Once in a Blue Moon: Tuesday, August 6: Goin' Back to Put-in-Bay

Date: August 6, 2013

Day on the Cruise: 113

From: Lakeside Marina, Lorain, OH

To: Public Marina, Put-in-Bay, South Bass Island, OH

Statute Miles: 37.8 SM

Time: 4.25 Hrs

Cumulative Miles: 2,546.0 SM

On Board: Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut

We are in Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island in Western Lake Erie tonight.

We are on an island in Western Lake Erie. The white line is the Canadian Border!

Put-in-Bay is on South Bass Island. Note the white line which is the Border between the US and Canada

The harbor at Put-in-Bay

This is a stop that I have really been looking forward to on our Great Loop trip! There are a number of islands in Lake Erie off the shores of Sandusky, OH and Port Clinton, OH. I was introduced to these islands maybe 4 or 5 years ago during two management meetings hosted by our Ohio Group. We gathered at Catawba Island on the shores of Lake Erie and had a three day business meeting. On the second night we loaded up on a ferry and came to Put-in-Bay for our dinner meeting. I loved the quaintness of the Island, but both times I was here, I thought that it was Ohio's version of Panama City, FL because of all the college folks that were always here letting it hang out in the local watering holes, of which there are some significant resources! Many of our Ohio staff spent time here while growing up and while in college. I have fond memories of being at Put-in-Bay.

Put-in-Bay (PIB) is on South Bass Island about 5 or 6 miles off the Ohio mainland. It is one of three "Bass" Islands and is the Southern most in the group. Access is by passenger ferry or by boat. There is also a car ferry.

PIB is famous for the War of 1812 Battle of Lake Erie between Admiral Oliver Hazard Perry and the British. He defeated the British fleet in this Battle at Put-in-Bay. Here Perry is said to have written the phrase "We have met the enemy, and they are ours".

Our trip to PIB from Lorain was very smooth. We waited for a line of rain showers to pass through then left at 9:15. We had seas from the South which hit us on our port stern quarter and the boat handled well. To my surprise, even the autopilot worked on this leg, making the trip over a pleasure.

Susan found these "volunteer" tomatoes growing at the marina in Lorain before we left

Heading through the Jetties at Lorain into Lake Erie

View out our front door this morning

We had not been able to make a reservation at PIB at the place that we wanted to dock. As we neared the Island, Susan found space at the Public Marina with no problem. That was a big relief. I hate going in without a reservation, especially on an Island!

Approaching South Bass Island

Approaching Put-in-Bay Harbor

A monument to Oliver Hazard Perry and the Battle of Lake Erie

Approaching our marina in PIB

Our marina at PIB

"Blue Moon" docked on "B" Dock at the Public Marina at PIB

View of the Harbor looking West

Today also marked the start of our final trek North in this Great Loop trip. From Lorain, OH to the top of Michigan, we will be trending North until we round the top of Michigan and start our journey South. It will be like climbing the final stage of Mt. Everest, going higher and higher until we hit the summit at Mackinaw City, MI!

We walked around the town this afternoon and I found the places that we had visited before. Strangely, they look different in the day time! There is a beautiful town park right across the street from the marina. I remember walking through this park from some of the watering holes, trying to get to the ferry for the last trip of the night back to the mainland.

The main street along the Harbor

Part of the Park across from the Harbor

A home along the waterfront

Looking at Gibraltar Island in the PIB Harbor. This is a private island where Ohio State has an aquatic research center

Looking out at the harbor at PIB

Our dock where "Blue Moon" is moored

Susan on the road along the Harbor at PIB

This is the facility where we had our dinners during the management meetings that I attended

This is a vibrant town. Golf carts are the main source of transportation. There are cars and trucks also that are on the roads. We found a store where we picked up some supplies that we could not get the other day in Fairport. We also restocked our spirits supplies because the stores are so convenient to the marina.

Dinner was at The Boardwalk next to our dock. This town is somehow famous for Lobster Bisque, and what we had at The Boardwalk was delicious with big pieces of Lobster in it. We also had Perch. I am not a big fish person, but since I tasted Perch up here years ago, it is something that I try to eat when I come up to Lake Erie. It is a very mild white fish that they lightly bread and pan fry and it is delicious. Susan had it tonight also, and she is a big fish person.