We paid $700 for a snow removal service that hasn't come once, and local golf courses are opening. On January 30th.

But Door County, WI got about a foot of snow on January 12th, so of course I had to drive over and take a few runs down the partially-cleared ski slope.

A few observations and takeaways:

• This is still early beta.
• What feels like a wide-enough trail without skis on feels like a chute when you're actually skiing down it.
• Confirmed: bump skis are awful in 12" of pow.
• A rope tow is a mandatory requirement.
• A guy can get shin bang *real* quick hiking up a hill in ski boots.
• There is an incredible amount of work ahead that almost certainly requires the purchase of a Bobcat.
• The full release might be delayed until winter 2025-26.

There's some remaining building site and septic field tree removal to do, but last weekend I couldn't resist exposing more of our view of Green Bay.

A birch and an ugly poplar came down and bam! An island!

At the risk of sounding like a complete ignoramus, I didn't even know this piece of land existed, and I've been coming to DC for over 40 years. It's Green Island. It's 68 acres, about 9 miles from Door County and 5 miles from Marinette, WI (on the other side of the bay). Turns out, it's the only private island in Green Bay. And, it's for sale!

Now we're considering a major pivot that's more aligned with our misanthropy: sell our 5 and buy an island, which will include:

• 9-hole golf course
• lit driving range
• rooftop bar
• rooftop pool
• rooftop helipad
• rooftop helicopter

Truly, Fantasy Island.

I still spend a lot of time on the Door County Land Information site, looking at our lot's elevation contours (for the ski run, of course), easements, road setbacks ... and just seeing our name legally attached to a piece of the peninsula.

When I checked yesterday I immediately noticed a new satellite photograph that showed both the February felling frenzy and the March wide-plank oak flooring stack and sticker. Just too cool!

After doing a little more digging, I learned that this picture is taken in early spring every two years, so I got lucky putting some human activity on camera. Two years from now, hopefully, the MVC will be visible from space, too.

Here's the satellite pic from spring, 2021. If I had to bet, I'd say this year's picture was taking earlier in the day, with the shadows being cast to the west (the left of the picture). The 2021 picture has shadows casting to the north (the top of the picture).

My mom — one of the 5 readers of this site and a fellow Door County lover — shared this awesome 2-part doc on Door County's history of conservation.

I'm in awe of the vision and tenacity of our predecessors in the creation of Peninsula, Potawatomi, and Whitefish Dunes state parks (to name a few). Without them there would be Eagle Bluff Lighthouse Condos.

I also gained further admiration of Abraham Lincoln. He created Yosemite in 1864, when he had some other shit going on.

Anyhow, enjoy Ridge and Swale.