Middle Bass Island - Part 3

There are some very interesting aspects to life on Middle Bass Island.  Right outside of Karl and Pat's house and, in fact, posted all over the island is a very interesting sign...............

The snakes may be a unique part of the island heritage but I don't want any in my yard!  Pat says they aren't poisonous but are aggressive and have a painful bite.

A big part of the human island heritage is the Lonz Winery - no longer in operation.  There are, now, wild grapevines growing all over the island.

The state is working to preserve the winery and the family mansion.

Karl assures me that they are making good progress too.

On the other side of the island is a peaceful enclave of historic homes that are still enjoyed today - primarily in the summer.

Karl's family had a home in this neighborhood and he enjoyed a boyhood running wild on the island during the summer.

We enjoyed a quiet Sunday afternoon wandering among the beautiful homes, talking to residents who were packing up to return to their homes on the mainland.

All too soon Monday arrived, and Karl and Pat took us back to the plane for the ride back to the mainland ourselves.

I took one last look at the baby Bald Eagle in the nest by the airport runway as Karl prepared the plane for takeoff.

We had one last look at Middle Bass Island as we headed for our car at the Port Clinton airport on the mainland.  We had a wonderful memorable weekend but it was time to return to Pennsylvania - and even more adventures!

Middle Bass Island - Part 2

I wanted to get another post done before we left the good wifi of our hotel in Gettysburg.  We move to another RV park next Saturday so I'll be posting again then.

Karl and Pat were such wonderful hosts when we visited them on Middle Bass Island.  On Saturday, we boarded a ferry departing for South Bass Island to learn a little more about the history of the area.

Ferries, boats and airplanes are the only way to move between the islands.  You can even take your car on this ferry.

We caught an early ferry so we didn't have much company on this trip.

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The ride didn't take long and soon we were at Put-In-Bay.

A short walk from the pier and we arrived at Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial.  It commemorates the vital role that Lake Erie played in the War of 1812 and the ensuing peace obtained between the United States, Great Britain and Canada.

The memorial is 352 feet high and you can ride an elevator to the top.

An important battle took place in the waters between South Bass and Middle Bass Island on September 10, 1813 between the ships of Great Britain and United States ships led by Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry.

The fighting was ferocious and Perry even had to change ships in the midst of battle when his flagship was badly damaged.  Perry ultimately prevailed and the Great Lakes was saved from British incursion.  And, yes, the War of 1812 lasted longer than just one year.  Look it up.

The view from the top of the Memorial is breath-taking, providing a gorgeous view of the harbor at Put-In-Bay.  No wonder so many people love spending their summer here.

Here's a view of the landing strip for South Bass Island.  You know they had to have one!

When we emerged from the memorial there were a couple of gentlemen dressed as sailors in 1813.  They gave an interesting talk on the life of a sailor during the War of 1812.

After the memorial we did a little shopping, visited a museum about the area and had a delicious lunch.  However, lots and lots of people had descended on the island so we headed back to the peace and quiet of Middle Bass Island.

Next up:  some historic houses on Middle Bass Island

Middle Bass Island, Ohio - Part 1

It's been so long since I blogged!  My friend Ceekay came to visit me in Pennsylvania for a few weeks and then I flew back to Arizona for a week.  While I was gone, the wifi in the RV park we're staying at went out and they haven't been able to get it fixed.  Next week we're moving to a new RV park where (hopefully) we'll have a dependable wifi signal and stronger cell phone service.  This weekend I'm taking advantage of the wifi in the hotel we're staying at in Gettysburg.  We just arrived here so no pictures to show yet, but I need to catch up on everything else we've done first!

It's been about a month since we drove to Catawba, Ohio to catch a ferry to Middle Bass Island in Lake Erie where we were going to spend the weekend with our friends Karl and Pat.  We just missed one ferry and was several hours early for the next ferry.  Karl said, "No problem.  I'll just fly on over and pick you up in our plane."

Before long we were on our way.  Normally, it's an eight minute flight but Karl generously gave us a wonderful tour.

Karl pointed out some of the smaller islands and then we flew around South Bass Island and saw the town of Put-in-Bay, a popular summer tourist destination.

Soon, we were flying over their home on Middle Bass Island.  That's a grass landing strip below, near their house.  They use the nearby paved airstrip now days though.

After landing and securing the plane, Karl gave us a quick tour of the island.  This is the former schoolhouse, library and community center.  It also serves as a meeting place for the church Karl pastors on Sunday morning.

If you need a book to read here's the place to come.  They even have a kitchen if you want to have a dinner.

The ladies on the island put together this quilt.  Pat's square is on the second row from the top and the third square from the left.  She sewed a house and a plane taking off from the island.  It's a beautiful quilt.  The ladies did a great job.

Here's where island meetings take place and churches come to worship on Sunday morning.  It was such a blessing to be able to worship with Karl and Pat at their island church!

Soon, it was time to head on over to their house where Pat was waiting with a delicious dinner in their beautiful home.

I think I could get used to this.

Their home is gorgeous and ..........

 .......the view is breathtaking!

The day wasn't over yet!  After dinner we drove over to the marina and toured the islands in their boat.

Middle Bass Island has it's share of summer visitors but is quieter and more laid back than it's counterpart to the south.  We thoroughly enjoyed our weekend in Ohio!

Next up: more island adventures!