Battle of Lake Erie Re-enactment

The Battle of Lake Erie took place about 16 miles west and a little north of Put-in-Bay on September 10, 1813. Half a million people are gathered in Put-in-Bay on September 2 to celebrate the 200th anniversary. Wait a minute... disconnect #1 - this is the wrong day.

The PIB bi-centenial committee has been organizing this this for years. The plan called for tons of festivities, the marching band, and the fireworks. The battle re-enactment was the highlight. An army (actually a navy) of escort boats  were enlisted, the Coast Guard was in place, 11 tall ships came from all over, and thousands of recreational boats came to view. We were going to see the battle itself re-enacted!!

The plan was pretty simple on paper. The tall ships traveled from Detroit, Leamington, Port Clinton, Put-in-Bay, and Kelly's Island to the original battle site 16 miles west near West Sister Island to duke it out at 2pm, the time of the original battle.

But we had another little disconnect. The half million people were in PIB 16 miles from where the battle took place and where the re-enactment battle would take place. So all we knew on land was the tall ships left. Perhaps it might have been more fun to have the battle within sight of PIB?

The weather did not cooperate at all. It was cold, windy, cloudy and felt like rain. This weather made the lake simply awful. White cap city. Add the weather to the thousands of recreational boats streaming into the lake to catch a glimpse of cannon fire and you have a 4 to 6 foot choppy mess on your hands.

Kermit and I planned to view the battle in very different ways.

Kermit got on Paul Bates' boat, Mai Thai, a 38 Silverton Sedan Bridge along with Paul and Maeo Bates, Vicki and Kevin Hoffman, and the Bates' friends Gwen and Jim. Mai Thai was a security vessel flying a big yellow flag assigned to the tall ship Windy, standing in for the Lawrence, Admiral Perry's flagship.

This was a big deal assignment. His job was to guard the Windy's port flank to prevent the recreational boats from getting too close. We've done this before for a tall ship parade in 2000 in Cleveland. We are experienced. We know what we are doing.

Ah, but factor in the west wind coming directly on the bow, thousands of small boats creating huge boat chop and you have a big mess. Little boats taking pictures are not watching where they are going. Mai Thai was almost t-boned several times. The hailer wasn't effective so they used a huge bull horn Kevin brought to get other boats' attention. It was a mess!!

The tall ships did not leave their ports at the correct time to get to West Sister Island in a coordinated time. That meant the PIB tall ships arrived at the spot earlier than the other boats. So they spent quite a bit of time bouncing around. Recreational boats bouncing around trying to get a great photo. Yuck.

A short time into this mess Paul turned the helm over to Kermit. Kermit heard this fascinating conversation over the radio when the Coast Guard asked event coordinator for a status update.

Mai Thai coming back just as the sun came out

Event Coordinator: We were going to have an anchored line to ring the battle but we changed our minds.

Coast Guard: So what is the plan?

Event Coordinator: We are going to let all the boats float.

Coast Guard: [long pause] Ok, [another long pause] then we are going to stand down until you figure this out.

It was a big mess. Maeo got sea sick. She never gets sea sick. It was time to turn back. Mai Thai returned to Miller Marina just as the sun came out and the clouds started to clear. Figures.

My adventure, on the other hand, was a spectacular success. Ron Feldner knew we all couldn't get on Mai Thai to watch the battle in person. There had to be another way. So a bunch of us went up in a helicopter to check out the scene. It was AMAZING!

waiting for the chopper to come back

A little tiny red helicopter. It was adorable. Brett didn't feel good so he stayed back at the boat. We needed four trips to get the entire crowd out to the battle site.

Helicopter doors on the ground

Three people went up at a time, one sitting next to the pilot and the other two in the back seat. It was cloudy, windy, and chilly. Ron is an experienced pilot. He said we should take the doors off the helicopter for optimum enjoyment.

Julie, Julia, and Dan waiting 

Group 1 - Julie and Eve on the
port side, cameras ready

Our kids go up in group 2

Dan, Julia and Julie come
back wind tossed and smiling

First up was Julie Feldner and Bill and Eve Gribble. Then our Julie, Julia, and Danny.

Then I went up with Tom Steiber and Ron's friend who sat next to me. Although I didn't catch his name we did lean on each other to avoid falling out. Karen and Jim Sigmund and their grandson went up last.

The view from the front window

Each group went out with a bit of nerves but came back with wind tousselled hair and huge smiles. It was a blast!!

Good Karma from the air

The Niagra

This is what it looks like when the
camera gets into the wind

Then it was our turn! I sat in the port side back seat. It was so cool!! And windy. Half my pictures are blurry from being whipped by the wind. Good thing I had the strap around my wrist.

