Summer of 18-#50-A Mill, A Lighthouse, A Guard Base & Lake Erie

Saturday September 1st, 2018
We had a lot planned for today and weren't sure how busy everywhere was going to be as it's a holiday weekend.  As most of you probably know we don't usually go out on the weekend, we prefer to avoid the crowds.  Here we are, going out on a HOLIDAY weekend!!  Are we mad?  We'll find out.

We saw some alpacas and I managed to get a picture of one.

Our first stop was Dundee Old Mill.  There is a three story museum here as part of the old mill.  It is only open at weekends, unfortunately it was closed this weekend for the holiday!!! Oh well, probably for the best. I don't think we would have ever got out of there, seems like they have a lot of interesting stuff.  They also have paranormal tours, as apparently the place is haunted.  Bryan is really interested in those.  Maybe one day we'll come back.  We will still have what I call the thumb part of the Mitt to explore, and the Upper Peninsula so you never know.  I think I prefer the eastern side of Michigan to the western side as well.  It doesn't seem so commercialized and has a certain charm.  It seems as though there's not so many tourists on this side either.  That suits us, we're not tourists!!  Ha!!Ha!!

We walked to the back of the small park.

Patriotic Trash Bin

It was so beautiful back there.

Look at those inviting chairs.  I don't know why, but they reminded me of something you might see in Oxford, UK, along the river.  Not that I ever did!!!

Once we'd seen the back part, we walked to the front.

We walked up to the bridge overlooking the park.

This guy was still around.

Then back to the car.  This place is really quite beautiful.  We love small places like this.  It's a shame the museum was closed but that gives us a reason to come back. The website does have pictures of some of the items in the museum though.

That took longer than we thought it would but we weren't complaining, we both loved it.  Next, we wanted to see Lake Erie, which would mean we have seen all five Great Lakes this summer. What better way than to visit a lighthouse on Lake Erie.  It also meant we would cross the state line into Ohio.  This won't count for our sticker on Lily though as we are in Tilly.  Never fear Lily will be crossing in a couple of days and earn her sticker.

Interesting bridge

Wait a minute, Oregon????.   I thought we were in Ohio!!!  Whew, we are, there's a town named Oregon in Ohio. How confusing is that!!!

We drove past Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station which is due to close in 2020.

Finally we arrived at Port Clinton Lighthouse on Lake Erie.

There was a fee to go inside and we decided not to go in.  I did get our lighthouse passport stamped though and we made a donation.  I really didn't see much of the lighthouse as the man I was talking to about getting the passport stamp told me he was born at Paddington Hospital in London.  I believe his father was stationed/working in the UK at the time.  We had quite a long chat.  He was telling me the history of this lighthouse.  He  has been volunteering on this for a long while. Bryan took all his pictures and then came to find me. We said our goodbyes and I took a couple of pictures before heading back to the car.

We finally see Lake Erie.

These Canadian Geese were on a small lake by the lighthouse.

Heading back home, we crossed this drawbridge in Port Clinton.

We went past Camp Perry, a National Guard Training Facility, and decided to go in and have a look at a campground they have here.

We found the campground, it was ok but at $45 a night a bit expensive for what there is here, and much more than we like to pay for a night.

On the way home I saw this sign and had to take a picture.  A hospital for flowers, all my plants would be going there. Just kidding, it's a real hospital.

Finally we got home.  I took a picture of the road sign.  Totem Pole RV Park is on Lulu Road. It's one of the reasons we chose the park.  Bryan's dad called me Lulu, so we knew this place had to be ok. We sure did think of him a lot while we were here.

They certainly do seem to have a lot of fun here.  We like it.  Today was exhausting but fun, and it wasn't too crowded for a holiday weekend. We are happy that we have managed to see all five Great Lakes this summer.  Quite an achievement.