We spent Christmas in Door County and didn't have close to good weather. In a way this is what I wanted. I have plenty of pictures of the lighthouses with sunny skys but nothing of them doing their job and protecting the shoreline.

This is what the weather was like on day 1. The sun was out for about 5 min during sunrise and the remainder of the day it was cloudy.







Later in the day we went exploring and I found a park north of the pierhead light that provided a different view. By that time it was nothing but cloudy skys and the fog wanted to move in along with more winds.

By time the next day arrived we had nothing but fog and a light mist. As you can see it was quite foggy.







Pictures of the canal light.



Yes the light is in the picture.

One of the days we went to see the Eagle Bluff lighthouse. I haven't been to see this one in the winter and they don't plow the roads so you need to hike in. It was only a mile or so one way so it wasn't too bad.




Since no one was there I did some exploring and I found a way to get down onto the beach to get a shot looking up. As you can see it's still somewhat foggy in the background.



On the walk back I found that if you park in the parking lot south of the lighthouse and walk the beach about a half mile you will be in the same place and you don't need to climb down the bluff.

Now for the fun day but disappointing from the photos. There was a strong storm that was coming in. We had about 4 inches of snow by time the storm was done but the main thing was the wind. In Green Bay they had winds of up to 75 miles per hour.

Since the wind was from the east to begin with I was hoping for some great shots with the waves crashing on the lighthouse.

The problem was it was very windy, and starting to snow. Add cold to the mixture and this is what you get. I didn't get the great wave shot that I wanted though.



Within minutes of the first picture the snow started to really fall. I took that opportunity to drive to the other side to see if I could get some better pictures.


I haven't seen this in my life. I'm guessing these flags mean there was a gail warning. I know there was one in effect so I'm putting two and two together thats what the flags meant.

Waves on the lake were 6-8 ft while the open water forcast called for 14-16 ft waves.


I have more photos but they look grainy due to the snow blowing so hard.

Great Photos buoyhunter!
My husband and I sat here during the storm and discussed what great shots we probably could have gotten of the Sturgeon Bay lights. I have not experienced that either...so thanks for proving our theory to be correct and showing us what we missed!
How did you get the pictures from the south side of the canal? Is there a parking area or park there? Have never explored that side but have seen guys fishing from the south pier. Just didn't know how they got there.
I really like the shot of Eagle Bluff from the beach!
Feel free to post more!
Feel free to post more pics!

Debbie is right, I'd love to see more of those pictures too and I love learning about the lighthouses and how you had to explore to take those pictures!
More ... PLEASE ... Thanks for taking us with you despite the bad weather ...

Very nice pictures. I like dramatic weather shots. I especially like seeing the snow shots...since I don't like cold weather, I'm glad someone else will take those pictures for me to look at from home.

Have visited these lights during the summer, and appreciate your bravery with the cold for the winter shots!

Interesting view of Eagle Bluff from the beach! A long way down to the beach from the light!

Thanks for your adventures!

I will resize some more pictures this weekend and post them. The pictures from the south are taken from a small park that is on the south side of the canal.

The one picture from the south side where you see the tree branch up close is taken from a narrow road that winds along the lake.

I was really hoping for the waves to be crashing at the front of the lighthouse but that wasn't the case. It would also have been cool to been out in front of the lighthouse looking back at the waves but that means you would need to be in a boat and I will pass when the waves are that big and that close together. Come to think of it a buddy of mine and I have always wanted a ride in the coast guard helicopter. That would be one way to get it!

Here are some more pictures of Eagle Bluff

I started to play with the night settings on the camera in these pictures. Would have been easier to learn when you fingers weren't getting cold.

In these pictures I really wanted the entire street but short of setting the tripod in the middle of the street I had to settle for the sidewalk.

No cars coming by would have helped as well but short of going out at midnight I had to deal with the cars.







Town Park

We were sitting in the house and heard the radio call that the St. Marys Conquest was heading into Bay Ship. We rushed down to the canal to take the pictures of it coming in.

We later found out that she had to visit Bay Ship due to a hole being punched through the bow cutting through 12" ice.

The next day we were taking more lighthouse pictures and she came out through the canal heading for Chicago.



I wasn't able to find any hole in the bow. I'm told they had to ride bow high so the water wouldn't come in the hole.



Leaving through the canal. The bow looks the same to me.

More pictures from the storm

To get this picture I walked down the beach some and climbed up a small hill.

Misc pictures.








Standing in the cold while I take pictures of St. Marys Conquest leaving.



Raising of the flag on the first morning. The next morning I was there and I heard the music but it was foggy so I could barely see them.

These lighthouse pictures are all from the first morning.





This is the only ice that I could find anywhere close to the lighthouse.





These guys were on the side of the road eating. They had two females with them but they were spooked when we stopped.



The end.

What a shame ... enjoyed the pictures A LOT ...
I loved to see the night shots of the lights and the ice and the lights in winter ... and anyway I loved all the pictures! Thanks for sharing them !

Your pictures are spectacular--thanks ever so much for sharing them.

We're making plans to travel cross country next September and the lights you've shown here are on the agenda. Makes me want to load up the RV and move out tomorrow!!

Thanks again,

Sandy

Thanks for the information on the south side! We plan on hopefully heading up within the next weekend or so.
Looks like even though the weather wasn't what you were probably hoping for...it worked to your advantage. Gave you fantastic photo ops and gorgeous shots.

Thank you so much for taking the time to post the extra photos. I enjoyed them very much!

My husband thanks you for the shot of the ship coming through the canal! ( he's a big freighter guy) We know that they do come and go through the canal, but have never had the opportunity to witness it.

Great job!!!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Every winter I beg for ice and snow pictures and had had little luck this year. Your pictures are just fabulous! Thanks again!

Boat Nerds can find more about the St. Marys Conquest at:

http://www.boatnerd.com/pictures/fleet/stmarysconquest.htm

These tug pushed converted lake freighters are pretty rare on the Great Lakes.