is quite an elaborate ceremony where they build a huge fire and position boiling water over it. Potatoes and salt are added and that cooks for a bit. Then the chunks of whitefish are added and eventually the whole thing boils over after the boil master puts a little kerosene on the fire and there is a big flame up. Then he and an assistant lift the pots off with poles and dinner is ready to be served. You must have a reservation and we were lucky to get the last table for tonight at 8:00. By the time we ate our fill of fish, potatoes, cole slaw, tartar sauce, an assortment of breads and topped off with cherry pie a la mode, I was wondering how I am going to fit into any of my new clothes!!!

We drove into the motel parking lot at 10:45, Lee and Judi are already in bed and here I go also! Getting up early tomorrow to get to Milwaukee and the new Art Museum so we can see the wings of the modern building flap at high noon. Stay tuned for that one! Nighty night from 3 very tired Gotta Go Girls.