We saw Good Karma from the air.

Tall ship Windy - Mai Thai is the boat at the
bottom of the screen - no other boats are supposed to be that
close to Windy

The Niagra

It took a few minutes to get to the battle site. Actually it wasn't the battle site. It was the ships moving towards the battle site.

Mai Thai - check out those waves
right off the bow

We saw the huge mess from the air. Tall ships surrounded by a gazillion little boats zig zagging all over. Lots of waves and big wind. We even saw Mai Thai!!

The battle did not come off the way it might have but it was a great experience from the air. I am glad I was not out on the water.

Immediately after Paul returned back to Miller's Marina and we returned from the helicopter ride at about 1pm the sun came out and the wind calmed down. The news the next days showed footage of cannons booming in the bright sun. Not our experience but kind of fun.

Boats returning to PIB after the "battle"

Here is YouTube footage showing the beautiful sunny day that other people experienced.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkgC6_yhPT4

The wind didn't calm down the rest of the day. The tall ships and the other boats streamed back in the sunshine later in the afternoon.

Leaving Put-in-Bay

Marblehead Lighthouse

Cedar Point comes into view

Most of our friends and the other dockers at Millers left anyway because, unlike loopers, they have to get back to work so they travel in awful weather. The next day, Tuesday, the weather was a little calmer. We had a nice lunch with Steibers and Hoffmans then headed back to Sandusky mid-afternoon.

Mosely Channel into the Bay

The Steibers and Hoffmans went on ahead. We traveled at our usual 10 pmh.

Cedar Point added some rides
while we were gone

Cedar Point grew large on the horizon. The Sandusky Bay landmarks are still there.

A gorgeous sky

Sandusky

Lymon Harbor entrance

turn into Venetian's channel

Venetian Marina looks just the same

Head down our channel

Kevin and Tom waiting to grab our lines

Tom and team watch us move smoothly
into our slip

Checking out that pesky stern line

Arriving home 9/3/13

Leaving the dock 7/12/12

I could just say that we entered our slip smoothly providing a great finish to a long trip. But it wasn't smooth. I had the lines all arranged on the railing so I could easily flip the lines to folks. Just like we've done hundreds of times. Three front lines. Check. Run back to toss the stern line positioned on the side railing. Where is the line?

Are you kidding me? The line fell into the water. Normally no big deal. But when Kermit misjudged the dock and had to back up to get the right angle the line fell into the water and wrapped around the propeller. What an amateur move! I certainly know better. We loosened all the lines. Kevin and Tom pulled on the line. Sure enough it is tight. Kermit backed up a little then went forward releasing the line! Those little spurs did their job!! One end of the line came out of the water chewed all to heck. The other end is somewhere on the bottom of the lake.

Adjusting the steps

We destroyed the evidence so it won't come back to haunt us in the future. We had a similar problem when we left the dock on July 12, 2012. We (I) forgot to untie one line in my excitement to leave. We had to cut the line!! Maybe the common element is Venetian Marina?

We arrived back to find Paul found our steps!! Tom and Kermit adjusted the location so Rusty can climb down safely.

Adjusting the steps

Rusty is happy to be home

 Rusty knew exactly where he was. We suited him up in his lifejacket. He ran down the stairs and started shaking his lifejacket and running around like a puppy!! I think he is happy to be home!!!

Rusty waiting patiently 

 We are home. It is a little anti-climatic. Every day on this trip has been a new adventure. We had to come home to understand what we want and how we want to live.

The next phase of our adventure is living our life in a way that enhances our passions, not just return to our old rut. We will see what the future brings. A new diesel boat for long term cruising? Sell the house and possessions to embrace the simple looping life? We will see.

The adventure continues!!

Celebrating the Re-enactment

Julie and Dan

This was an action packed weekend! Saturday 8/31 dawned gorgeous, sunny, and hot. Put-in-Bay was packed with boats and people everywhere. All the kids were here and got to sleep late. We made German fries, a family specialty involving fried potatoes, peppers, onions, and ham scrambled with eggs.

The town was packed. We heard there were 100,000+ people in town for the weekend plus an additional 400,000 expected to visit by ferry this weekend. It sure felt crowded. Every possible place to put boats was utilized. Boats were rafted 3 or 4 deep every place boats could be rafted. 

Julia, Brett, and Julie

At the public docks

Every marina was told to ration water -  no boat washing - and we were warned of possible brown outs. We didn't have brown outs but most boats could only plug in one electric cord. That meant we had electricity in the front and salon but not in our cabin. It was hot. Nuff said. Also, cars were only allowed on the car ferry if they could prove they had a residence or hotel planned for the weekend because they anticipated parking issues. 

