Earlier this summer I had posted about the Lighthouse cruises that Shepler's runs, Well we bought our tickets a few months ago and we took out cruise this past Sunday 8-25-02. The day was perfect, the temperature was 76 degrees when we left. After leaving out we got a distant view of old Mackinaw lighthouse before passing under the Mackinaw bridge and then passed St. Helena Island and lighthouse on our way to our first light, White Shoal lighthouse, We were able to get very close to White Shoal, probably 75' away and the captain idled around the lighthouse very slowly in both directions for about 10 minutes so everyone could get plenty of pictures. Then it was on to Grays Reef lighthouse and once again we were able to come in very close and get plenty of pictures. Then on to the third light Waugoshance Light, due to the shallow waters it once protected we could only get within about a quarter mile or so, It was once used for bombing practice and you can see some damage to the tower from a direct hit at one time. From here we began heading back and a last stop near St. Helena Island, due to the low lake level we were only able to get within about a half mile of St. Helena Lighthouse. The tour was narrated by 2 members of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association (GLLKA) Dick Moehl and Sandy Planisek And they did a fantastic job of entertaining us and explaining the history of the lighthouses. The tickets were $49.50 each and worth every penny of it!! (kids under 5 years old free, my 4 year old saved me 50 bucks) If your thinking about going, buy your tickets way in advance as they sell out and load in order of your purchase we were fortunately #16-19, so we were able to choose good seats.
[img]
http://members.aol.com/slugo35/wshoal004.480fr[/img]
White Shoal (as if I needed to tell you)
Grays Reef
Waugoshance Light, with Mackinaw bridge way in the back ground
And lastly, St. Helena Island Lighthouse.
