CAVE POINT COUNTY PARK -DOOR COUNTY

 "Near water, but especially in water, our bodily senses -touch, pressure, temperature, motion, position, balance, weight, vibration- are truly alive."         BLIND MIND by Wallace Nichols

 After a spring-summer of exploring Wisconsin's inland lakes we're ready for our annual Lake Michigan "ocean" trip to Door County.
   Heading to Cave Point County Park -right next to Whitefish Dunes State Park, just south of Valmy & north of Sturgeon Bay.
   This is our third trip here. Its become one of the highlights of our Door County exploring & considering the droves of people, its a favorite place for many others.
   Besides the amount of people, it has what we like; clear water, it's free, & as a public park it keeps the Wisconsin attitude that allows recreation to thrive -adventure friendly, the option to explore at your own risk - "You want to jump off a cliff? Go ahead."

"No, no, NO!" -Saw this sign near
a lake in Illinois. Not the vibe
 we look for.😕

  People come to take in the rugged beauty of the cliffs & clear water, to scramble along the rocks, hike the trails, kayak the shoreline & cliff jump (or watch others jump) into that shockingly cold water. After working up the nerve, here's my experience with the jump: Absolutely invigorating! -you jump into the freezing water, feel the full force of it, climb out thinking you can't stand but a few seconds of it, then a warm -almost hot- sensation rushess over your whole body & you want to do it again 😆.
 
 THE IMMERSION FACTOR  
We were amazed at the nonstop flow of people visiting this park. Seemed the focal point was the cliff jumping. Fits with my

views on the longing we have to engage in creation -the less spectating the better & the more satisfying & permanent the memory.
   To each his own mode of exploring, but the "immersion factor" is what biases me towards my gig as a freediving/snorkeler/spearfisherman; taking that cliff jump, participation factor, & staying in it -lingering in a full immersion.
   On my last trip, diving amongst all those kayakers & shore explorers, I'd surface & feel the urge to yell out; "hey, you're missing out, the real show is below the surface!" -So many cliff caverns, rock formations, swimmable crevices & life forms that you don't know are there unless you slip below the surface.
   After a couple hrs I'm tired, hungry, & getting a lil' chilled, but deeply content & relaxed. Feel like I've journeyed far from home. My divinely imprinted need to explore satisfied. -Here's my Cave Point Gopro Youtube video:

 
   

  FINDING DOOR COUNTIES' CLEAREST WATER
   On our first visit to Door County we spent alot of time looking for the clearest water to explore & find fish for underwater spearfishing (our method for getting a fish dinner) -from the Green Bay side, north to Washington Island & down the eastern -Lake Michigan side.
  We sorted through alot of internet tips from other divers. Most diving info seems to focus on finding ship wrecks. Our interest is in fish & all things natural wonders.

   We learned that the east side of Door County is more clear than the Green Bay side (called green bay for a reason), but this east, "lakeside" clarity relies on a west wind. Was hard pressed to find other helpful ideas. The best tips on understanding & finding Door County clear water came from professional freshwater fish photographer Eric Engbretson (http://underwaterfishphotos). Here's some of what I learned from him:

• Very clear water is everywhere offshore in Door County. Its all about having the right wind to bring this clear water close to shore to dive in.
• On the Green Bay side a north or northeast wind is best. 
• As far as the Green Bay side goes, the theory is that dirty water from the Fox river flows into Green Bay -clouding Green Bay until near Little Sturgeon, where it becomes clear enough for diving & gets increasingly clear as you get to Gills Rock -top of the Door County pennisula.
• As water clarity improves as you travel north from Little Sturgeon, the fish variety drops! Variety is best in the murkier water. Up near the top of Door County you mostly see only smallmouth bass & gobies.
• But...as much as you think you have the formula down, it can still be very frustrating to consistently find Door Counties' clear water. "It all looks good on paper, but I still couldn't find clear water with any reliability. I found it maddening." -Eric Engbretson

   Lack of fish variety was quite noticeable to me on my 1st diving visit to Cave Point. I saw tons of gobies, some smallmouth bass, trout, schools of shad & one big carp -all fish I

Goby

can't shoot or don't want to.
  Cold water & the superb clarity has its impact on fish populations. Clearer is not always better for fish. For the last 20 yrs Zebra & Quagga mussels -(food vacuum cleaners) have further cleared the water & reduced fish populations.
   For these reasons I stopped carrying my speargun here & have just focused on the joy of exploring & taking pics.

