We backpacked on Rock Island. We packed light and traveled fast. We didn't need to do either. We left early in the morning and headed to the tip of the Door to jump on the first of our two ferries that day to cross Death's Door. Planning on eating on the largest island on our island hopping backpack trip, Washington Island, by noonish. The meal was a little dissapointing, relatively dirty and run down. We were expecting more of the quantness or even touristy atomosphere as the rest of the door. Island life is different. We did make get to tour the lavendar farm on the big island and fill our post lunch gullets with lavendar ice cream. The temperature was crazy hot and we were sweating like crazy but made it to the second ferry, Kardif, and left the car behind. We were backpacking the other passengers had wagons, wheelbarrows, coolers and a shower tent. It wasn't exactly what we expected but didn't detract from the beauty or wonderful history of the island. We hiked the entire Thordarson trail that circumnavigates the island and is the namesake of the islands last private owner, an icelander, and inventor, with money and plans to create a viking kingdom on the island. The island has a large viking hall that is open all the time with games to play inside, other smaller buildings contain bocce balls, frisbees, croquet and all manner of lawn games for people to use on the large open space. It gives the island a strange feeling. We hiked early to the light house for a tour and Sophia and Ella were sold on the idea of becoming docents in the future. Planning on living in the lighthouse and giving tours to other visitors. We made camp after a short hike (0.6 miles) from the ferry to the site near the beach. Two wonderful afternoons playing in wonderful sand, unseasonably hot temperatures and crystal blue skies. The lake is really shallow and warm in that area allowing us to walk out a great distant play in waves approaching 1-2 feet. We had packed light so it was dehydrated meals and ramen noodles, but Amy carried in some smore supplies for the kids. The Sunsets were amazing and we walked to the open fields and watched the sun disappear into the lake. There was a fly hatched and the fish were surfacing at the water and pinks and oranges darkened into the evening blues. The kids played monopoly in the Viking Hall until is was too dark to see and we headed towards camp for a fire and games of memory/trivia about the trip as the racoons slowly circled our camp sniffing out scraps of nuttella. The hike was long enough (just barely) for everyone to add another hiking pin to thier packs and although we packed light we are fortunate that memories weigh nothing at all.
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