Any time I go to Erie I do everything I can to get a day at Presque Isle. Sometimes I just have to "misappear" to get away, but friends and family understand that I am drawn to Lake Erie like seagulls to potato chips!
On my last Saturday in Erie, I did a "memory" thing: I had coffee with my sister-in-law and her husband. Herbie and I used to love doing that, so I tried to relive it, and I enjoyed visiting in the old way (but missed Herbie). When I left them, I headed to Presque Isle for a walk, some photos, and a Lake Erie tour on the Lady Kate, Denny Macaluso's tour boat. Like morning coffee, it wasn't quite what I remembered.
I arrived at the Lady Kate landing at one p.m., just in time to hear its engines roar off for the one p.m. tour. I hollered for it to wait, but it didn't. The cute little high school girl that was selling tickets explained that I would have to wait until the three o'clock tour, and she informed me that because it was windy, the tour would be in Presque Isle Bay, because Lake Erie was choppy today. Okay, I could live with that. I asked where Mr. Macaluso was, and she looked puzzled. Apparently Denny doesn't own it any more; Tim Sedney does. Sedney also owns Rum Runners, a bayside bar, and some other property in Erie. Okay, another change.
I ate my packed chicken salad sandwich and wrote a few pages of impression and place for background, returned a few phone calls, and finally saw the Lady Kate returning. I paid for my ticket, checked to see which side would be the best choice for photos, and climbed aboard. I was patiently waiting to cast off when I was suddenly surrounded by a family that was of obvious East Indian descent. I didn't speak, mostly because the sound of the engines usually makes conversation difficult. We left the landing, and as we moved out of Misery Bay and into Presque Isle Bay, our very young narrator began. He introduced himself as John, and told us three statistics about Lake Erie: length, width, and depth. Then he replaced the microphone. Ten minutes later, when we were one-third of the way up the bay, he gave us three more statistics: length, depth, and width of the bay. I don't think he took to the microphone again during the tour, and he was far too inexperienced to have any answers to questions.
The Indian woman sitting next to me said "I wonder what that is?" a few times, so I started talking to her about the sights. She was accompanied by family, who were in Erie for a family reunion, so I spoke up so they could hear my explanations. They whole family was a delight, and I enjoyed explaining about the bay, the Erie Yacht Club, the Observation Tower, the Convention Center, Niagara Pier, Liberty Park, and the Russian Church with the gold dome. An hour and a half later, when we got back to the landing, they graciously thanked me before taking of for the next family event.
John had a tip jar, but no one put any money in it, including me. I wondered how I could help him, and then it came to me: a copy of my book! I went to the car and got a copy of Lightkeeper's Legacy, which I handed to him. He looked puzzled, but I explained that the book was his tip. "Read it tonight," I told him, "and I guarantee your tour will be better tomorrow." He still looked at me like I was a crazy lady, but I hope he took the time to read it. I told him he could read directly from it, in fact, I think I said "Steal liberally!"
As I rode away I had a niggling thought that kept sneaking up on me, and then I'd lose it. I kept thinking about the young man and wondering why he was working on the boat. But I kept driving and eventually ended up at the Presque Isle Lighthouse, my family home now owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I took a few photos and turned to leave when a 40-something lady approached me.
"Weren't you on the tour boat?" she asked. I said yes. "Isn't this lighthouse beautiful?" she remarked. "I wonder what it looks like inside? So I told her, and eventually said that I'd lived there for a decade.
"I wish you had been our tour guide," she said, "You know so much about this place." And then it hit me! The thought that was hiding came forward: I could spend a few retirement years giving tours on the Lady Kate! Three months in the summer, 3-4 days a week, it was perfect! I'd love it! And I could escape Georgia in the heat, and I could visit friends, and write in my spare time on Presque Isle and I don't think I can wait!
Dear Mr. Sedney: Please consider me as a candidate for tour guide. I will be available on Memorial Day, 2015!
