Travel , Discoveries and Lights

June 29, 2016  - Wednesday

Today was a travel day.  We left Milan, Michigan and drove to Monroe, Michigan to the Harbortown RV Park.  This will be our "Home" through July 6th), as there are many lighthouses that we can visit from this location.  This RV park has every amenity imaginable, however, each amenity cost above and beyond the site fee.  They get you coming and going but it is a popular park and there are 250 sites of which all are full!  There are tents, pop-ups, towables and gorgeous motor homes .  They have many activities planned for the weekend and we may try to partake of some of them if we aren't lighthouse hunting,  The hazards in the park include bicycles, golf carts, mules, and children!  There is a beautiful pool and a mini-golf course as well as a golf course and batting cages.   I'll try to get some additional park pictures for a later blog. Nothing significant to write about this day.

June 30, 2016 - Thursday

Today we got up and drove to Toledo to see the Manhattan Range Lights (Two).  Prior to our departure from Monroe, we stopped for breakfast at McDonalds and there was a sea gull pecking at the door!  It was like he was knocking at the door and waiting for someone to come and open the door so he could place his order!

The first light we went to see was the Manhattan Front Range.  The GPS was accurate and took us right to it.  However, we were somewhat disappointed as this light looked more like "Smokey the Bear" forest lookout station.  Never the less, we dutifully photographed it for our archives.  In 1890 the two Range lights were built to guide ships up the Maumee River. 

The second light, was also accurately located by GPS, but we failed to recognize it.  After inquiring at the office of a local business it was pointed out it was in their parking lot and we had driven right pass it!  This light was very similar to the one we had just visited but again, we photographed it. ("Smokey" would be proud)

 Manhattan Front Range Light

Manhattan Rear Range Light

This completed the viewing and photographing of all the Ohio Lights along  the Lake Erie coast that were easily and economically available, 

Coincidently, the city of Manhattan no longer exists.

An interesting aspect of Toledo we observed while driving,  was the Hispanic neighborhood we passed through on our way to the Manhattan

Front Range Light. The art work on the buildings (which had been converted from graffiti) was absolutely amazing!

Now on to Michigan!

We drove to Luna Pier and found a lighthouse which is not listed in any of our lighthouse references.  We can't tell you anything about this lighthouse since we cannot find any information on it..  However,we were able to photgraph the Toledo Harbor Lighthouse that was 5 miles out in the lake.  Hopefully when  we are are editing our pictures when we get home, we will get a clearer picture of this light.

Luna Pier Lighthouse

  Toledo Harbor Light.

Skyline of Toledo

Beautiful Bridge in Toledo

Returned to Monroe and spent the afternoon having some "ME" time at the nail salon.  Long overdue!

Catholic Church in Toledo

Til next time.............

Rock and Roll

June 28, 2016 - Tuesday

Today we back tracked to Cleveland to fulfill a Bucket List item!  We went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  We were so excited to finally get there.  We had been in the area last time we were looking for lighthouses in the here, but we had Lacy with us and no place to board her and we weren't going to keep her in the car in a parking garage.  So this time, we found a nice boarding kennel and Lizzie spent the day in the country making new friends and had an opportunity to runaround without a leash on her! Something you may not know is that Jim had a jukebox with rock and roll 45's in it and a collection of over 1,000 records.  He has since passed it on to our son Gary and when we visit we still play it and dance to the music.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has six levels open to the public.  The first level is just information, gift shop and tickets.  Therefore, you have to go to the lower level to start your tour.  The tour consists of 18 viewing stations, which include Elvis, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The originals from Rock and Roll and many exhibits of guitars and clothing owned by various musicians.  Of special interest is the Alan Freed Radio Studio from which Sirius XM is broadcast live.  In the four hours we spent there, we just scratched the surface of all there was to take in.   For more information, go to rockhall.com.  A few of a million pictures we took!

 Elvis' Motorcycle

After we left the Hall of Fame, we tracked down the East Entrance Lighthouse and photographed same.

After a long day we headed back to the RV and called it a day!

Til next time.......

Big and Little Lights

June 26, 2016 - Sunday

We decided to sleep in today and then head out to Cedar Point, located in Sandusky Ohio.  The Cedar Point Lighthouse is actually located in the resort called Cedar Point, a huge amusement Park.  We actually had to pay the $15 parking fee to go see the lighthouse.  Below is the lighthouse we viewed that day.

Cedar Point Lighthouse (?)

When we left the park we stopped at the cashier office and received $14.50 in return for the $15.00 parking fee.  First time we have ever had to pay to take a picture of a lighthouse  (50 cents) other than toll booth fees. 

The rest of the day was spent catching up on blogging and relaxing. 

June 27, 2016- Monday.

We realized after returning to the RV to blog last night that the lighthouse we saw yesterday was NOT the Cedar Point Lighthouse.  It was a replica of some other lighthouse that was used as the visitor information center.  Below is the REAL Cedar Point Lighthouse.

This lighthouse was built in 1839 to mark the eastern approach to Sandusky Bay.  Marblehead Lighthouse which had already been built in 1822, marked the western edge.  In 1987, Cedar Point Amusement Park acquired the Northwest corner of the peninsula for $425,000.  Among the abandoned structures on the property was the historic Cedar Point Lighthouse.  Rather than bulldozing it, the park restored it and it became the center piece of collect park cottages and cabins resembling the nautical New England town. 

Cedar Point is a 365 acre amusement park located on a Lake Erie peninsula in Sandusky, Ohio.  It opened in 1870, the second oldest operating amusement park in the United States.  The park features 71 rides including 17 roller coasters, which are second most in the world.  Its newest coaster, Valraen, opened in May 2016.  This roller coaster is the tallest, fastest and longest dive roller coaster in the world.  It climbs 223 feet into the sky before you are held over the edge for  four seconds.  Then it is a 75 MPH, 90 degree dive straight down.  Flip upside down three times, and plunge into a second dive during this three minute journey.  For more information and pictures regarding this park, go to:  CedarPoint.com

The town of Sandusky is quaint and beautiful. You will find many miniature lighthouses that have been hand painted by local artist with various themes throughout the town.  Here are a few:

Til next time..............