I am so tired from the last reunion that I don't want another for at least, hmmmmm..., 2 years. Well maybe next year if it is on the west coast. I heard Kim tell another collector that there wasn't going to be another reunion. Not sure I believed her this time. Now I have never been to Louisiana, Alabama, or Texas. I'd like to vote for one of these states for the next reunion. I don't suppose anyone else has an opinion?
[This message has been edited by champoeg (edited 10-17-2001).]
How about a very large cruise ship filled up by HL. Cruising for 4 days straight on a gigantic ship with everyone you know could be fun! Rod Watson [This message has been edited by Rod Watson (edited 07-03-2002).]
Well, since Rod brought up the Cruise Ship idea...my wife and I had been discussing the fact that it would be neat if the next Reunion would be a Cruise Ship tour up the Inside Passage in Alaska. Maybe we could put in at a couple of places near one or more of the lights along the passage. It's just an idea...not sure if it's realistically feasable from several standpoints but I am curious as to what everyone thinks.
I sure as heck hope Kim or Mo reads this topic. Cause a cruise ship is one idea that needs to be looked into for the next Reunion. A great idea in my opinion. A floating hotel with all the comforts of home. Can easily handle over a thousand people. The only drawback...and I mean the only one I could think of... similar to the Baltimore cruise, the ship can't get close to the lighthouse so bring your telescopic lens for your cameras. That proved to me that the digital camera was nice but the zoom on it was limited.....
I still think that the Great Lakes could be possible. If they built a new hotel in Baltimore for us why not there? Kind of like when they had the Olympics in Lake Placid. Afterwards they just turned the facility into a prison.
My daughter used to collect Precious Moments and was a member of their collector club. I recall one year they were sponsoring a cruise for the collectors to be able to attend. A cruise ship would certainly be able to accomodate most all that would want to attend.(most could hold 2000+ passengers) Like was already said, ships are used to accomodating large groups of people with a variety of food to choose from. Most cruises that would go to Alaska or Hawaii would be 7 days. I love cruising so sign me up any time the HL gang is ready to go!
The cruise ship in Alaska sounds great to me... Hawaii would be the next choice....never have gone on a cruise...but if it was a HL cruise and we were seeing lighthouses, I'd try to attend.....You all should know that I'd vote for Florida, otherwise....but now that I am hooked on the reunion idea....I would not mind the tents Paul was talking about. Derith
Lorie, you are correct about Precious Moments having a cruise. I think it went to Alaska. I would be willing and able to do that! If Precious Moments can do this for their collectors, I don't see why Harbour Lights can't!
I think I would have to mortgage the house to go on an Alaskan cruise but after seeing the Legendary Lighthouse show on the lights it sure would be a beautiful place. Those lights are certainly very remote and the scenery gorgeous. Especially poignant were the scenes involving those who had returned to what had been former homes, assignments after so many years. All Wackos would naturally be assigned to the same deck!
I vote....southern Fla. port of departure then on to the islands, short bus trips at the port of call allowing us to get close to lights. Key West-ships dock there, all the time. If we get a "smallish" boat.....we could build our own itinerary.....
A cruise anywhere right about now would be great. As far as a reunion cruise, no problem here whether it's a cruise to Alaska, Caribbean, Puerto Rico, Greater Antilles, etc. If it is in the Alantic area, may I suggest avoiding Carnival Cruise Lines?
posted 04-11-1999 06:19 PM From Split Rock to Sunken Rock - the Ultimate Great Lakes Cruise! __ /im (no buses, beavers, or barbecues)
Quote:
posted 08-24-2000 12:22 AM Let's rent an ore carrier. I've been hoping for the Reunion Cruise for a couple years now, but no takers yet. From Split Rock to Sunken Rock - the Great Lakes Tour. ...
Rgds, Saint Taconite
[This message has been edited by JTimothyA (edited 10-19-2001).]
The HL yacht automatically stops at the home of all Wackos as well as all lighthouses. If you are land-locked you will have to jump on the Selkirk van and transfer. Don't forget to ask for your slip. If you live near the Mississippi you will have to book passage on the Delta Queen to La. where Lamar will put you up if you arrive ahead of schedule. Refreshments will be furnished by the Pig Man and I.O. who will serve burgers and dogs. The burgers will be medium and the dogs blackened, no exceptions please. Jaker's mom will make chocolate chip cookies for dessert. Everyone else bring a dish to pass.
Bob M will be the official greeter.
Paul will be bartender/photographer. He will sell limited edition group pictures in order to finance the purchase of a replacement shirt. St. John will ensure that everyone is correctly identified so it may take longer to get your pictures than the next Legacy.
Fred, the Ancient Mariner, will be on board to regale us with yarns of yore.
Rod will be trip narrator, you are guaranteed to see many lights you've never heard of. He will also point out architectural gems along the way.
Tim, Mark and Art will be recreation directors. Don't forget to bring your glove and a dictionary if you want to understand the rules. Name That Tune, Lightning Rod Counting and various mind games are sure to be on the menu.