    GETTING TO CAVE POINT
    GPS address for Cave Point is 3275 Clarks Lake Rd. Sturgeon Bay, Wis. 54235
   4 1/4 hrs from Chicago
   3 1/2 hrs from Madison
   2 1/2 from Milwaukee
   2 1/2 from Wausau
   1 hr from Green Bay

   One more note of interest
   Found a very cool, HUGE relief map of lake michigan in -of all places -a McDonalds- in, or near, Kewaunee, in Door County.
   On this map I saw that the deepest point in lake michigan is straight east & abit south from Cave Point. From here you can look out towards water that is nearly 1000 ft deep! Somehow adds to the mystique of this place.

   Gotta pass on this well done blog by Kenneth Casper called WISCONSIN EXPLORER -great hiking & overall info about Cave Point: https://wisconsin-explorer.blogspot.com

SEEKING CRYSTAL WATERS -GUIDELINES FOR FINDING WISCONSINS' CLEAREST LAKES.

 Canoe lake hopping in northern Wisconsin, my son Josh and I were after Northern Pike on some of the small lakes in northwest Wisconsins' Spooner Lake area.
   The first couple lakes were a slightly clear tannin stained, tea brown color typical of alot of northern Wisconsin waters. Then we hit the next lake. Paddling over a sudden deep spot triggered an instinctive brace for a drop as I watched the bottom fall away. The clarity was startling!

THE INVITATION
     This & other similar experiences while kayaking, fishing or just shore gazing, grew into an irresistible urge to checkout this enchanting underwater world.
  As grass, shrubs & saplings are the outskirts of a forest, so surface & shore are but the edges of a lake, the bare minimum -the trail that leads right up to the mysteries within. Clear water beckons -sends out this invitation. To turn away would be like the timid Walter Mitty refusing to respond to the adventurous Sean O'Connell's finger gesture to venture forth. (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty -great movie).

  And so the quest began- Snorkeling led to freediving which led to spearfishing and deeply enjoying fish dinners on the shores of the lakes we explore. These Wisconsin lakes have become pivot points to exploring other local features of the land and people; good eats, drinks, parks and other natural wonder phenoms. Though I must admit Lakes have remained by far my most captivating point of interest.
   Finding these Lakes has been great fun as we've slowly made our way from southern Wisconsin to mid and northeast parts of the state.

This spring, we'll be slipping into deeper sections of the North Woods in the Minocqua area to try our hand at filming Muskies underwater with a GoPro. 

 To you adventurers accepting the invitation to slip below the surface into a crystalline wonderland, here are tips for finding Wisconsin's clearest lakes-

• WISCONSIN'S TOP 20 CLEAREST LAKES  -All these lakes have an underwater visibility that ranges from 22-30+ft. There are MANY other comparedly clear lakes, but these have made the list at least twice in the last 5 yrs:

         Black Oak Lake, Vilas county
         Whitefish Lake, Douglass Co.
         Pine Lake, Waukesha co.
         Maiden Lake, Oconto co.
         Lake Wazee, Jackson Co.
         Blue Lake, Oneida Co.
         Lake Lucerne, Forest Co.
         Lake Owen, Bayfield Co.
         Crystal Lake, Marquette Co.
         Presque Isle Lake, Vilas Co.
         Keyes Lake, Florence Co.
         Millicent Lake, Bayfield Co.
         Mildred Lake, Oneida Co.
         Lake Metonga, Florence Co.
         Lake Owen, Bayfield Co.
         Stormy Lake, Vilas Co.
         Smoky Lake, Vilas Co.
         Sugar Camp Lake, Oneida Co. 
         Deer Lake, Polk Co.
         Big Newton Lake, Marinette Co.

  (I got this list from professional freshwater fish photographer Eric Engbretson's blog -  http://underwaterfishphotos.blogspot.com-   A list that he obtained from consulting with Wisconsin's state-wide citizen's lake .monitoring group. Engbretson Underwater Photography of Florence, Wisconsin is the nation’s top supplier of photos of fish taken in their natural habitats! Love his "Sixty Seconds Underwater Youtube series-https://youtu.be/05TByGwpexs

• WISCONSIN'S CLEAREST LAKES AT A GLANCE: Here's an amazing satellite map that shows where most of the clear lakes are in Wisconsin. Focus on blue colored lakes (read the map legend). You can zoom in more clearly if you go to this link & download it for yourself. http://lakesat.org/statewide.

