I was in this town in 1999, on my way to a family reunion just east of here. While
in town then, I bought some tennis shoes that had some removable steel spikes. Reason:
I had just moved into a new house with a very steep back yard, and, when mowing, my
feet often slipped. The spikes were to help with the footing.
While driving from Fort Wayne IN to Sandusky OH, I noticed that northwestern Ohio
is just as flat as Indiana and Illinois. I also realized that there are so many
freight companies because I keep noticing more and more new names of the companies
that I had never seen before. Also, I always find in interesting when encountering
a place with numerous windmills and some are spinning quickly while others sit motionless.
Are the wind currents really that variable in a given geographical area?
First thing is to get tickets to take the Miller's Ferry to the island from Port
Clinton. You can be a pedestrian, a bicycler, or, a motorist with your vehicle
which included huge RV's and pickup trucks with trailers, large semi-trucks,
large construction vehicles and even a trash truck. Loading is a quick procedure
with all vehicles loading first, then pedestrians and bicyclers last. Same order
when unloading. Several places to sit upstairs (indoors or outdoors under a roof)
during the 15-minute ride each way. Breezy.
One on the island, four modes of transportation. If you brought your vehicle via the
ferry, you are set. Otherwise, you can walk (the island (it is about three miles tall
and 1.5 miles wide), rent a bicycle (unless you brought your own), or, the most popular
used mode is renting a golf cart. I chose to rent a bicycle. Caution: no helmets are
available and no lockup chain available. Wish I had known to bring my bicycle lock!
For those who are unfamiliar with the island, maps are available. Good idea to study
the map a bit before heading off for a siteseeing adventure.
First place I went was northeast about two miles to the national park facility. Just
keep heading towards the large tower it has. The national park is about the only thing
on the island that is free. Everyone else charges. I went to several other places and
some places I tried to find but was unable to spot, and, being a guy, no stopping to
ask directions! :>)
The Marblehead Lighthouse turned out to be a disappointment. Fairly small lighthouse
and many people there. If a person wanted to go to the top of the lighthouse, they
had to purchase a ticket and wait for their allotted time to get to go in, thus,
people were lined up. So, "Nevermind" from my perspective. Several people took
advantage of the nice weather and the well-groomed and tree-lined park to have a picnic.
I was just glad to get one of the shady parking spaces!
All in all, I liked the island and the lighthouse was a disappointment.
This time I was in town to visit two places. One, the Marblehead Lighthouse.
Two, to visit the national park Commodore Perry's War of 1812 Victory (called the
International Peace Memorial) on Catawba Island (aka. Put-in-Bay).