“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 NIV
Last Light, Almost Heaven, Rest Haven, The Great Escape: I smile as I pedal past these familiar signs on Ellison Bay’s Beach Road that mark the driveways to homes that on this side of the peninsula look out on Green Bay.
My husband, Mitch, and I have returned to the treasure we find in Door County. Cycling is among the many pleasures I look forward to on our annual visit, but until I had an e-bike, I had to walk my regular bike on the steeper slopes of routes that connect to Beach Road.
When the challenges arise, I struggle in my own limited power. Even my best efforts—through a fitness routine that includes strength training—are not enough for my aging body.
The assistance from my E-bike enables me to enjoy and conquer the climbs and just focus on the beauty of my surroundings, no matter where I am. It is only by the battery, by tapping into the power, that I can overcome the hills that are steep or long, or that I can just keep going when my legs get weary.
I am reminded that in life, it is only by the power of Jesus that I am able to succeed at challenges and overcome difficulties and disappointments. It is by His strength and faithfulness that
I can focus on the good and can count on Him to carry me up the hills of life.
This is true for any of us, that we fail or we struggle unnecessarily when we try to do things in our own limited power or by our own understanding. In the same way as we must activate assistance from an e-bike, we must pray and ask for help from God.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 NIV
“So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” Zechariah 4:6 NIV
Even though there were plenty of remarkable sights and special memories, our recent South Dakota trip now ranks at the bottom compared to other travels. It was not the fault of this stunning state but two separate issues with our truck, many other challenges, of and most significantly, an attack on our dog by two other dogs from a nearby campsite.
Pictures conclude the post.
THE PLEASURES AND THE PROBLEMS
We marveled at the Corn Palace in Mitchell on a Friday, and in transit to Spearfish on Saturday we stopped at Chamberlin to gaze at Dignity, the gigantic and beautiful statue of a Native American women that sits on a hill above the Missouri River valley.
Spearfish
Arriving later at the Spearfish KOA, we set up the travel trailer. Sunday followed with Mitch and I driving to Deadwood. We enjoyed the atmosphere of the Old West, ate lunch, and bought our first-ever moonshine (mint chocolate chip) after sampling varieties. We wrapped up by visiting the site of the gold mine in Lead.
God gifted us an amazing day–ahead of the truck struggling to cool as we drove back to Spearfish.
Back at the KOA campground, we were stranded. Finding an excellent and timely mechanic in John at Williams Phillips 66 was a huge blessing. Though it was Sunday, he answered the phone and took in the truck Sunday night. He had it done early Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, since we didn’t know exactly when we would get the truck back, we cancelled our two nights at the Devil’s Tower KOA and extended our reservations in Spearfish.
Mitch and I were forced to relax and enjoy the campground instead of thinking we had to run around to see more sights. For me, it was an opportunity each day to explore the town. The KOA is convenient to a safe, side-walked road along which I fulfilled a sense of adventure on my bicycle, stopped at a couple farmer’s markets for produce, and admired the campus of Black Hills State University. Parks are connected by a path along which Spearfish Creek tumbles and sparkles throughout the town, welcoming tubers and kayakers. And a grassy trail system crosses behind the campground and allows easy access to the creek in which our dogs splashed in the icy water.
When the cooling system was fixed and the truck returned, we wound through Spearfish Scenic Byway among the majestic rock formations, where the mountain goats thrilled and waterfalls spilled. This must-do had been simply delayed. The added days also enabled visits to the fish hatchery and the don’t-miss Western Plains Heritage Center.
Mount Rushmore (Hill City)
We arrived at the Mount Rushmore/Palmer Gulch KOA on Friday 8/22. The next day, we loaded the dogs in the truck and found the buffalo, donkeys, and pronghorn antelope while rolling through Custer State Park. Iron Mountain Road was our pathway back toward the campground, and it was amazing. You can view Mount Rushmore from a marked lookout spot near the end, and from the last of the tunnels. It was at that tunnel that the truck shuddered when slowing down, and the check-engine light appeared.
Returning to the campground, Mitch used a diagnostic tool and found that it was likely a sensor giving us a code. He cleared the code, and we were able to go and be astounded by the magnificence–and fulfilling of a seemingly impossible dream– at Crazy Horse Memorial. (If you go there, go to the museums and the bus tour and learn about Native American culture as well as why Crazy Horse deserved to be the subject of what will be the world’s largest sculpture.) At the Laughing Waters Café, we also filled our bellies with Indian tacos, tatanka stew, and kuchen, the state dessert.
Mount Rushmore was Sunday’s pleasure. Walking (clockwise for less stairs up) the Presidential Trail around the base revealed wonderfully various views and information displays of each president.
The truck was still acting funny, and we weren’t comfortable with it pulling our 25-foot trailer home later in the week, so Mitch took some steps to have a new sensor installed. Rapid City is forty minutes away, and the local auto shops were not as understanding as our Spearfish guy John, so Mitch called him and decided to drive the ninety miles back to Spearfish for the excellent service we had previously received.
The Attack on our Dog.
