Here are the tentative Lighthouse Motor Coach Tour plans. The 2001 Collectors Family Reunion will start on Thursday, October 4 with registration commencing at 4 PM.

I am making plans to provide 3 different motor coach tours of lighthouses, similar to those I arranged around the 1998 Reunion. All tours will feature a knowledgeable guide, a box lunch (limited veggie sandwiches) and 30-45 minute stops at each lighthouse. We'll be using modern coaches with on-board facilities and TV/VCRs so we can view lighthouse videos during any long stretches.

On Wednesday, October 3, an all-day tour of New Jersey lighthouses will begin about 6 AM. We'll motor to Lewes DE and take the Lewes-Cape May ferry to NJ about 8:45 AM, stopping first at Cape May lighthouse. Additional lighthouse stops will include Hereford Inlet, Barnegat, Sea Girt and Sandy Hook. Our goal will be to arrive at Sandy Hook by about 5 PM. If it is possible, we may do a stop at nearby Navesink Twin Lights. We will certainly be able to view it on the way to Sandy Hook. We'll arrange a dinner stop (cost not included) before returning to the Inner Harbor by inland route at about 10 PM. Lighthouses we might see (but not climb) could include Harbor of Refuge (Lewes DE) and Absecon (Atlantic City NJ).

On Thursday, October 4, a trip to visit Maryland lighthouses is being planned. This will start about 8 AM and return about 3 PM. We'll be visiting land lights that will not be included on any Reunion tours. More details on this one later.

On Monday, October 8, an all-day motor coach tour will depart the Inner Harbor about 6 AM with the first stop at Fenwick Island DE about 8:45 AM. Additional stops will include Assateague VA, Old & New Cape Henry VA, Old Point Comfort VA and possibly Portsmouth Lighthship in Portsmouth VA. We'll have an opportunity to view from a distance other lights which are on off-shore locations. We'll return to the Inner Harbor about 11 PM.

I do not have prices for these tours yet. I should have them within 30 days. I expect them to be comparable to the costs in 1998, with some allowance for inflation and the length of the all-day tours. Naturally, this far out, all plans outlined here are tentative and subject to change. I will post information on how to make reservations in about 30 days.

These tours are independent of Harbour Lights.

If you will be arriving in Baltimore before the reunion starts or planning to stay after the reunion ends in order to participate in the Lighthouse Motor Coach Tours, you can certainly book additional days at the Reunion Hotel or you can select another hotel.

Here are some alternative hotels selected from MS Streets & Maps 2000 The prices shown are the 'category' that each hotel falls into. You will need to contact the hotel to make reservations. I am not in a position to recommend any of these hotels as I have not visited any of these. If any of you have experience at these specific hotels or others, please let us know by posting.


Days Inn - Inner Harbor (0.4 miles from Inner Harbor)
100 Hopkins Pl
Baltimore, Maryland 21201-2602
(410) 576-1000
Fax: (410) 576-9437
Facility type
Hotel
Room rate
$75-$149

Doubletree Guest Suites at Baltimore Airport (6.8 miles)
1300 Concourse Dr
Linthicum Heights, Maryland 21090-1014
(410) 850-0747
Fax: (410) 859-0816
Facility type
Hotel
Room rate
$75-$149

Brookshire Inner Harbor Suites (0.4 miles)
120 E Lombard St
Baltimore, Maryland 21202-5541
(410) 625-1300
Fax: (410) 625-0912
Facility type
Hotel
Room rate
$75-$149

Holiday Inn - Baltimore Inner Harbor (0.5 miles)
301 W Lombard St
Baltimore, Maryland 21201-2507
(410) 685-3500
Fax: (410) 727-6169
Facility type
Hotel
Room rate
$75-$149

Quality Inn - Inner Harbor (1.1 miles)
1701 Russell St
Baltimore, Maryland 21230-2024
(410) 727-3400
Fax: (410) 547-0586
Facility type
Hotel
Room rate
Less than $75

Tremont Plaza Hotel (0.6 miles)
222 Saint Paul St
Baltimore, Maryland 21202-2045
(410) 727-2222
Fax: (410) 685-4216
Facility type
Hotel
Room rate
$75-$149

You are certainly planning some long days! So many lighthouses, so little time! You seemed to have left the Mispillion Light off your DE/NJ route................

tic, Dave

Thanks John. I look forward to participating in the tours again. I highly recommend signing up for them. Even though they were long days, it was enjoyable talking with fellow HL collectors and viewing lighthouses that I probably would not have seen.

I appreciate the advance planning to help with making my air arrangements. Hopefully, this early I can use my frequent flyer miles.

I'm working with a tour operator out of Baltimore. We'll have some minimum cut-off number to make the trip. I've told them to put a hold on 2 50 passenger coaches for each trip; as we get closer, we may add or drop a coach.

