Passionate People

What would life be without passionate people? It seems that whenever I am on the road, I am blessed to encounter myriad passionate people. Door County visitors and residents do not disappoint.

You've already met Earl T. Jones, boil master of The Old Post Office Restaurant. Not only did he provide a stunning show and risk singeing away his eyebrows in the name of tradition, he was a wealth of historical and scientific fish boil knowledge. But, his gift to his audience was a list of 25+ activities and sites to experience while in Door County, the majority of which were free. A true ambassador.

Meet Pat, the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse advocate and docent. From the get go, it was clear she loved her lighthouse and the duties connected to it. The weather being questionable, Pat enticed us with stories of danger and historical lifestyle all while we faced Green Bay and an ancient stone barrier. Upon entering the lighthouse completely furnished with period pieces used by the second keeper's family, her energy level escalated and the details, down to the terrible bookkeeping skills of Keeper Duclin, rolled off her tongue faster than Door County mosquitos swarm at dusk.

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Next comes Rita, a Milwaukee resident who has visited Door County 4 or 5 times a year since her childhood. Realizing I was a tourist and alone, she spent the better part of the Harbor Lady cruise articulating sites I should visit.

-Cave Point - "Go while it is windy so you can see the waves, and don't jump in!"

-Eagle Bluff and Cana Island Lighthouses - "They are furnished with period pieces."

-Bailey's Harbor Range Lights - "If you go today, you can get in."

-Simon Creek Winery - "Go on a Sunday afternoon. They have live music."

etc...

Finally, let me introduce you to John, the Door County Trolley driver. His mission was to take us to 4 lighthouses and lunch. By the end of the excursion, not only did we visit lighthouses, but we saw incredible water views and learned about the county's history and hot spots.

-Ride your bike through the 9 mile bike path of Peninsula State Park, established in 1909

-While you're at it, take the ferry to Washington Island and ride your bike there as well.

-The phrase "sleep tight" comes from rope beds and the need to tighten the ropes regularly.

-Go to Door County Bakery and sample the world renown Corisca Bread Load, $45/lb.

-The best chocolate wine is made at Harbor Ridge Winery.

-The Door County yards and gardens are so plush due to the Niagra Escarpment, the porous limestone bedrock of the county.

-Orchard Country Winery was a dairy farm until 1950. They now grow sour cherries, grapes and apples. Sour cherries have a multitude of medicinal powers.

-Door County is called the Cape Cod of the midwest. John begs to differ and intends to create t-shirts that describe Cape Cod as the Door County of the east since DC is less congested.

-125 years ago, the village of Ephraim had 2 ordinances on the books. All buildings were to be white and no alcohol sales. Most buildings are white, though the ordinance is no longer on the books, but Ephraim is still a dry community.

Many times, John offered us his humble trolley driver opinion. He also expressed that he is blessed to drive a trolley because he no longer has to work for a living. It kind of made me want to grow up to be a trolley driver and I told him so.

I love stepping out of my comfort zone and encountering passionate people. I never know when a crossing of paths might lead to such an experience, but I have learned to be open to the possibility. If I engage, listen, and encourage, their enthusiasm wears off on me and I walk away a better person.