The most difficult thing that happened was truly a peril rather than just a problem or a challenge; it was a downright horrific situation at the Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch. It happened between the truck acting up and getting the second glitch fixed in Spearfish. I thank God that the truck was okay as we traveled back and forth to Rapid City’s emergency animal clinic in the dark on that Monday night.
On our fourth day at our campground, Ana and I were just starting into a leashed walk along the road that passed by a campsite with two large, white pit bull-type dogs (I believe they are actually Dogos Argentinos). They were tethered to a heavy picnic table while the owners were in their trailer. I was about to go the other way when the dogs suddenly ran at us and covered thirty feet–while pulling the table! They pinned Ana down, and she was crying terribly. She is a black Labrador mix of medium size and was completely covered by the one dog. My kicking and Mitch punching had no effect on this animal. It took Mitch and me, and several men, to get the dog off her while the other dog was pulled away by the owner.
Before we saw her injuries, we were afraid our dog was being killed by the attacker.
Ana’s ear was torn on the outside, and the notch created by the missing piece is now a reminder of the ordeal. A puncture in her “armpit” area became a slit, and she is still getting veterinary care to heal from that.
I won’t go on about the experience with the awful owners of the dogs. They lied and said Ana was not on a leash. They refuse to pay for her care, and they never apologized. The campground required them to leave, but not before the police came and gathered information. We are not happy with any of these entities or people.
LOOKING FOR THE GOOD
I must say that looking for the good —for the blessings—is such an important part of life, no matter whether or not one is a Christian. As someone who used to be a frequent complainer, I can tell you that it makes a huge difference in life.
If I had read the Bible in my pre-Christian, whining days, I would have posted Proverbs 11:27 as a reminder and acknowledged God’s wisdom both at face value and the deeper meaning of walking in obedience. It says, “Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it.”
I find there are three kinds of God’s good in life and our plans:
1) God’s good plan is better than my good plan.
In this case, the outcome is recognized as being better than or equal to the original plan, or it is simply a separate blessing; either way, He knows what we need.
We enjoyed the extra time in Spearfish. It was more relaxing than the work it takes to move from one location to another. And:
At Devil’s Tower, the ninety-seven-degree heat on the arrival day would have been miserable as we prepared the trailer both in Spearfish and at the new KOA.
At Rushmore, when Mitch took the truck ninety miles back to Spearfish to our new mechanic friend John for our second truck problem, he has fond memories of staying overnight in a tent hammock back at the Spearfish KOA. And for me, the girls’ night alone with Ana and Elsa as we stayed back at Rushmore was also different and special.
2) The “It’s a good thing that…” scenario means protection against the worst scenario.
Our truck issues did not happen with our trailer attached. We were set up and out delighting in a planned excursion in both cases. We did not break down on the side of a mountain road or any other road.
We found a helpful and wonderful mechanic.
Our sweet Ana lived through the attack and was not more badly injured. I also cannot imagine the situation if her sister Elsa had come along, or if I had been farther away from our site. I was just across from our campsite, and Mitch was able to come and help immediately.
3) God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good–no matter what is going on in our lives.
We can rely on His strength, peace, comfort, and hope. We can trust that God, that Jesus, will get us through any difficulty. Psalm 18:2 is one of my favorites in this regard:
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
This reliance begins with prayer, as in Philippians 4:6: Don’t worry about anything, pray about everything, ask God for help and thank Him for all He has done.
Wrapping Up
Among the many things that went wrong, I have focused only on the most significant. At one point, I thought it was the vacation from hell, but that’s the kind of thought the devil wants us to focus on. Recognizing the good fills me with gratitude and returns me to the anticipation and appreciation of Heaven’s truth.
In life and in our travels, not every day or every experience is easy or what we hope for, but we must look for God’s good and be grateful.
Elsa Along Spearfish Scenic BywayVictoria’s Tower along the BywaySpearfish Scenic Byway: It was a very short walk to Roughlock Falls Profile view taken from the truckCuster State Park resident CusterMount Rushmore from Iron Mountain Rd and the third tunnel where the truck began talking.From the Presidential Trail and the Roosevelt platform.Taken from the base on the bus tour.Mount Rushmore and my buddy Abe.Mount Rushmore Palmer Gulch, KOA. Also looks down to our campsite down on the left with the flag. The day after Ana was attacked in the main road across from the trailer.Ana with an ear flap cover to protect her torn and stitched ear. A shirt to keep her shoulder wound covered.
As they burst against the rocky ledge on which I was standing, the waves of Lake Michigan sent forth a refreshing mist to my skin. Here at Door County’s Cave Point County Park, though it was a warm day in June, with the help of the breeze on this eastern side of the peninsula, my husband, dogs, and I were fairly comfortable.
I returned to the rocky but flat trail that parallels the edge and offers incredible views of the water. Along the way behind and ahead, our dogs, Elsa and Ana, easily jumped the couple of downed trees across the path, while getting over them was more awkward for us. At the half-mile border with Whitefish Dunes State Park, we were tired enough to turn around.
Cave Point County Park delighted my husband and me from the very start; it is a part of our love for Door County and something we never miss.
Caves sculpted by the waves—and the picnic area’s lookout point to view the largest cave—give the park its name. Kayak tours bring paddlers close to smaller caves all along the shoreline—some which can be seen from points along the trail.