On my last Saturday in Erie, I did a "memory" thing: I had coffee with my sister-in-law and her husband. Herbie and I used to love doing that, so I tried to relive it, and I enjoyed visiting in the old way (but missed Herbie). When I left them, I headed to Presque Isle for a walk, some photos, and a Lake Erie tour on the Lady Kate, Denny Macaluso's tour boat. Like morning coffee, it wasn't quite what I remembered.
I arrived at the Lady Kate landing at one p.m., just in time to hear its engines roar off for the one p.m. tour. I hollered for it to wait, but it didn't. The cute little high school girl that was selling tickets explained that I would have to wait until the three o'clock tour, and she informed me that because it was windy, the tour would be in Presque Isle Bay, because Lake Erie was choppy today. Okay, I could live with that. I asked where Mr. Macaluso was, and she looked puzzled. Apparently Denny doesn't own it any more; Tim Sedney does. Sedney also owns Rum Runners, a bayside bar, and some other property in Erie. Okay, another change.
Rum Runners on the Presque Isle Bay
I ate my packed chicken salad sandwich and wrote a few pages of impression and place for background, returned a few phone calls, and finally saw the Lady Kate returning. I paid for my ticket, checked to see which side would be the best choice for photos, and climbed aboard. I was patiently waiting to cast off when I was suddenly surrounded by a family that was of obvious East Indian descent. I didn't speak, mostly because the sound of the engines usually makes conversation difficult. We left the landing, and as we moved out of Misery Bay and into Presque Isle Bay, our very young narrator began. He introduced himself as John, and told us three statistics about Lake Erie: length, width, and depth. Then he replaced the microphone. Ten minutes later, when we were one-third of the way up the bay, he gave us three more statistics: length, depth, and width of the bay. I don't think he took to the microphone again during the tour, and he was far too inexperienced to have any answers to questions.
Misery Bay
The Indian woman sitting next to me said "I wonder what that is?" a few times, so I started talking to her about the sights. She was accompanied by family, who were in Erie for a family reunion, so I spoke up so they could hear my explanations. They whole family was a delight, and I enjoyed explaining about the bay, the Erie Yacht Club, the Observation Tower, the Convention Center, Niagara Pier, Liberty Park, and the Russian Church with the gold dome. An hour and a half later, when we got back to the landing, they graciously thanked me before taking of for the next family event.
Ferncliff, next to the Erie Yacht Club
on Presque Isle Bay
John had a tip jar, but no one put any money in it, including me. I wondered how I could help him, and then it came to me: a copy of my book! I went to the car and got a copy of Lightkeeper's Legacy, which I handed to him. He looked puzzled, but I explained that the book was his tip. "Read it tonight," I told him, "and I guarantee your tour will be better tomorrow." He still looked at me like I was a crazy lady, but I hope he took the time to read it. I told him he could read directly from it, in fact, I think I said "Steal liberally!"
As I rode away I had a niggling thought that kept sneaking up on me, and then I'd lose it. I kept thinking about the young man and wondering why he was working on the boat. But I kept driving and eventually ended up at the Presque Isle Lighthouse, my family home now owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I took a few photos and turned to leave when a 40-something lady approached me.
"Weren't you on the tour boat?" she asked. I said yes. "Isn't this lighthouse beautiful?" she remarked. "I wonder what it looks like inside? So I told her, and eventually said that I'd lived there for a decade.
Presque Isle Lighthouse
"I wish you had been our tour guide," she said, "You know so much about this place." And then it hit me! The thought that was hiding came forward: I could spend a few retirement years giving tours on the Lady Kate! Three months in the summer, 3-4 days a week, it was perfect! I'd love it! And I could escape Georgia in the heat, and I could visit friends, and write in my spare time on Presque Isle and I don't think I can wait!
Dear Mr. Sedney: Please consider me as a candidate for tour guide. I will be available on Memorial Day, 2015!
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