10/17 – Drove to Catawba Island on the South Shore of Lake Erie to catch the Miller Ferry to Put-In-Bay on South Bass Island. The leaves had already started to change and it was “bridge” season on the island. That is, very few tourists and many businesses already closed.
We had purchased a “Deal” on Travelzoo and shared a room at the Put-In-Bay Resort with our good friends Dick and Jan for $159, including a hot breakfast, $50 of bar credit and a free golf cart, for each of two days. Since the bar had closed for the season, they gave us some options for drinks. We ended up getting a liter of Captain Morgan’s spiced rum with six mixers and six craft beers for our $100. We “shared the spoils” and each returned home with over half of our potables! After settling in our room, we walked into town and visited the Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial.
This Visitor Center tells the story of Perry’s Victory, the “Battle of Lake Erie” on September 10, 1813 over a more powerful British squadron during the War of 1812. The victory gave the U.S. control of Lake Erie and enabled the U.S. to win the Battle of the Thames River (east of Detroit in Canada) over the British and their Indian allies led by Tecumseh. Tecumseh was killed during that battle.
Perry’s flagship the U.S. Brig Lawrence was so disabled after the first two hours of fighting that he abandoned it and was rowed a half-mile to board its sister ship the Niagara. He took with him his battle flag “DON’T GIVE UP THE SHIP” and had it raised on the Niagara.
With a change in wind, the two largest British ships (Detroit and Queen Charlotte) collided and gave Perry an opportunity to sail between them and open fire in both directions. In the end, the British surrendered and the entire squadron was captured. Perry then sent his famous message to Maj. Gen. William Henry Harrison, written on the back of an envelope – “We have met the enemy and they are ours . . .”
This is a scale model of the U.S. Lawrence followed by a cross section view of the ship
Perry statue with Memorial in background
The International Peace Memorial was built (1912-1915) to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the War of 1812 and the lasting peace between the nations at war – the U.S., Great Britain and Canada. Note the three flags as we walked to the Memorial.
The British suffered 41 killed and 94 wounded while the Americans had 27 killed and 96 wounded. The remains of three British and three Americans officers are buried under the rotunda of the Memorial.
The granite Memorial is 352 feet high and the observation level offers great views of Put-In-Bay and surrounding islands. Note the U.S.-Canadian border in Lake Erie.
Afterward, we walked downtown for a Walleye sandwich at Mossbacks and then picked up our golf cart to tour the island. Did a short walk at Stove Cove Beach in South Bass Island State Park and then did the Jane Coate’s Wildflower Trail.
“Birds of a Feather Flock Together”
Returned to the Resort and played Dominos, Farkle and Aces to Kings into the evening.
10/18 – We were blessed with outstanding weather for our two days on the island. We had clear skies and highs of about 80, which is 15 degrees above average. After breakfast, we “drove” to Scheef Nature Preserve on the east end of the island and hiked about a half-mile through the Preserve and along the shore.
Afterward, did another relaxing half-mile hike to a cliff area on the northeast shore of the island
We then proceeded to the Village of Put-In-Bay where I walked through Perry and Derivera Parks along the Harbor while the ladies did a little shopping. Had some chowder at Pasquale’s Café and then did a short trip to the Heineman Winery where we sampled some grape juice.
Do you tend to put on weight when you go on vacation?
That afternoon, I talked the other three into playing National Park Monopoly, thinking that we would talk about the various National Park Units. Wrong, the competitive juices kicked in; camping sites and ranger stations (houses and hotels) were added and mortgaged while “trades” were argued with passion. The “short game” ended after about 1.5 hours.
It was then time for dinner; we each had a Perch Salad at Mossbacks and then returned to the Resort for more “games.”
10/19 – caught the 10am ferry back to Catawba Island – it only takes about 20 minutes. We parted company with Jan and Dick and started the drive home. We didn’t get far before a Goodwill store emerged on the horizon. The next hour resulted in the purchase of clothes, toys, glassware, golf balls and three attractive water color paintings by M. Tjeltweed. A 1970s painter of scenes in the Southwest, e.g. Indian Pueblos.
Stopped in Marion OH to tour the home (1890) of Warren G. Harding, our 29th President. Like President James A. Garfield an earlier President from Ohio, Harding conducted much of his 1920 election campaign from his front porch. In a three-month period, 600,000 people traveled to Marion and Harding’s home to hear him speak. The Ohio Historical Society now oversees the home and are planning a major renovation for 2020.
This is a “Traveling Poling Wagon” that went from town to town so people could vote
Harding and his wife Florence are buried in the Harding Memorial about 1.5 miles from the Harding home. Harding became President and only served 29 months in office. He died of vascular disease on August 2, 1923 in San Francisco while on a western speaking tour and his Vice-President Calvin Coolidge became our 30th President. He stated that he wanted to be buried under the sky and under a tree –
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