Viewed from the platform at Cave PointThis picture symbolizes my faith. I am the tree. My roots cling to Jesus, who is my Rock.
The force of the water has sculpted rugged splendor, but it’s easy to forget that erosion has unfortunate effects for the shoreline. It dissolves the soil and exposes the roots of the trees and other plants that grow there. Twisted trees along the trail are interesting, adaptive, and beautiful, but they are clinging for life to whatever solid ground their roots can find. The waves will slowly eat away at their lifeline.
The waves of our lives are no different: they hit us, often unexpectedly, and even a gentle impact can weaken us and eat away at our emotional core. Thankfully, there is a Rock that will never dissolve away. Faith enables us to stand up to the forces against us. If we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, His strength enables us to grow roots and stand on solid ground. He is our solid foundation. The only impenetrable rock is Jesus.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield ,and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:2 NIV)
Door County is a peninsula in eastern Wisconsin that separates Green Bay from Lake Michigan. While the origin of the name is “Death’s Door”, due to the treacherous waters around its tip, it is more truly a door to life and wonder—to outdoor adventures, natural beauty, charming towns, famous fish boils, and Scandinavian and maritime history.
This is the introductory, first post in a series about this cherished and frequent destination for me, my husband, Mitch, and our dogs.
View from the lookout at Ellison Bay Natural Area
The gateway to this spectacular peninsula begins just over the bridge from Green Bay, Wisconsin, at Sturgeon Bay—the largest municipality and one that is rare in having chain stores, chain restaurants, and stoplights.
The picturesque towns along the shores as you travel north give this area a sweet reputation as the Cape Cod of the Midwest. The harbors, inns, and unique small shops and restaurants often face the oceanlike views of Green Bay. One of our favorite towns is Sister Bay, which among its many assets has a park that is perfect for lakefront sunsets that we enjoy with our dogs on many evenings.
Sunset from Sister Bay
My husband and I first visited and fell in love with this place in June of 2022. We have returned three times since, and we have another planned stay in our travel trailer in September 2025. Our campground home is in Ellison Bay at Hyland Court RV Park, just north of Sister Bay. It is this region that calls us back to Door County at least once a year.
The possibilities for exploring nature keep us in anticipation of the next visit—for both the familiar and the not-yet familiar.
Favorite places:
Newport State Park in Ellison Bay. We have never seen this area to be overly busy, even in the summer. Many of the hiking trails are easy. It is designated as a Dark Sky area for stargazing and possible viewing of the Northern Lights.
Newport is the only public beach that allows dogs.
Elsa at Newport State Park BeachAna at Newport
Sand Bay Town Park and Beach in Liberty Grove. This is a less-populated, lesser-known, and smaller beach for swimming and launching a kayak on the Lake Michigan side. A hidden gem
Back roads ideal for bicycling. Door County can be hilly; the mild assistance from my e-bike certainly helped tackle the short ascents.
Garrett Bay, where the clear waters cover the shipwreck of the Fleetwing submerged at about twenty-five feet. It may be possible to see it while kayaking or even swimming, as it is not far from the shore.
Ellison Bay Natural Area. The sunset is gorgeous from the high overlook. Hiking trails wind through the forest.
Europe Lake. In the same township, the serene inland Europe Lake offers calm waters for kayaking. Bonus: On our drive from Newport Beach to Europe Lake, we found Uncle Tom’s Candy Store. This place is highly worthy of a stop. Chocolates and other candies, special popcorn, jams, and salad dressings are among the homemade goods for sale.
Cave Point County Park*. This is our never-missed destination for cooling breezes and misty sprays as waves pound the bluffs along the trail. My next post will focus on this gem.
Other wonderful stops in Door County include Peninsula State Park, various lighthouses that include Cana Island, and Whitefish Dunes State Park. TIP: Cave Point County Park is free, while Whitefish Dunes–like all of the state parks–incurs a fee. These are adjacent, and if you begin in Cave Point and continue on the trail into the state park, you can avoid the fee; however, consider the distance.
Daytime view of Green Bay from Ellison Bay Natural AreaCave Point County Park
Still on my to-do list is Washington Island. The ferry takes off from Gill’s Rock, which also offers an interesting shipwreck museum. I hope to experience the island on my e-bike on my forthcoming return to Door County. Reader, if you are only there for the weekend, research and consider whether the island will be worth the time on the ferry.
Friends, Door County invites you to experience the wonder and pleasure of God’s creation; however, there is another Door that is even grander. It is one that is always open for every person and invites us to connect with God through Jesus.
Matthew 7:7-8 says: 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
View of Sand Bay Beach from my kayak.I paddle at Sand Bay on the Lake Michigan side in Liberty Grove Township.
Various pictures around the peninsula:
Delicious fish boil in Ephraim at The Old Post Office. It was wrapped up perfectly with cherry pie.
A rocky and hidden gem at the end of a road in Ellison Bay. It pays to talk to the locals!Mitch and me at the harbor at Sister Bay.
Campground pictures at Hyland Court RV Park in Ellison Bay:
Truth in my Travels 