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Door County Wisconsin (Fall)

Camping with the family in Peninsula State Park this late in the season was a first for the Devereauxs. Fortunately for us, the weather basically cooperated with cool but tolerable temperatures. When you get that close to a Great Lake like Lake Michigan, you can pretty much figure that all weather bets are off. The sky on the first night we arrived was crystal clear, providing us with an unlimited panorama of celestial beauty. Add to that the new moon, and the constellations stood out like a pimple on the nose of a prom date; shiny, prominent, and unforgettable.

The cool night air was kept at bay due to the reliable propane pop-up camper furnace. With the sun rising over the shimmering blue-gray water, many small shapes bobbed on the waves. Among the more familiar floating Mallards, Canada geese and Ring-billed gulls were other smaller diving birds with prominent white patches on their heads. The strikingly contrasted, yet diminutive ducks dove and re-emerged over and over while my wife and I watched. Dozens and dozens in small flocks moved over the water looking for bits of food beneath the surface. The birds turned out to be Buffleheads. Pairs of male and females darted amongst the other ducks and geese along with a few dozen female Common Mergansers. Birding in general was great, with about 50% of the leaves having fallen to the ground. A Pileated woodpecker, knocking its beak on a dead birch was located by following the sound it made. Bark was falling to the ground beneath it as the excavation continued unabated even though we paused beneath the tree to observe. It is the actual "observance" of the animal doing what it does naturally, that I enjoy the most. A total of 22 species were logged over the next 24-hours as I pedaled my way some 10 miles along the many roads and trails available to Peninsula visitors, and I never even got my feet wet. Add to the experience the aromatic waftings of a smoking wood fire and a cold (adult) beverage of your choice and you have a wonderful, relaxing weekend worth repeating.