Roller Queen

I'm fast becoming queen of the Segway -- at least in my own opinion! If you're not familiar with these amazing vehicles, they're two-wheeled, battery-powered scooters with a gyroscopic balancing mechanism. My most recent tour was of Peninsula State Park in Door County, Wisconsin. This 3,776 acre park features forest, lakeshore and a golf course. What better way to see a lot of it in a short time -- but at a speed designed for enjoyment -- than on a Segway? After a brief introductory video and individual instruction from the owner of Segway of Door County (http://www.segwaythedoor.com/), Nick Dokolas, three of us journalists (and four "regular" folks) took off with Nick for a great glide. We enjoyed the shade of tall maples and beech trees and elegant white cedars (much more sophisticated than our scruffy red cedars!) and stopped for scenic views of the lake. Nick has several other tours available in the Door -- I'd love to do them all. Segway tours are available from Anchorage, Alaska, to Amelia Island, Florida and a number of locations around the world. They're not inexpensive -- usually between $65 and $100 per person -- but they ARE addictive!

What's in a Name? Edited version

I'm in Door County, Wisconsin! At last, I've been in all 50 states. Door County is that little peninsula that juts out the east side of the state into Lake Michigan. It's a beautiful place with lovely little bay and lakeside villages and masses of the most beautiful flowers on earth. But its name has an ominous origin. There's an area of water where the currents can become so violent that many people have died there. French trappers called the place the Door of Death. It later got shortened for the name of the county. And then there's Egg Harbor. Local legend is that there was a boat captain who always insisted that his ship be the first to land. Another boat landed before his and he was so angry that he grabbed an egg and lobbed it at the offender. According to the story, this was the beginning of a melee, the targets, egged on by the assault launched a counterattack -- a real eggstravaganza! Don't know if that's true but it surely makes a good story, don't you think? Finally, there's Carlsville. Seven men named Carl lived in this tiny settlement -- so the name was a popular choice!