Family, Amish, and Lake Erie Islands

We have been very busy since we got here to Timber Ridge in Amherst, Ohio.  As a matter of fact - 15 days here and only one day sitting at home, not going anywhere to see someone(s) or shopping or just visiting our old haunts, stepping down memory lane.  Spent a day with my sister, another day was spent with our sister-in-law driving south of Cleveland into Amish country, about an hour's drive.  Shirley said it was over 20 years since she had visited the area (Charm, Berlin, Millersburg, Walnut Creek, Sugarcreek) with her husband (Dave's brother) and for us we were in that are about 5 years ago.  Getting very touristy.  Saw lots of Amish and their buggies but respect their wishes not to be photographed.  We were looking for some pieces of furniture to finish off the interior of the RV but did not find anything we liked.  Had a great meal at Der Dutchman, and Amish restaurant, in Walnut Creek to end the day.

My sister's son and his kids

We have been able to connect with many family members and will be at an open house at our niece's this Saturday to see many more.  Have had dinners with former co-workers and friends - been very busy!  Yesterday we drove to Catawba Island and took the Miller ferry over to South Bass Island also known as Put-In-Bay.  Catawba is really a peninsula which juts out north of Sandusky, but it is referred to as an island.  As a child I spent many weekends at my Aunt's house and remember fondly swimming off the pebble beach in Lake Erie near her home.  On the western end of Lake Erie are a number of islands, some reachable by ferry, others are privately owned and cannot visit.  Put-In-Bay also has the Perry' Victory and International Peace Memorial, a national park honoring Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's victory over the British fleet on Lake Erie of the War of 1812, a battle that was waged not far from this island.  This monument also honors all who fought and died during the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10, 1813 and the War of 1812.  This naval battle helped turn a war toward the founding of lasting peace between the United States and Canada.

Control of the Lake - 1813

Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial

At the visitor's center we learned that they had closed the top of the monument just a week ago due to reconstruction that has begun.  Over the course of my life I have gone to the top of this monument over a dozen times and never tire of it.  Disappointed we could not go up yesterday - on a clear day you can see the shore of Ontario, east towards Cleveland and west towards Toledo.  PIB is very touristy now, reminded us of Annapolis or Friday Harbor.  Everything revolves around the visitor/boater.  Weekends are one big party, glad we visited during the week where it was quiet.  Had lunch in a restaurant overlooking the harbor.  On PIB is The Ohio State University's Stone Laboratory is located on PIB, their research branch for Lake Erie.

Our Ferry to Put-In-Bay

South Bass Island - aka Put-In-Bay

Kelley's Island and Peelee Island in distance

A beautiful day to be on the water.  Brought back so many memories of our sailing days.  Sailing over to Put-In-Bay and mooring out on a ball for the night, sailing by the north side of the island to see the freighter that is sitting on land (a private residence now), sailing to other islands such as Kelley's and Middle Bass Island and visiting Lonz's Winery.  Some of our sailing trips were to Peelee Island (Canadian) which is north of North Bass Island, and sailing over to Leamington and spending a week visiting that quaint town in Ontario.

Sailboat coming into dock

Benson Ford Freighter brought on land - private residence

Height of boating season

What we used to look like sailing along the islands

Oh how I love the water!  It took us 20 minutes to cross the channel to PIB in the ferry, and with our sailboat, the same distance - with the right wind conditions - would have taken us a couple of hours!  But the serenity, the peacefulness of being on the water, nothing compares to it.