Tall ships everywhere

t 

The harbor filled with boats

 Every day was a parade. On Saturday was a parade of these odd looking 3 wheeled race cars. I am not sure what they are but they were everywhere. Finally I caught a photo op of one of these little cars on a trailer on its way out of town.

The militia demonstration

Statue of Admiral Perry

L: Julie, Dan and Julia at the museum

We wandered around town, took in the encampment and visited the museum. The battle of Lake Erie took place on September 10, 2013 about 10 miles off of Put-in-Bay. Ships came from British controlled Detroit and American controlled southern side of Lake Erie. If the British could control the entire lake they could gain land. If the Americans could control Lake Erie they could prevent British from coming south and could come north themselves. The American goal was not only to repel the British who were stealing boats and sailors on the Atlantic but also to move North and take over large chunks of Canada.

Cool exhibits

The Battle of Lake Erie was a major American victory. The US used it as a huge bargaining chip to gain a good settlement during the Treaty of Ghent that ended the war. This battle marked the first time the British navy lost a big battle.

Don't give up the ship flags
are everywhere

Major Commandant Oliver Hazard Perry was aboard the flagship Lawrence, named after his mentor James Lawrence who famously said, "Never give us the ship." Lawrence was killed earlier in the War of 1812 so Perry had flags made with the slogan, "Never give us the ship". These flags are all over PIB in honor of the 200th anniversary.

A neat demonstration

Americans had the brigs Lawrence and Niagra plus a few smaller ships. The British under command of  Commander Robert Heriot Barclay in the Queen Charlotte and the brig Detroit plus a few smaller ships.

In the battle, the Queen Charlotte blew the heck out of the Lawrence, killing at least 4/5 of the Lawrence crew and destroying the ship. Somehow Perry survived. They lowered a small boat and Perry and a few men transferred to the flag and the remaining crew to the Niagra. The Niagra only survived the initial battle because for some reason the captain hung back when he shouldn't have.

The win shifted and the Queen Charlotte got tangled up in the Detroit allowing the Niagra to blow both ships to smithereens. So the USS Niagra carried the day!!

Lake Erie was important

Perry sent General William Henry Harrison, his superior, a text message saying: "Dear General:

We have met the enemy and they are ours. Two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop.

Yours with great respect and esteem,
O.H. Perry^[B]

So we have a new famous phrase that comes from the Battle of Lake Erie!! So this weekend we have encampments with re-enactors wandering around town.

Mad Dog

The gang

The big event scheduled for the day was Mad Dog at the Roundhouse from 2-6pm. He is a hoot. We listened to Mad Dog, watched the Ohio State football game, and drank a bit of beer with good friends. It was great!

Great cookout that evening with lamb and steaks!!

Katherine and Char

Rusty is ever hopeful

Julia and Dan

Julie Feldner, Dan and Kermit R, and Char

Tom, Diane, and Kevin 

Kermit, Paul and Maeo

Dan and Julia

Julie and Brett

We had a crowd on our boat!

A quiet sunset at Put-in-Bay

The highlight of the weekend was the arrival of The Ohio State Marching Band - the best damned band in the land, or TBDBITL as they are known. Excitement was high. People started gathering early. We had a primo spot next to the parade route. A classic car parade came by, turned around, and came by the other direction.

The band was coming in on a Miller Ferry. Most of our friends climbed on our boat or on Stieber's boat just across from us. It was a great party!!

Julie, Brett, and Dan along with some new friends from
Mentor Harbor Yacht Club on the front of Good Karma
waiting for the band to arrive

Paul Bates on the back of our boat

Kevin and Vicki on
Diane and Tom Stieber's boat

Here comes the ferry around the corner - the band
is in formation and playing 

Doffing their caps at the crowds

Docked and marching off

They marched right past us!!

Around the corner they go into town

Here they come

There they go

And then they played for a while

At 6pm we headed downtown to watch the marching band head to the monument in their dress uniforms for a concert around the monument. Ohioans love Ohio State and they love this band. No Michigan t-shirts were in sight. Dan and Julia headed out just after we did and came upon the band marching through town. They marched behind the band on to the grass by the memorial.

THREE barges of fireworks

The Perry monument

The fireworks were spectacular!! The memorial committee normally purchases $30,000 worth of fireworks for July 4 celebration. For this celebration they ordered $100,000 worth of fireworks!!! They were loaded on three barges in the harbor, guarded by the Coast Guard.

I've never seen anything like these fireworks. They went on forever and took up the entire sky. It was amazing!!! A great way to end a wonderful day.

 .

 

 Next: The re-enactment itself on Labor Day.

Sunday's adventure included