Sheboygan, WI

Trip Day:	169	Latitude:	43°45.16' N	Locks Today:	0
Miles Today:	25	Longitude:	087°42.04' W	Locks Total:	81
Total Miles:	3,377	Location:	Sheboygan,  WI

Today was a picture-perfect day for our trek south on Lake Michigan.  As soon as we cleared the marina breakwater, we raised the sails with a perfect beam reach of winds 8-10 kts.  The skies were clear and the seas were light and before long we could see the smoke stacks on shore at Sheboygan.  Within 30 minutes of checking in at the Harbor Centre Marina, Ron had our bikes out of the locker and on the dock so we were on our way to explore the town. 

 

The newly renovated riverfront was very welcoming as we rode along the boardwalk taking in the sights.  Blue Harbor Resort appeared to have all the amenities to draw visitors to this area. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Historic downtown with wide streets and shaded sidewalks was very inviting. 

We noted a wide variety of up-scale restaurants in town as well as quaint shops.

A stop at the John Michael Kohler arts  Center was interesting, but the art        exhibits were a bit underwhelming.    Perhaps the most interesting part was the 1882 Italian Revival home of John Kohler, of the famed Kohler bath and kitchen products.  His family emigrated from Austria when he was a young child and by 1892 he was the mayor of Sheboygan.  The home with its gardens of hollyhocks, roses, sweet peas, hydrangeas and black-eyed Susans was deeded to the Sheboygan arts Foundation in 1966.

 

 The gardens included whimsical birdbaths and sculptures as well as wall sections of the ruins of the town library incorporated among the plants and flowers. 

We resisted the temptation of the Victorian Chocolate Shoppe, returning to the boat to take care of a few chores before we head south tomorrow.