Bayfield, Wisconsin

The Viking cruise ship tendering passengers.

As we drove up state highway 13 from Ashland to Bayfield I saw a large ship in the distance.  The day before we heard about a Viking cruise ship docking in Duluth but didn't expect it visit a town with fewer than 600 residents.

 

The Viking cruise ship sailing on the Great Lakes carries 378 guests with a crew of 256.  That's more than Bayfield's population!

 

We watched the tenders carrying passengers back and forth after they toured the town, took a local boat ride around the Apostle Islands, or inspected the local orchards.

 

This spot had a great view.

 Our hotel was very nice with a good view from the balcony and close to everything downtown.

 The room was ground level which made it easy to roll the bike in and out and a short walk to anything we wanted.  

 One of the features I enjoyed most was being on the water.  Each morning I grabbed my camera and went for a walk waiting for the sun to rise over Lake Superior.

 

The Madeline Island ferry (near right) and E.P.A. ship Lake Explorer II cross paths. 9/21/22

My sense of direction was off slightly in Bayfield.  It feels like you are on the northernmost point of Wisconsin, when you are actually facing east.  The smooth water is misleading because the islands surrounding the small port shield it from strong winds and building waves. 

A look at Bayfield from the pier. 9/21/22 dwm

Bayfield is a beautiful tourist destination.  It's also a real town with a hardware store, banks, and lumber yard; I think that's why it feels authentic.

Wednesday night most restaurants were closed at dinner so we walked to the grocery store where we found sandwiches and snacks to keep us satisfied.

I've been to Bayfield four or five times through the years; this was our first extended stay.  It was a treat.  

 

We enjoyed the accommodations, the food, and plentiful opportunities to enjoy ourselves or sit and listen to the waves and watch people go past.

Bayfield may be a tourist town but it's also a hometown for families, merchants, fishermen, and captains. However, for a couple days it is nice to call it your own home-town away from home.