Vicki and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary this week with a visit to Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island, OH.
Tuesday, June 23: We caught Miller’s Ferry at Catawba Island (taking advantage of the nearby (1/4 mile away) free parking.) Very easy to do. Easier if you drop the passenger and luggage off near the ferry before parking the car.
We had booked a golf cart from Erie Island Carts for our stay for island transportation, which involved another little hike to pick it up. Erie Island Carts is the third golf cart rental place from Miller’s Ferry. But the first one to offer overnight rentals.
We drove to our home-away-from-home at Harriet’s House and put our gear into a comfy one room (and bathroom) apartment. The office manager/ property manager was very helpful, and our place included a couple chairs and table on the porch. V: We enjoyed that little porch.
Our tour of the island then continued with going to Perry’s Victory and International Peace Monument. The monument was closed for repairs, but the visitor’s center of the battle on Lake Erie was very interesting.
From Perry’s Monument, we drove to the north end of the island and looked across the water to the other islands at Scheeff East Point Nature Preserve. At the Nature Preserve, we saw purple martin bird houses and many May flies. It is may fly season along Lake Erie! There was also a beach area looking north where we could see Middle Bass Island and Kelly’s Island. Maybe even Pelee Island?
We drove back towards Put-in-Bay, stopping at Massie Cliffside Preserve and enjoying the view from the edge of the island.
It was time for dinner, and we stopped at The Keys for drinks and fish. We hoped to listen to dinner music, and there was someone playing near the front. Our dinner table was around the corner from the music, but neither of us liked the music enough to move to a different, closer table.
After dinner we took the cart to the south (and west) side of the island, just looking around and getting a feel for the island.
That evening we took an easy walk from Harriet’s House to the Beer Barrel Saloon to listen to Tobi Lee (from the group Mustang Sally). We enjoyed listening to her music, she enjoyed playing to the crowd. Vicki and I even danced some swing (east and west coast) to her music.
Wednesday, June 24: Steve got up early and walked around the downtown area. He stopped at the local grocery store for a bag of frosted mini donuts and some coffee.
We went for lunch at the upper deck of the Boardwalk. Vicki had salad and lobster bisque (V: YUM-lots of thick, delicious lobster pieces.) Steve had the Lobster poutine: French fries covered with cheese curds and lobster bisque. All the food was delicious.
After lunch, we walked around the local downtown park.
After the park, we went to play miniature golf (The War of 18 holes). Steve was leading until he needed six shots on a hole! Then Vicki slid into the lead and stayed there.
After this, we found a swimming pool with a bar. There are several of those pools near downtown, and there was no entrance fee. They made their money on the interesting and yummy drinks people bought. Vicki liked their combo Strawberry Daquiri/Pina Colada. Steven had their version of a Hurricane (a little too much pineapple juice.)
Pam and Rick (Vicki’s bro and sis-in-law) joined us in time for dinner. Rick and Pam come to Put-in-Bay several times a year, so they were showing us their favorite spots. They were lodging in the apartment next to us.
We started dinner with appetizers (edamame and peel-n-eat shrimp) at The Reel Bar.
We then drove to the GOAT Soup and Whiskey (reservations are strongly recommended!) for dinner. Vicki and Steve (and Rick) split a bottle of Silver Oak 2021 Cabernet. Awesome wine after a little bit of breathing. (V: BEST Cab Sav always) Vicki and Steve had crab-stuffed deviled eggs and parmesan crusted Walleye (Frieda’s Walleye a la FRAN). And we finished the meal with a decadent, crusty chocolate cake and lemon/berry brulee.
We returned to Harriet’s House and walked to the Roundhouse to listen to Calabash, a four-piece band that has been playing in Put-In-Bay for forty years. Vicki and Steve did a little more dancing, but left during the final set because the band was just ‘being silly’. And the crowd was loving it.
Thursday, June 25: Breakfast at the Forge: savory crepes and eggs benedict! V: We piled in to the golf cart so Pam and Rick could take us to the Boat House. The home is the front part of a large sea-going vessel. Pretty cool.
Then it was time to head back to the ferry and leave the island. We got home in time to pick up the RV from its repair of the winter damage, and for Vicki’s book club. Then it was getting back to regular life in Seven Hills, OH. We have spent more of this year in the RV (traveling home) than in our land home.
A lesson learned: renting a golfcart is not necessary if you are hanging around downtown. The taxis are cheap ($4) and there is a bus that will take you from Miller’s Ferry to downtown. And midweek was a good (read “quiet”) time to go. V: and I think we will go back again. It had a sweet, calm, island feel – very similar to Kelley’s Island – of course, that is during the week. Loved the live music everywhere. And we still need to get the Ohio State Park stamps for South Bass Island State Park.
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