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