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Ferry Tales II Rally
August 25th - August 28th
Washington Island Campground
745 Eastside Rd
Washington Island, WI 54246
Dave Sherman and Vicki Engelstad are excited to be hosting our second Rally on Washington Island in Door County Friday August 26th through Sunday August 28th. We have coordinated the Rally with the 10th Annual Death’s Door BBQ, a Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) sanctioned competition. The KCBS is the largest competitive barbecue organization in the world and the contestants on the island will be competing for $8,000.00 in prize money.
We will start the weekend with a meet and greet Happy Hour Thursday evening. BYO drinks and a snack to share. It’s a time to renew old friendships and make new ones.
Friday morning BYOC (according to Chuck, Bring Your Own Coffee) and we will provide some bakery goods, yogurt, and fruit. Be sure to come early as we have arranged a private Cherry Train Tour of the island to introduce you to some of it’s the more interesting features. The narrated guided tour will pick us up at the campground at 8:30 to start our day’s adventures. After arriving back at the campground you have the rest of the day to explore the island on your own. This is also a great time to take the Rock Island Ferry to Rock Island State Park to visit the remains of the Chester Thordarson estate and perhaps hike to the north end of the island and tour the Pottawatomie Lighthouse. Although the current structure built in 1858 is the second lighthouse built on the site, the Pottawatomie Light is not only the oldest lighthouse in Wisconsin it is also the oldest on Lake Michigan. During the tour imagine staying in the lighthouse. You may live there for a week, but you are then responsible to give the tours to the visitors.
Saturday morning begins with another BYOC gathering but at a more relaxed pace. Saturday’s main event is the Death’s Door BBQ located at the island’s airport. The gates open at 10:00 am and Vicki’s and my experience is that if you wait until noon to arrive the vendors may be sold out of some of the favorites. Besides sampling the BBQ treats there are arts and crafts, kids games, live music, and beer. We usually spend the afternoon in the tent listening to the music. Saturday evening, if you haven’t had enough to eat, there is a traditional Door County Fish Boil available on the island. And the day is not over yet. I am told a live band will be playing at the campground Saturday night!
Sunday’s BYOC will be a chance to reflect on the weekend and share experiences. While some may take one last look around the island many will be packing up to get in line for the ferry and a chance to brave Death’s Door on the way back to the mainland and home.
There will be a Rally Fee of $12.00 per person to cover the cost of the mornings treats. Campsite fees are your responsibility as is the cost of the ferry to get onto the island. The Cherry Train Tour and Rock Island Ferry are optional. If you are interested in either or both, tickets should be purchased at the Washington Island Ferry ticket booth when you buy your tickets to get to the island. Other than the light fare provided at the morning BYOC all meals are on your own.
If you have any questions email me at dwshermanwi@gmail.com . Several weeks before the Rally I will send out an email to all who are attending providing some more specific information about the island and campground.