I've put together a tentative Maryland plan.

On Registration Day, we'd visit Concord Point, Drum Point and Cove Point (assuming I can get USCG permission on this one.) Leave about 7 AM and return about 2:30 PM.

Possibly there would also be a trip available on Thursday morning and/or Sunday afternoon to visit Hooper Strait and the village of St. Michael. It's about 90 minutes from the Inner Harbor and we'd have about 90 minutes to 2 hours there. I've not been to this location, but it appears to be an interesting location.

I know the NJ and VA trips are very long days - comparable to the Cape Cod and Portland ME trips of 1998. Most of the time is getting to the first stop and getting home from the last one. But the coaches should be a comfortable ride and some snoozing can take place.

Kim has made me promise not to tire everyone out before the Reunion begins. Guess we'll pass out Prozac. (Just kidding.)

John,
All the tours sound great. We are looking forward to participating in at least one of them. A 1/2 day trip to Hooper is a great idea. Linda and I really enjoyed the 1/2 day trip to Rose Island and the full day Maine tour in 1998. Octber 2001 is going to be fun.

------------------
Randall Ronne

Another WOW award for John for putting together these lighthouse trips. A lot of time is put in to make these arrangememnts. I am sure looking forward to this. John since I live so close to Baltimore if there is anything I can do to help you let me know.
Hal

John,
Cove Point is about to be owned by Calvert County. Here is quote from a 10/12 flash from Chesapeake Chapter:

"As most of you know Cove Point has been turned over to Calvert County and will be maintained by the Calvert Marine Museum. The official ceremony is coming up at the end of this month."

Dave

Way to go John, I knew I could count on your obsession. Count Mary Ann and I in.
thanks again,
Bob

[This message has been edited by rscroope (edited 10-16-2000).]

Wow sounds wonderful!! You can count on 2 more. Thanks.

John....I just can't wait . I'll be there waiting in line to board one of the buses for my chance to finally see lighthouses in person . Now I just have to get through the holidays and a wedding before the reunion .
Thanks in advance for all your hard work on the tours. I know with you setting them up they will be GREAT.

KYKEEPER - Pat

MJ and I are looking forward to these tours as we had such a great time with all of you on the last ones (in 1998).

Ron
(CT Keeper)

I am looking forward to at least one of these tours,some great ideas.Really something to look forward to.
oseabee.

Count on Twiggy and me John. We have not experienced one of your trips, but we are looking forward to it. I'll keep an eye open for more information to come our way!

[This message has been edited by keeperpam2 (edited 10-23-2000).]

Count on two rednecks from Ala-Bam John. Diane and I are looking forward to going on the tours.

Thanks for all your hard work.

John, you know Terry & I will be ready to go on all the tours...Thanks so much for making it possible.

Ruthie

I certainly am interested in the tours..have not made my decision whether to come early or not. My roommates, Wayne and Judy Hawes, will be there early..since they want to join in the fun of the tours. Most of these lights I have seen twice, but always like going again and this time what great company I will be with.....Thanks John for all of your hard work.
Derith

John,
Larry and I will be going on the Oct 3rd and Oct 4th bus tours. Can't wait to see everyone again...we had such fun during the last reunion on those bus tours. Thanks for all the hard work you put into these tours, you make it very easy for the rest of us to just show up and have a great day seeing lighthouses.

Sincerely,
The Watersons
Larry and Kat

John - They sound like some great trips. We'll be looking for the final details & sign-up information.

My contact in Baltimore has been slow in responding to my requests for prices. I expect to hear from them today, but am not sure they will have prices today or not. I'll keep you all informed.

John

Will we be able to climb any of the lights on the three days special tour?
jake

Now my tour operator says they will have prices for me by mid-month. Sorry for the delay.

On each of the tours there will be lighthouse towers to climb. These will generally be the ones open to the public at specific times. We'll try to arrange for tower climbs during the time we will actually be at the lighthouse and may be able to arrange for a special climb if our schedule will place at the lighthouse during otherwise off hours.

Of course when a group of 50-100 people arrive at once and all want to climb and the tower and stairs may be able to handle 10-12 people at one time, we just can't spend the time at every one.

Those who went on the tours in 1998 will recall that we SAW a lot of lighthouses from a distance, some closer than others. We had access to the grounds of a few lighthouses on each tour but did not have many climbs. That was the nature of what was available.

By reviewing the plans above, I've focused on lighthouses we will actually be visiting up close and personal. Except for the Virginia tour, there are not many other lighthouses that will be seen -- such as off shore ones.

We will have some lighthouse videos to view during the longer legs between visits. And we'll have some goodies to give away. You'll also have a great chance to meet fellow WACKOs and un-connected Harbour Lights collectors.

Thanks for your patience.

[This message has been edited by JChidester (edited 11-04-2000).]