Day 1

The Camp Courageous travel crew is chasing adventure again. This time, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. A road trip, where the miles stretch out like an old film reel, scenes of cornfields, gas stations, and dive bars flickering by.

The crew rolled into town as the sun hung low, casting long shadows over rusted docks and quiet streets. The cabin waits on the peninsula, cradled between the restless waters of Lake Michigan, east and west. The air thick with the sound of waves breaking against the shore.  This is where you lose track of the clock…  The next day  the crew will spend a day at the cabin, enjoy the breathtaking view and the little things about cabin life.

Day 2

Morning cracked open like an egg over the lake, sunlight drizzling onto the water like liquid gold. The campers, coffee in hand, that holy elixir of the half-awake. They shuffled out, blinking at the shimmer like they’d just landed somewhere better than yesterday. Breakfast was a greasy, beautiful mess: biscuits drowned in gravy, eggs cooked the way grandma intended. Campers didn’t eat it, they devoured it. Like castaways stumbling across an all-you-can-eat buffet.

The rest of the morning? Simple. And simple, when done right, is sacred. Crosswords were tackled like tiny Everest expeditions. Campers wandered, others let the sun bake the nonsense out of them.

Lunch turned into a sandwich free-for-all — turkey, ham, roast beef, cheese, all the fixings, piled high and taken down with cold cans of pop.  The afternoon melted away like a cheap candle. Some shot pool, others got lost in the arcade, a few holed up with a movie.

Then came the cookout. Burgers and hot dogs sizzling over the grill, a smell so good it could stop traffic. Banana boats for dessert, gooey, chocolatey, borderline obscene. We circled up around the fire, swapping favorite moments from the day like old war stories.  Tomorrow, we jump into Lake Michigan. And judging by today, it’s gonna be one a fun ride.

Day 3

Morning rolled in heavy with fog, a quiet hush over the cabin. Breakfast came in the  overstuffed burritos: eggs, bacon, sautéed peppers, onion and cheese.

Campers finished up and we packed into the van and made for Sturgeon Bay, a working town. At the docks, a pontoon boat waited, bobbing lazily on the gray water. The lake stretched out, indifferent and endless. We piled in, and pushed off. The sun played games behind the clouds, breaking through in ragged bursts of warmth. Campers tore into sandwiches and chips as the boat hummed across the surface.

Two bold ones, Emily and camper Daniel jumped in. They surfaced, grinning wide, teeth chattering. No regrets. Afterwards, the crew carved sloppy donuts into the lake.

Eventually, time was running out and we aimed for shore.

Dinner was Mexican food, plates of sizzling fajitas, tacos, and piles of rice and beans. A birthday, too. Kingsley, a camper with a grin too big for his face, lit up as the group sang loud and off-key.

Back at the lodge, ice cream softened in bowls. The day slipped quiet again as campers peeled off to their rooms. Another good one in the books.

Day 4

Morning hit different. Pancakes, waffles loaded with strawberries, blueberries, grapes, syrup, chocolate syrup and sausage on the side. Solid send-off breakfast for the crew. Last morning in the cabin. Everyone took their time, hanging out in the sun, some stretched out on the deck chairs, some posted up around the cabin just talking about nothing and everything.

When lunch showed up, it was wraps, sandwiches, chips. We didn’t linger long, we knew town was waiting. Campers always light up when it’s shopping time.

First stop, Door County Museum. Cool little spot. Everyone hit the gift shop hard. Camper Serena pulled in a big ol’ fish. Others grabbed t-shirts, magnets, calendars, whatever caught their eye.

Then we made our way to 3rd Street. Whole stretch lined with those tiny shops that all smell like fudge and candles. Candy store was the move. Campers loaded up with chocolate, gummies, and stuff you know ain’t making it home. Some ducked into bookstores. Everyone scattered, met back up, bags in hand, all proud of their finds.

Wrapped it up with pizza at Sonny’s. you know it hits different after a full day like that. Laughed, swapped stories, everybody good-tired. Headed back, packed bags, and called it.

Day 5

The final day. One last breakfast: bagels, nothing fancy, just honest, carb-loaded fuel for the road.

We said a quiet goodbye to Lake Michigan. No grand speech, no cinematic send-off. Just a glance back at the water, a knowing look between a few of us, the way you do when you don’t really want to leave but you know you have to.

Then it was asphalt and horizon again. A quick stop for lunch.

And finally, back to Camp Courageous. The end of one road, the start of whatever comes next. CC travel will be on the road next week for the crafting getaway and twins baseball game. Later days.

View all the photos at: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCfLVv