Jim and Ruth head for Alaska from Michigan

Day 1- Sunday June 5
Our target was to get away around 2:30 PM and we did that. It started with church service in the morning, where Jennie Browne preached her last sermon that we would hear (She has one more week at First UMC), then eating a light lunch at Bud ‘N Stanley’s, and placing the last food and maps in the car and trailer. (Jim cannot use the GPS as it doesn’t know how to spell ALASKA! It thinks AK is Arizona! He probably wouldn’t use it anyway!) Therese took a few pictures , gave us hugs and kisses and away we went. The trip on westbound I-96 to US 31 was uneventful, and everything seemed to be working smoothly. (That’s a great word to use for travelers who are pulling a rig). Ours is a 28 foot Sunny brook, “Sunset Creek “ model trailer with one slide out. With the Toyota Tundra truck (5.8 liter) it pulls like a dream. We arrived at the campground in Ludington (Station Campground -see picture) after a fill up with gasoline at $4.09/ gal. This summer that will cut into the savings a large amount. After setting up (we didn’t un-hitch as we would pull out in the AM), and having a “Sunday supper” (we usually have popcorn or a light snack) sacked out by 10:00 under a clear sky full of stars.
Day 2- Monday June 6
The target was to get to the SS Badger at the Ferry dock by 7:00 and Jim was up at 5:45 getting ready when Ruth reminded him that it was not 7:00 but 8:00 at the Ferry dock.That, gratefully slowed things down a bit. The ‘check in’ went fine as the crew drives all vehicles onto this 60 year old, coal burning Ferry, including the trailers and trucks. (see pictures). We were off at 9:00 sharp and seeing the “trigger” device snap the cables off the wharf was a new experience. The ride was smooth and after 15 miles the clouds came over and cooled the deck so almost everyone went inside. The “Badger “ is spacious at 410” on length with four decks including the vehicle storage . You can look up its history on the web site. Historically the Ferries did NOt carry trains, (1870) but just cargo, then the whole trains were loaded (1900) but since 1959 when trucks and freeways came in the business went down hill. It lay idle until the 1990‘s. Can you imagine the labor that was involved to load and unload cargo in the 1800’s?
The Ferry was not crowded with maybe 100 people traveling across to Manitowoc. Games were led by a recreation director, Larry, with Bingo being the favorite. The ship is well attired with the old staterooms for rent, three lounges , a movie room, a quiet room (which has a museum of the Badger’s history),a child’s play room (with a huge marker board for drawing some 15 feet long), a T.V. room, a small bar, and the cafeteria which was well stocked.
We arrived on time at 11:50 (CDT) on a cold (60 F) and windy pier. It was a four hour crossing,and we were well rested, and as our trailer was the first one on (went on backwards, remember?) it will be the last one off. We saw all the cars but two huge trucks in front of us come off and we waited, 5 minutes, 10 minutes ...no truck an d trailer..., then we asked what was the delay? It seems the truck ahead of us had a “battery problem”. It couldn’t start. Now this was a huge double bottom truck and trailer loaded with large, 18 “ diameter, finished logs (log houses?) and was not going anywhere until it got started by itself. Thirty minutes,went by, then 45 minutes and finally the gal in charge drove her small Focus along side it, connected the wires and “voila” , it started. We were out and on the road finally.
We had, however, to make a slight detour. It seems that Jim had forgotten the electric cord for the computer which meant a trip to the nearest Apple store, which was in Milwaukee, so 40 miles or so added to the trip. We knew where the store was (address) but realized we did not know where in this huge cluster of stores the Apple store was, and after driving through this maze in the mall area (very tight streets and parking lots) we asked two “geek looking” guys where it was. “Right there” they said as they pointed right behind us. “Take two rights to park” they said. I did, but only found a two length spot by a curb (We are 16’ plus 30’= 46’ long) and this parking place did not fit us against the curb. I stuck out a bit. Ruth went to the trailer to get the computer, and, thinking she had exited , I back to straighten the rig. Whoops! The steel steps , still out, struck the curb and bent them enough so I had to force them bank in place. (Later I was able to pound them in place) . We did get the electric cord and headed north again toward Horicon and the 2nd camping spot at “Playful Goose” campground. Now remember it was in the 60’s when we left Manitowoc some 50 miles north. Now it was 90 F and getting hotter at 2:30 PM. That didn’t cease as after we set up camp in another quiet campground and the temp got to 93F. Finally after the sun went down it retreated to 73 F and at 10:30 it is 68 F .Much better. Aside from the electricity blowing the breaker four times (we had the microwave and the AC on), all went well. There wilM be more tomorrow as we describe Horicon Marsh NWR for you . I would not use the word “smoothly” for Day #2!!

BIRDS ON THE FIRST TWO DAYS
There were the “usuals” of Herring and Ring Billed Gulls, Cormorants, Robins, Red Winged Blackbirds (thousands), Grackles, Great Blue Herons, and others , but the highlight were two Green Herons that flew over the “Badger” as we were on the Lake a few miles out from Ludington. The birding will get better as we move onto the NWR’s.

DAY THREE (June 7, 2011) HORICON MARSH WI
Today’s birds were mostly seen at Horicon Marsh, although by noon the temperature was in the 90’s, previous to noon the sightings were good. Horicon NWR is in S. Central WI and has 35,000 acres of mainly marsh land left from an ancient glacial lake. Horicon Marsh has many side roads leading to the Marsh , a long dike, a Visitors Center , as well as an Educational Center and a special 3 mile auto/bike/pedestrian loop road. There are dozens of viewing sites in the Marsh area. The local High School has are named the “Marshmen”. (Ladies??)
We did identify 30 birds and the less common ones were: Four types of hirundinadae (swallows), Great Egret, White Pelican, Am. Bluebird, the Blue Winged Teal, Ruddy and Red Head Duck, Pied Billed Grebe and the Coot, while in the rushes we heard many Rails, and did see one Am. Bittern moving stealthily among the catttails There were many of the Great Blue Heron, Sandhill Crane, and White Pelicans (hundreds) as well as the Black and Forster’s Terns swooping and diving.We did see one sleek Kingfisher. Among the smaller birds we observed both the Eastern Kingbird and the Yellow Throat warbler.
Like many place in the midwest , it was HOT on June 7th. Here we reached 99 F while birding and decided to come back to the trailer and try to get out of the sun and cool off a bit before going out again. That seemed a wise step. Then we went to a small Marsh about 10 miles east of Horicon right on highway 87. It looked like a “bummer” as the gate for the road was locked so we birded from the road. This turned out to be a double blessing. Jim spotted Ruth’s favorite bird but just told her where to look, not what it was. She couldn’t find it for 2- 3 minutes . Finally when she did find it in the cattails she shrieked “Its a Yellow Headed Blackbird.” (her favorite). It made the extra trip to this Marsh worthwhile. Then, we added some frosting to the “cake” at the same Marsh (Theresa), when a very large bird was seen hovering over the water portion of the marsh it was , yes...our first Bald Eagle. We watched it for a while before heading back to town, had dinner out at “Mother’s Day “ Restaurant in Horican, which was a converted Chevrolet Dealership from the 1940’s and served good, reasonably priced food. We left filled and happy. Gasoline price here was $3.84. It was a fulfilling day!