Summer of 18-#47-Thunder Bay Marine Sanctuary, Shipwrecks, Lighthouse & School

Saturday August 25th, 2018

We had a relaxing day in today, watching the rain!!!

Sunday August 26th, 2018

We got up early again and went to try to go on the shipwreck cruise.  

Third times a charm and we're off on our Alpena Shipwreck Tour!!!!

Once we were aboard they gave us a safety briefing and told us where the life preservers were.  We chose to sit in the enclosed deck where the glass bottom viewing areas were, so we could make sure we knew when we were going over the shipwrecks and be able to get up and go and view.  I mistakenly thought the whole boat would be glass bottomed but as was explained to another lady who thought the same, it wouldn't pass a safety inspection.  

We pulled out from the deck and away from the building that has pictures of the shipwrecks on it.

The bridge master opened the bridge for us so we could go through.

Under the raised bridge

We got a closeup picture of Alpena Harbor Lighthouse, known affectionately as "Little Red" or "Sputnik"

We reached the shipwreck location that we were going to view.  They make sure everyone has a turn at seeing the shipwreck as they steer slowly over it, back and forth.  Once everyone has seen it, they will repeat if there were any passengers who couldn't get to the viewing area, making absolutely sure everyone sees it.  Look at this LINK to see better pictures and a history of the Steamer Monohansett which I believe is the one we passed over. We saw it quite clearly, although these pictures don't really reflect that.  The picture in the link above is what we saw. I felt a little sad as we passed over this but was pleased to learn that the 12 crew were saved.

The captain then took us by Thunder Bay Lighthouse.  He even turned the boat so that people on both sides would get a good view.

At this time we decided to go and sit in the open on the top deck.  The tour guide was up there.  Although you could hear him wherever you were on the boat, so you didn't need to see him, it was better being able to see him and his expressions.  He was very good, showing us where other shipwrecks were and the history of them all.

We sat at the back of the boat and really enjoyed it.  We wished we had sat up here for the whole trip as we learnt they would tell us when we could go down and view through the glass bottom.

The wake behind us

We stopped to look at another wreck. We waited for the second viewing.

This was the Haltiner Barge and we saw the crane.  Again these pictures are not clear.  This LINK gives clearer pictures.  This one was not as impressive to me as the first one.  I couldn't tell it was a ship as it appeared to be just pieces from a ship.

We went back on the top and enjoyed the ride back. This PAGE tells you more information about all the shipwrecks that are here and the other things that you will see on the tour, some of which are pictured below.

Cement Plant

Channel Light

Back past "Little Red"

I liked these pictures we got looking back at the lights as we passed by.

Road salt??

Our escort in!!!

The bridge opened to let us back in to the dock.

and closed behind us.

almost closed

All to soon, after about 2 and a half hours, we were back tying up at the dock. True to form we were last off the boat.  We enjoyed the trip, the weather was perfect' although a little overcast when we started.  Thunder Bay is a protected Marine Sanctuary and the NOAA are doing a fantastic job of preserving it.  It has also proven to us that it's named appropriately, as it has taken us four days to get on this tour due to forced weather cancellations!!

We thanked the crew, and left to continue our day.

We had another lighthouse we wanted to see, but as we parked in the car park there, we noticed this!!!! The Bailey Schoolhouse.  I had no idea this was here, and it made me smile and think of Bailey, our eldest grandson. I had been thinking of him anyway as it is his 10th birthday, so he is definitely "old".  This was obviously meant to be.  We had to go and have a look.

Old water pump

There was a lady inside giving information on the building.  There were two children there with their grandfather and she was getting them to act as though they were the schoolchildren.  They were so excited to take part in the play acting.

See the stepladder/stool in the corner with the dunces cap on it.  The "teacher" got the children to put it on and explained that this was what the children had to do back then instead of sitting on the naughty step.

So, the inner child came out in me, and I sat in the corner with the dunces cap on.  Back in my day, we had to face the wall though.  What do you grandkids think of Naughty Nanny?  You can't tell but I'm sitting on the stool and it didn't break!!!

They was a lot of information in there and it was very interesting.  We said our goodbyes to the "teacher" and went to find the lighthouse.

Sturgeon Point Lighthouse appeared as we came out of the wooded trail.

In the grounds were a couple of old boats.

The "Bernice D"

This bell was quite loud as well.

We had a nice conversation with the volunteer here and a gentleman who was visiting with his grandchildren, mostly about England because of my accent. :)  We decided not to climb, again we are both exhausted and have to pace ourselves.  Here's just a few of the artifacts here.

Some of the shipwrecks that were in Thunder Bay this morning.

Bryan thinks this door appears to be made from road repair plates, possibly to strengthen it during a storm.

Unusual Door

Liked this painting

The gift shop opened while we were touring the lighthouse so we went and had a look over there.  Everything was 50% off, we purchased another lighthouse stamp book as ours only needs a couple of stamps to be completed.

We went and found a seat and looked at Lake Huron.  I walked down to the beach and took a few pictures from there.

Loved this one of Bryan, just relaxing and oblivious to anything around him.  I zoomed in for this as he was quite a distance away.

I took these pictures from the back of the lighthouse.

That was it for today, we headed home.  On the way we crossed the 45th Parallel again.  Remember we crossed it on the way north on the west coast of Michigan and here it is on our way south on the East coast of Michigan.

Take care, until the next time.