   From this satellite map, use any map detailed enough to show the name of your target lake. We think the Northern (or Southern) Wisconsin -All Outdoors Atlas & Field Guide from the SPORTSMANS CONNECTION series is great. Get to the lake using the map, or much easier, put the lake name & county into your GPS & go. We learned the hard way that its very important to put the boat launch for that lake into the GPS. Otherwise the GPS will get you to the lake, but you'll have no idea where you can publicly access it.

•  WISCONSIN DNR WEBSITE. Once you have the name of your target lake & its county, we've found the Wisconsin DNR website for that lake very helpful. On this site, look for water clarity being "very clear" or even "moderately clear." Depending on recent conditions & time of year a "moderately clear" lake is sometimes as clear as a "very clear" lake. This website also lists the lakes boat landings, lake map, nearby parks, common fish, type of lake, size, etc. 

• GENERAL RULE OF THUMB -Water clarity in general tends to be best in June & worst in September. Northern lakes tend to be clearer longer than mid & more southern Wis lakes.

  Since starting this blog we have been to the Minocqua area -as mentioned earlier- in our attempt to get muskies on a Gopro. This wonderful lake area (3rd most concentrated amnt of glacier made freshwater lakes in the world!) will be a future blog in itself, but for now you can view some of our video results:

    

FOUNTAIN LAKE & FLIGHT

     Peering into Fountain lake from shore, I catch a wave of giddiness. Beautifully clear water! Had to fight against getting over anxious as I hurried to gear up so I could slip below the surface.
 
    We're in Portage County, continuing our quest to find Wisconsin's clearest lakes -to spearfish a dinner & explore.
  Checked out Bear lake & Spring lake -water too murky.  Locals at Bear lake sent us down the road abit to Fountain lake.

   There were a few fishermen around the only spot to access the lake. An audience makes my movements feel even more awkward. Wetsuit, weight belt, mask & snorkel handicap movements enough, add the fins & my clumsiness can look ridiculous. But below the surface that all changes. A couple of easy kicks with my water wings (fins) & I'm soaring effortlessly, neither sinking or rising -"neutrally buoyant",  weightless...flying.
   I found this flight sensation enhanced at Fountain lake because of the unusual amount of seaweed capped ridges & valleys that emphasized weightless soaring over a precipice followed by gliding down into a valley. 

   Part of the appeal of swimming below the surface in any clear water is that it taps into the longing we humans have to experience weightlessness...to fly!
 
   "From birth man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders. He is bolted to earth. But man has only to sink beneath the surface and he is free." Jacques Crousteau

You need a few things to best experience underwater "flight":

•  VERY CLEAR WATER.  Need to be able to see at least 10ft. The clearest inland lakes in Wisconsin have up to 35 ft of clear water visibility. I've heard of spots in Lake Michigan that can have 100+ ft of clear water! -rivals many tropical waters.
•  GET BELOW THE SURFACE. Meaning the snorkeler has to breathhold or "freedive" down a bit. Real flight experience occurs when you're not limited to the surface view & can maneuver with the underwater landscape.
• CONSIDER A WETSUIT.  Opens up a level of comfort that is supremely important for getting into the flight zone. Hard to enjoy the experience when you're freezing & can't wait to get out of the water. Also, some of the clearest water is in May, June & early July, when the water is too chilly for just a swimsuit. 

• CHOOSE TO BREATH-HOLD & snorkel over SCUBA. You need the extra freedom of movement & the greater bodily involvement in your environment that is part of the limitations of no tank diving. (I cover this in greater depth in my SCUBA vs Freediving blog): wisconsinclearlakes.scuba-vs-freediving
• IMAGINATION.  Have a relaxed, exploring state of mind. This is helped by the somewhat altered state that the underwater world automatically induces. Let your mind soar across species lines -"Be the Bird."

  FOUNTAIN LAKE is a small 16 acre lake (as a visual reference, picture one acre as about the size of a football field, lake Waubesa is 2000 acres, Lake Geneva is  5,400 acres). These smaller lakes that don't have high speed boat traffic are the best for diving.
    If my bearings were true, most of the seaweed capped peaks that I spoke of were on the southwest & west side of Fountain lake.

   Because my mode of lake adventuring hinges on clear water, I've learned the value of having nearby backup lakes when the hoped for clear water of a particular lake lets me down -another strong point for the Fountain lake area; it has several clear lakes within 15 miles of each other. Other favorites in this area are Bear, Emily, Sunset lake, all in Portage County & aqua colored beauty -Marl lake, near Hartman Creek State Park in waupaca county.

    Motels can be found within 30 min of all these lakes in the town of Plover to the west & Waupaca to the east. Camping at Hartman Creek State Park would be a great option -we've never camped there, just toured it. Beautiful state park!

