Hurricane Katrina was hammering the Gulf Coast.

1300 miles to the north I was on Mackinac Island getting ready for the Harbor Lights Collectors Reunion that was to take place the next day. Some of the participants were already arriving on site, eager to get things going. By the end of the next day (29th) we would have about 400 collectors on the island for 3 days of fun, including some great meals and some fantastic lighthouse viewing trips to both the east and the west. Capt Shepler noted that the two days our group were on the water were perhaps part of just a handful of times he could remember the water being as smooth as it was for 2 consecutive days. What a great time was had by all in attendance.

There is a whole forum dedicated to the 2005 Collectors Reunion on Mackinac Island. Lots of great memories there.

I know you guys all had a blast. That is the one thing that I have always missed is being able to attend a reunion.

Yes Dave, that was a great time. Hard to believe that was ten years ago! Would sure be fun to have another....

Just uncovered a couple of hundred pictures from that event along with an unpainted, unassembled skeletal light in a box. Seems like that was for a paint your own lighthouse activity that never got completed - very similar to a lot of other projects around the house right now. That was a great event, as was the trip up and back from Missouri. I wonder if they still charge a fee just to walk through the front door of the Grand Hotel.

It was hard to believe the misery happening down south while we were having a blast up north...

Fond memories...my first Reunion (found out about one in Baltimore too late). Met people I had previously only spoken with via these forums. A great lighthousing experience.

Better late than never!
MaryAnn and I talk about this all the time,

Highlights
Anything Dave set upto cruise the smooth sea.
We were lucky enough to spend an extra day before an after at the hotel.
Renting and riding a bike around the whole Island.
Deciding after to get a drink in bar in town at 10 am instead of a bottle of water. Interesting people at the bar at that hour?
On our return home a day after most already left on the ferry which was the ride of a lifetime on the ferry in the roughest seas Ive ever experience. At one point we thought we were in a submarie as the waves covered the windows. We actually saw many commercial fishing boats along the way as the ferry came up for.
Finding gas in Mac afterworrying wether we were going to find any at a record price.

Spending two days before any after lighthousing and bumping into friends along the way .

Memorable!!!!

Bob - Rough seas are in a cutter in the North Atlantic in 30 foot seas and you are drifting while your on Ocean Station Bravo in February. Your ship was tested to stay upright at 65 degree rolls and you are taking 63 degree rolls. You hope that the measurements the Coast Guard Yard in Cutis Bay, MD were accurate at 65 degree rolls.