Dave Hannum has put together the first Hoosier Lighthousing Club's bus/boat lighthousing tour... There will be 53 of us (some of that number are GLLKA members, soon to become club members I suspect) leaving the Oregon, OH Sleep Inn parking lot by bus at 8am in the morning. First stop Marblehead for a climb, then on to Vermillion Light and Museum and a box lunch in the lawn area there.. Next we head to the Lorain Light then on to the Fairport Main Light & Museum.. Sunday we board the boat with the addition of 3 more people and head past Turtle Island Light and then on to Toledo Harbor Light.. Lunch is on the boat on the way back... Prime Rib was mentioned by Dave..




Early arrivals deciding supper plans....

Wacko Panorama!!



The Coles are checking in on the far left as the rest are into serious lighthousing tales, as Dave serves up ice cream at the back of the group!! It is 9:45pm and the group is growing stronger every hour.. until 8am tomorrow and we are unleashed on the unsuspecting Buckeyes!!

Looks like everybody had a good time.

Looking forward to meeting the gang for Sunday's boat ride. Weather is now looking superb. Sunny and 81 degrees for Sunday. Let's hope it holds to the forecast.

Hope everyone has a great trip and the weather holds out. Looking forward to seeing more pictures.

We met the group at Marblehead about 9:30 this morning. It was cloudy and a little foggy but at least it wasn't raining for a change. We left about 10:30 and met up again at Nickle Plate Park in Huron (our hometown) for a couple pictures of the Huron Lighthouse and then they were off to Vermilion and points east. Hope the weather cooperated for them.

Tom & Diane

It's 7:45 and the troops start boarding the bus for the first light.. speaking of light, it's a gray foggy morning, at least no rain!


The first light was in Port Clinton.. the light is now located in a marina.. some peep in for a real close look..


While others catch up on old times after getting their pictures!!!



Next stop is Marblehead, Dave has arranged for the light to be opened a little early so one and all can climb..


Mary is explaining how to sign in before you climb, well maybe not, but she is explaining something..


Half of the group is going through the house & gift shop while the other half makes their climb up the tower...

Mike and Patty can't seem to agree on where to shoot the next lighthouse from... we all agreed it was Great having them on the trip!

First plant shot of the lighthousing trip.. We are stopping at Vermillion to see the light and their Museum...



A trail of Wackos going to the Museum.. nice anchor!


"Jake, the light is on your left, turn left!"


"This is the light, Jake!"


Captain Dave is manning the ship's wheel, I hope we don't go under any low bridges...

Captain Dave is holding it steady.. shooting pictures of Lorain lighthouse..


It is a little way out to the end of the breakwater..


This image is for Mombo and my mom!


Fairport Harbor light and Museum was very nice, speaking of very nice, nice hill!


This was right outside the entrance to the lighthouse at Fairport Harbor!


The Wacko's heading out to get shots of the Fairport Harbor Pier light..

WackoPaul-Nice update on your picture.Looks like everyone had a good time

As always, Paul...

Thanks for taking us along!

Great Pictures, Paul! Thanks for sharing!

Wacko's boarding the Sandpiper at 8:00 AM sharp to cruise out to Toledo Harbor Light..


Jeff is testing out the breakfast on board the Sandpiper


This is for Jakers... you were missed, young man..


Wackos watching the light as we approach.. you didn't need a long lens to get your pictures in fact a wide angle was more in order as the captain circled the light several times..


Up top side with the Captain, Carolyn leans in for a better angle..

Toledo Light is probably one of the most unique looking lighthouses in the USA...


One last look back at the Harbor Light as we head to Turtle Island and a look at the remains of the light there..


There is a group working on the reconstruction of the buildings at Turtle Island...


Harold getting a shot of the tower remains and the buildings on the Island..


The tower is a just a shell of it's former self...

Patty & Mike hit the chow line...


Rod leading the synchronized eating!! The food really hit the spot!


Roy enjoys not only the food but a prime location for chowing down..


On the way back to port we swung by the Coast Guard Station for a quick look at their boats..


It just doesn't get any better than this!!!