Time permitting we will stop by a few retail stores for R@R Rick.
Anyone who says glow during the course of the trip will have KP duty.
The yacht will depart California, with Capt "Beav" Thompson at the helm, travel north to Washington, making a U-turn south and proceed east through the Panama Canal. It will continue up to Texas and points east. Rounding the tip of Florida it will travel the inland waterway proceding north up the Hudson River to the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse. Everyone who says "WOW" three times will be entitled to a five minute tour and a 10 minute potty break. Retracing our route south the yacht will jog east to Long Island and the New England States. From there it will enter the St. Lawrence Seaway where we will make another stop at Sisters Island Lighthouse. Should we tell the owners we're coming or just show up? Proceeding west to Oswego, it then will take a southern swing down the Oswego River to the Erie Canal and proceed westerly to Buffalo. From there it will continue through the rest of the Great Lakes.
Reservations are not required. If you want to jump aboard just tie a balloon on your mailbox, stand out front wearing your Wacko pin and hang 3 cameras and binoculars around your neck.
There is no limit to the number attending. However pets are not allowed. Rates will be based on how many miles you log and how many cookies you eat. If you catch a virus you will be sent to the brig.
The special event piece will our course be an Anchor Bay HL Yacht on a plywood base, shrink wrapped in pink saran wrap. BY will engrave them with a specially equiped dremel tool.
Please take a few moments before disembarking to complete the evaluation form and return them to ladylightkeeper.
Alaska Cruise with Wackos. Count me In. Poop deck, life boat, inside room, don't matter to me. Would probably be the only chance I would get to see Alaska and its great lighthouses. The cruise lines will schedule excursions if there are enough of us going.
As I see it, three factors should be in play here: 1. Location - a place where most people would want to go and have facilities to accomodate a large number of people. 2. Expense - the cost has to be reasonable so most people can afford to go. 3. Lighthouse density - the location has to have a decent number of lighthouses in the vicinity to visit.
So... Hawaii - fantastic location, but expensive and I am concerned about the lighthouse density factor here.
Alaska cruise - same thing as Hawaii...I'm not sure how close a cruise ship can get to some of the remote locations.
Great Lakes region - Michigan would be ideal but I get the feeling that finding an area with adequate facilities may be an issue (is this correct?). Chicago would seem to be a natural choice too. If we look a little outside the US, there is Toronto which has a lot to offer as a city and is close proximity to alot of lighthouses...but perhaps too much "east" for the west coasters who have already had to travel east twice.
Florida - Miami or Tampa would probably be the best choices here. Again, the west coast factor might again be an issue here as well.
West Coast - San Francisco or Seattle seem to be the natural choices...they are the right size and are nice places to visit. They also have alot of lighthouses in the area.
The Oregon coast is a great place for ligthouses...they are all easy to get to and take pictures...Even though we have already seen all of their lights, I would really love it if they picked Oregon.
A cruise is an awesome idea! But I think we all should board in Fla. then go thru the Panama canal all the way to Alaska! How many lights would we see?????
WHY NOT FLORIDA? Daytona Beach to be exact. Plenty of Hotels and beautiful weather in the fall. Temperatures in the 70s during the day and in the 50-60s at night. The rainy season is over and the winter cold hasn't started yet. The Florida lights sell out the fastest or at least it seems that way and the weather here is great. The month of October is the CHEAP time here. The Snowbirds have not arrived, the stock car racing is over, the bikers have all gone home and the college kids are in school watching football game.
The lighthouses are pleantiful and close by. Canaveral, St. Augustine, Ponce Inlet, Amelia Island and Mayport Lights are all within a 30 minute to 1 1/2 hour drive. For extra activity, you have Disney, Universal, etc. in Orlando and the Kennedy Space Center. You know, this sounds so good I might relocate from Ocala's horse country to Daytona and take up surfing.
Rich
[This message has been edited by flacoastie (edited 10-26-2001).]
Hi Iris, ...It may be longer than next year or even the year after. These type of events can take many years to plan. It must be extremely exhausting for the Younger Family and the Harbour Lights Crew to plan and actually operate an event of this magnitude. The burden of making the whole thing work successfully is quite an undertaking.
I feel the Youngers will lean more towards the regional events for at least three years before you actually have an announcement about a future reunion. Look for many surprises coming from Harbour Lights in the next couple of years. They certainly make life interesting for us fellow collectors.
How about just a cruise a chance for every one to meet each other.One thing I remember reading about the reunions was no time to meet a lot of the other people with what HL has to show and let that be that be it for lighthouses.I know it will be a bit harder but just people getting to meet each other would be great.Bill O'Brien
All of this sounds so exciting and I hope that one of the exciting places is chosen for the Reunion. Alaska sounds fantastic (I've never been there!), Florida sounds great (never been there either!) and the Great Lakes sounds great too (been there alot). And a cruise sounds fantastic too!! I will have to start saving my money so that I can go so I can meet all of you people. Maybe I will be a wacko by then!
Bob 
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