David’s Voyage Blog

Publish Date: Saturday, June 6, 2009
Location: Put-in-Bay, Ohio
Coordinates: 41° 39.387′ N 82° 49.175′ W

I didn’t realize when we completed the Welland Canal that we were about to begin our own “Lake Erie Social Circuit”. It has been a wonderful time, and also very busy, which is why our blogs have been a little quiet.

We first visited Erie, Pennsylvania to spend time with our friends Deac and Jane. We moored at the Erie Yacht Club as their guests, which was a real treat. Erie has a wonderful natural harbor called Presque Isle Bay, and even though the weather was a little unsettled during our visit, we had a great ride on the transient dock at the Erie Yacht Club. One of the highlights for Ayla while we were in Erie was a visit to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. It was a bit of a drive, but completely worth it. “Thank you” to Deac and Jane for a wonderful visit to a great town!

After Erie we went to Rocky River, Ohio to visit our friends Dick and Marianne, and their kids. We had met them in the Bahamas this winter, where we consumed a few rum drinks together. They had just gotten back at their home port for the summer, having left their boat in Annapolis, Maryland. We were guests of Marianne’s father at the Cleveland Yachting Club, which was a great place to stay. It was really fun to see our new/old friends in their home habitat. “Thank you” to Dick, Marianne, Brady, Ann Marie, and Brian for a great visit!

After Rocky River, it was on to Cedar Point, a roller-coaster amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. Some of you may know that I grew up near Detroit, Michigan (on Harsens Island), and from there we visited Cedar Point several times when I was a kid. I had a feeling Ayla would love it! The last time I was at Cedar Point was 29 years ago, so it has changed a little bit. I pointed out to Ayla that the big fast roller-coaster back then was The Blue Streak, which is now the tiny slow roller-coaster. This is truly a roller-coaster park, with three of the best coasters that I’ve ever been on — my fun-meter became pegged pretty early in the day.

As a birthday surprise for Kathryn, I also had arranged for her best friend Bobbi from Boulder to join us at Cedar Point, and bring along her daughter Claire as a playmate for Ayla. It was really a fun surprise for Kathryn; and Ayla and Claire had a great time at Cedar Point. “Thank you” to Bobbi and Claire for helping make Kathryn’s birthday special.

We’re now hitched to a mooring ball in Put-in-Bay, Ohio, which is on South Bass Island. I had heard of Put-in-Bay many times as a kid, but I had never visited. It’s a charming resort town with a summer party atmosphere. The harbor has eighty mooring balls for visiting boaters, and there’s a water-taxi that zips around the harbor ferrying people to and from town. Last night we happened upon the Put-in-Bay High School graduation: five students in all — that’s a small town! Tonight we’re going into town to have dinner and listen to some live music.

On Monday we head for Detroit, and then on to Harsens Island. It’s going to be fun to “come home” in our little ship!