Put-In-Bay, South Bass Island OH

This picture of Put-In-Bay was taken from the top of the very tall tower commemorating Admiral Perry's victory over the British in the Battle of Lake Erie (also called the Battle of Put-In-Bay). For $3 each, we took the elevator to the top and as promised, we could see "clear to Canada".

After a two hour cruise from Sandusky, we arrived here before noon and chose a mooring ball close to and protected by Gibraltar Island (the cluster of trees, upper right). This location is protected from winds in any direction, including NE winds that can create a surge in other parts of the Bay. Today rain and possible thunder storms are predicted through the day and evening so we are glad to be tucked in here.

Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial

Here in Put-In-Bay, Admiral Perry is given a lot of credit for his role in bringing the War of 1812 to a successful conclusion after which "international peace was established along the world's longest undefended border".  At least that is what is implied in the film we viewed at the town visitors' center. There is a rather quick segue from the American victory in the Lake Erie naval battle to the end of the war and the settling of differences. The battle was, indeed, a turning point for the Americans and gave them back control of Lake Erie; however, the complexities of the war and the inconclusive victory of one side or the other are not part of the narrative at the visitors' center.

Put-In-Bay is a party town full of bars, restaurants and tourist attractions "for the whole family": The War of 18 Holes miniature golf course, the Butterfly House, the Antique Cars Barn and so on. Beyond the hoaky facades of the many town bars and restaurants and the innumerable shops selling Put-In-Bay T-shirts and souvenirs is a pretty little island with a National Park and a small community of families - most of them owners of businesses here.

Apparently we have managed to be here during the very busiest weekend of the summer. Why this weekend? - well because it's the end of the two week Christmas in July celebration. From the sounds of music, singing and yelling that were drifting across the bay to our more remote location night, I can attest to the hilarity and general exuberance of this end of season celebration.

The Boardwalk Taxi approaching Sand Castle 

On our first afternoon in town, we happened upon a very good band playing at the Roundhouse, decided to join the fun and managed to find an empty table and four stools. For the better part of 2 hours we whooped it up with all the other somewhat long in the tooth couples and unattached women who were dancing in front of the stage. The demographic of the audience probably had a lot to do with the type of music being played. There are crowds of younger people on the streets today - some in Santa hats; others, driving around in decorated golf carts.

The Roundhouse Bar

Thursday evening we met a couple on the Boardwalk Water Taxi and decided to join them in attending two lectures on Gibraltar Island (just behind where our boat is moored). The Stone Laboratories on Gibraltar and Put-In-Bay Islands are the center of Ohio State University’s teaching and research on Lake Erie. The center offers courses for students of ecology and the aquatic sciences (not sure if "aquatic sciences" is a term but it's the best I can come up with) and the students studying there were also attending the evening lectures. We learned a little about the center and found the lectures interesting. Just ask us now about how the personalities of native predators might affect their interaction with invasive species (i.e. - to eat or not to eat) or about the problem of Algal Bloom in not only Lake Erie but other lakes worldwide. We now know all about the effects of phosphorus run off from fertilizers and from "combined sewer overflow" both of which have been acerbated in recent years by increased severe weather incidents (think Toronto's over flowing sewers during the recent  rainstorm). It was an unexpected pleasure to get the brain cells working and to meet so many pleasant and interesting people.

The question now is - do we leave tomorrow as planned, cross over to the north side of the lake and start up the Detroit river? The winds will be pushing us in the right direction but presently the prediction is for gusts up to 25 knots. How much will these winds stir up the shallow Lake Erie waters?