    FOR THE FISHERMEN: I saw none of my usual target fish -crappie, but I did see more & bigger perch than any other lake I've been to. Also a decent amount of largemouth bass & bluegill.

  FOR THE PADDLER - This would be a fun lake to paddle. Being small, it lacks much shoreline to explore -you've circled around the lake before you know it -yet big enough & undeveloped enough to feel removed from civilization. With polarized glasses, gazing below the surface opens up another dimension of scenery.
 
GETTING TO FOUNTAIN LAKE
  Located 100 miles/1 hr 45 min north of Madison. Get right to the lake by putting Fountain lake, Belmont Wisconsin into the GPS

  This amazing video gives a good window into the underwater world of "flight"

LAKESIDE COFFEE

                           

 HOT COFFEE!
    These two words strike a perky, comfy feel for many people. Say "HOT CAMPFIRE COFFEE" & it rings even better. Say "HOT LAKESIDE CAMPFIRE COFFEE" and...to many words ruin the vibe. But that's what we're after -Hot lakeside campfire type coffee.
    I especially love a steaming hot cup of coffee after spearfishing in a cold, clear Wisconsin lake. I get out of the water tired, hungry & usually getting a bit chilled. I peel off the wetsuit & get into warm, dry clothes. If we want a great lakeside fish fry, then I've got work to do -fish to get ready (I fillet 'em, Cheryl cooks 'em). Need strength,

need...Coffee!

  
   COFFEE is all about busting up the magic coffee bean to release its stimulating properties, then getting those properties past the palate in a tasty way, & into the blood stream for the perk. Here's some ways of doing that:

• Use Your Portable Grinder -your teeth. Chew a handful of beans. This is the hardest core minimalist instant coffee. I don't like the concentrated taste.  Each bean has about 6 mg of caffeine. 15 beans gives about same amount of caffeine as one brewed cup of coffee. Practical, but of course misses the full enjoyable process of brewing.
• Cowboy Coffee. Boil water. Throw in
  ground coffee -no filter- let the grounds
  
  settle to the bottom & drink. Pick out grounds stuck in teeth with toothpick, -not the wife's favorite.😝
• Instant. Scoop a spoonful into hot water. The easiest method of all & I think tastes totally fine. Lacking just abit in rich taste & the brewing process satisfaction. 
• Drone delivered latte. This is on the other end of the what I'm after & scores a 10 on the "coffee snobbery" scale. Make your phone call & set up delivery. Cool for bragging rights, but lacks the satisfaction of my own effort.

  From here on there's an endless variety of filtering methods -all getting at the same thing -making coffee bean soup minus the grounds.
   The French Press is a more unique method -using a plunger/syringe type mechanism to separate grounds from water.  It's suppose to give a richer taste & retain more of the healthy oils & antioxidant properties in coffee. (Curiosity has got the best of me; I'm gonna break off finishing this post untill I've tried the French Press....⏱ Ok, I've tried it. I do love the simplicity of it. Might use it for lakeside coffee - not sure).

  HERE'S HOW WE DO IT:
   I prefer a perculator. I like the ambience added by the action & sound of the perculation, followed by the smell of coffee wafting through the air. I usually fire up the Coleman stove. (making it not officially "campfire" coffee 🤔). Fill our little perculator with water. Add a heaping teaspoon of coffee per cup. Set it to boil. Watch the clear bubble on top 'till the perculating water is dark brown -about 10 minutes.

   We've tried many flavors & types of coffee, but for the most part I'm more suprised by the similarity than differences amongst coffees. Maybe my taste buds are not as refined as others. The only coffee that really contorts my face is coffee that is to weak or way to strong -most other coffee flavors & roasts are fine.

    If we were to pick a favorite flavored coffee it'd probably be the Gevalia brand in the Mild Chocolate Mocha flavor, Creme Brulee coffee & blueberry flavored Door county coffee.
 
  Some people add cinnamon or chocolate to the grounds for added flavor, alil salt or crushed egg shells to reduce bitterness, butter instead of cream, amongst other coffee connoisseur tips.

    We've also found cost is no predictor of what coffee we like (we prefer Great Value -about the cheapest- over most other name brands, & instant over Starbucks).
    In blind taste tests cheaper coffees scored higher than the expensive "sophisticated" brands. Remove the name status & packaging attraction -i.e. "snobbery" factor,  & your true taste preference is free to decide.

 
   Here's a link to a favorite site to check out other coffee brewing methods. https://gearjunkie.https://gearjunkie.com/coffee-brew-in-outdoors-camping