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James N.
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
October 24 2007
Status: offline
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 Posted - October 02 2011 : 12:03:36 PM
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The treacherous strait at the tip of the narrow peninsula that separates Wisconsin's Green Bay from the waters of Lake Michigan known to the early French explorers as le Porte des Morts or "Death's Door" gives its name to the popular resort and tourist location known today as Door County. A brochure states, "The narrow passage, only 6 miles wide...has turbulent currents at all times. Add to this the strong and sudden winds of the Great Lakes and you can see this would be a dangerous piece of water for frail Indian craft. There are many stories of Indian war parties being drowned here."
On a far less threatening, but somewhat overcast and windy day, the ferry to nearby Washington Island served as a good way to traverse the strait and see a bit of the island itself. The highway that runs the length of Door County comes to an abrupt end at the ferry landing.
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Washington Island, supposedly once home to the Potawatomi and visited by explorers like Jean Nicolet and La Salle, is hidden from view by intervening and much smaller Plum Island, necessitating the ferry to sail first due north then northeast to reach the harbor. On the way, Green Bay stretches to the west and southwest, seen in this view of the returning ferry ( which I also rode coming back ):
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Tiny Detroit Harbor serves as Washington Island's only link to the mainland though it is lived-on year round. According to the story in the flyer, "A great French explorer, Robert La Salle, did a flourishing fur business with the Indians. To transport the furs quickly and at less expense he had a boat built [called] the Griffin. On Sept. 2, 1679, the Griffin left Mackinac and arrived at Detroit Harbor...a few days later. It was the very first sailing vessel to appear on the Great Lakes. After the pelts were loaded the Griffin lifted anchor on Sept. 18, 1679, and presumably was on its way home. It was never heard from again."
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Monadnock Guide
Council of Elders
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
March 14 2005
Status: offline
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Posted - October 03 2011 : 08:29:25 AM
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| Good pics & a good story. I think most folks these days don't really understand how easy we have it, - compared to "earlier times". |
you can keep "The Change" |
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Le Porte des Morts