Great pictures Paul. That one of Jake taking a photo of the ground really made me chuckle! Thanks for the rose and other flowers too. My roses are coming but very slowly this year due to the crappy weather we've had. Looks like everyone was having a swell time and will look forward to the boat trip!

Boy did I miss a great trip or what! Everyone looks like they are having a great time! Thanks for taking the photos for all of us who could not go along.

Derith

What a great time we have had with our fellow WACKO'S the last two weekends. Dave did a great job with the planning and executing of opening of the tower in Grand Haven last weekend. This weekend was simply GREAT!!!!!

From the time we got into Toledo until we left the group at the dock this afternoon we had a blast. Touring with this group of friends is great fun. We all tried to listen to Dave's pleas to be on time and be back on the bus at specific times. Climbing Marblehead and Old Fairport was special.

Driving around in circles while Carolyn McBee and John Tamlin went to get a bunch of Vermillon pins for those who didn't get any was fun. The poor woman at the garage sale couldn't believe it when the bus stopped and she was asked how much for the boat and could she put a hitch on the bus so we could tow it back. Paul will be posting more pictures of this adventure and believe me we would do it again.

A special thank you to Dave for all the hard work.

Mary and Jeff

Fiurst of all ~ Bubba thanks for a great time! You did a wonderful job and all your hard work really showed.

We had a great time! Saw a lot of old friends who we missed seeing at the regional event last week. We weren't staying at the same hotel as everyone so we missed some of the weekend's chats. But made up for it in the stops on the bus trip and on the boat ride!

It was a lot of fun and it was a great group of people ~ everyone was very conscientious about being back on the bus in Dave's alloted time frame.

Thanks again everyone for a great time it was well worth the long drive.

Patty & Mike

p.s. do you think that Dave planned the trip around the full moon to unleash this group on an unsuspecting Ohio???

This sure sounds like a fun trip for everyone. It would have been fun to have tagged along.

Thanks for the photos and commentary (even though it makes me a litle jealous I wasn't there).

Lorie,

It makes me feel even worse- We originally planned on being part of that crew.

At least we got to see some of the Lighthouses we missed with the "Hannum Heroes". Of course it wasn't the same- especially since the people I were with secretly think I'm truly Wacko for my fascination with lighthouses.

Dennis

Paul,

I knew it was only a matter of time before we had the second most popular thing for you to photograph on these excursions- eating.

Can't wait for the captions on the cruise pictures.

Great work as always.You always seem to capture the true character of the proceedings.

Dennis

Thanks for sharing the photos. Looks like a great time was had by all.

I am going to post a couple of more images tonight when I get home.. They are two of my favorites from the weekend for a reason that will be rather obvious..

Once again, Paul. A superb job. We all appreciate the 'people pictures' of our online friends as well as the lighthouse shots.

We missed several of these folks at the Michigan Regional and it's nice to know they are doing (and looking) fine!

Congrats to Dave for putting this all together and keeping everyone on time!!

You mean YOU didn't go?!

Some more good pictures,also looks like every one ate good

Thanks for the great pics, Paul! What a great group of people you had for that tour!

Bob

Here are the 2 others images I mentioned..


My son, Chad and his wife, Barb decided to come along on the trip , when they found out that we weren't going to be home on Father's Day.. It was a real neat moment shooting this picture of them at the top of Marblehead Lighthouse and if it wasn't enough to be with a lot of great friends on the trip, we were with our kids, too!



Chad shot this image while Jeff watched me download the images of the trip up to that point on my laptop.. I was able to share the pictures I was shooting as we went along on the trip, with iphoto on my new laptop. With iphoto you can put together a slide show almost instantly.. I really like this image with me and my laptop with Marblehead in the background.. it kind of joins a couple of era's..

You and the laptop, right Paul?

I figured it would be either you or Dave with that one, Mombo!

GREAT pictures Paul! Thanks for sharing them with all of us. Looks like the weather and everything else cooperated for a wonderful trip.

Bert

Brings back some great memories when I see the group shot. Sure wish I could have been there!!!