Lighthouse Tour of Lake Ontario 2011
Thanks to Renee, Glenda and Leann for sending in photos, some of which have been included in the following collection. They, however, are not to be blamed for the captions or errors, which are the sole responsibility of Team Sherwood.
Group photo in front of Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse
John, Candace, Mary L., Donna and Mary W. engage in pre-tour preparations
Glen & Don preparing for the tour
While the others played, the tour guide and coach driver worked!
Our ride to explore Buffalo Harbor
Buffalo Harbor water intake crib and the ruins of the Horseshoe Reef lights which is now "for the birds."
Joanne & AJ enjoying the fresh air with the Buffalo Main lighthouse in the background
Buffalo Main and Bottle Light. Shortly after we visited, access was completed to the Buffalo Main Lighthouse. Guess we will have to go back!
Steve & Nancy aboard the Miss Buffalo II
Buffalo South Lighthouse. Closure of steel plants as well as grain-milling and storage facilities spelled the end of the need for this lighthouse
We learned that what is commonly known as the Grand Island lighthouse (shown here) is actually the Niagara River Rear Range Light
The Embassy Suites was voted, by far, the best hotel on the tour
Everyone's room had a spectacular view of both the American and Horseshoe Falls
The American Falls along with the much smaller Bridal Veil Falls
Some folks, including Linda and Renee chose to go behind the falls
One of the area's most popular attractions is the Maid of the Mist which is always misty and covered with rainbows
David, JoAnne, Glenda, Amy and Josef enjoying the wet ride near the falls
Don, Nancy D., Glen, Joanne, Anna and Al waiting for the shuttle outside the hotel in Niagara Falls
Tony, Carolyn, Skip & Retta in front of Horseshoe Falls
There was no shortage of rainbows like this one over Horseshoe Falls
First lighthouse on the third day was the Port Dalhousie Rear Range light which is now used as the home of the Niagara College Sailing School
Port Dalhousie was the Lake Ontario entrance to the first three Welland Canals. Here the group returns from the front range light at the waterway's entrance
We were glad to learn that the Burlington Canal lighthouse and keeper's dwelling are scheduled for some major restoration. They certainly could use it!
Super-Dan holds up the Burlington lift bridge which spans the Burlington Canal providing access to Lake Ontario for the city of Hamilton
The Oakville Lighthouse was one of several lighthouses on the tour that originally were pier or range lights that have been provided new lives at local yacht clubs
Despite running into a major local Saturday event in Port Credit, Vern was able to find a way for us to get some photos of the local lighthouse
The Island Princess was our ride for a tour of Toronto Harbor
The group waits to board the Island Princess while Vern extracts the bus from tight quarters at the marina
It was a beautiful day and the skyline of Toronto with the CN Tower were just awesome
Renee, Linda and Josef enjoying the sunshine and views of the harbor
The cruise gave us an up close look of the Gibraltar Lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse on the Great Lakes
Of course, you can always find Glen "helping" the Captain navigate the vessel
The Toronto Harbor light sits on the end of Leslie Street Spit, or officially the Outer Harbour East Headland
Relaxing between lighthouses on Toronto Harbor
Taking a picture of the Queen's Wharf Light required avoiding the streetcars!
The Queen's Wharf Light marked the entrance to the Toronto Harbor from 1861 until 1912
Matt & Leann standing in front of the Toronto Harbor Eastern Gap Outer light which is now located on the grounds of Mimico Cruising Club
While we were off photographing lighthouses, Vern was always working on the itinerary making sure we made it to the next lighthouse on time
Lots of options were available for sightseeing in Toronto. Some chose to try the hop-on, hop-off circle tour of the city
The Hockey Hall of Fame and the CN tower were popular destinations on our day off
The Toronto Distillery District contains numerous cafes, restaurants and shops housed within heritage buildings which comprise the largest collection of Victorian era industrial architecture in North America
Another Toronto destination is the St Lawrence Market, which on the day we were there was filled with over 80 antique vendors
Glenda tossed her camera to a stranger on the ground to take this picture. Fortunately, they gave it back to her!
The group waits at Union Station for Vern to return with the bus. Pick up time was 3:15 and everyone was early (note time on clock) since it was a $75 cab ride back to the hotel!
Renee prepares to dig into her slice of Billy Miner Pie!
Only weeks before we visited the Coburg East Pier, vandals smashed the lens and housing resulting in more than $5,000 damage
We received a wonderful tour of the Presqu'ile Point park but we are always disappointed when we find that the lantern room on the lighthouse has been removed
Presqu'ile Park was alive with Monarch butterflies
Originally removed from the itinerary, the Point Petre Lighthouse was added back in when everyone was on time for all bus departures
Prince Edward Point without a lantern room. It is pretty obvious why this is on Lighthouse Digest's Doomsday List
The reconstructed False Duck Island Lighthouse sits on the grounds of Mariner's Memorial Park. This park was constructed as a memoriam for all the sailors of Prince Edward County that lost their lives at sea.
Group enters the Officers Mess at Fort Henry for dinner. The original fort was constructed during the War of 1812, when present-day Ontario was a British colony known as Upper Canada
Fort Henry Officers Mess diners were not allowed to put their elbows on the table and were forbidden from saying "thank you" to the waiters!
Our driver, Vern Anderson, is not only a great driver, but also a great sport!
On this day, we visited almost as many WalMarts for "pressure stops" as we did lighthouses
Our ride out of Kingston to the lighthouses was a great vessel called the Le Bateau Mouche II
The lake was fairly calm as we left Kingston harbor behind
What a great vessel for relaxing and viewing lighthouses!
Our first lighthouse of the day, the 9 Mile Point light proved to be the only one on the original itinerary the lake would allow us to reach. After some rockin' & rollin' it was decided not to venture out into the lake any further.
Knapp (Brophy's) Point was viewed on our alternative route after turning back from angry Lake Ontario
We may have lost out on a couple of lighthouses, but, as usual, we won the lunch!
This Thomas Point inspired house made a great back drop for the Quebec Head light
Captain Thompson's Resort was as close to the water as you could get. The views were great!
Our ride for the 1000 Islands Cruise was comfortable with both inside and outside viewing
Lynda, Pat & Judi were first in line for early morning coffee
One of the many mansions dotting the shoreline in the 1000 Islands area. This one comes with its own dingy!
We decided that if we all chipped in, we could purchase this "mansion" and turn it into the USLHS Headquarters
Here you could park you boat right next to your living room
Freighters both up bound and down bound went by, including this one passing Bolt Castle
Bolt Castle made a beautiful background for the Sunken Rock Lighthouse
The lighthouse and neighboring shed are the only structures on tiny Three Sisters Island. Once three separate islands, the islands are now linked together
I guess there was real money in sewing machines as evidenced by the Singer Castle built for Singer company president Frederick Bourne. This 5 story "summer home" has 28 rooms, 2 dining rooms and 10 fireplaces
Crossover Island lighthouse sits at the point where, prior to the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway, vessels following the shipping channel crossed over the international boundary between the United States and Canada
Our last lighthouse on a perfect weather day was the Rock Island Lighthouse
After our cruise we took a short ride from Alexandria Bay to visit the Ogdensburg Lighthouse
A bonus in Ogdensburg was a pretty good view of the Windmill Point Lighthouse in Ontario
After a long day of "lighthousing" the group relaxes before a great BBQ dinner at Coleman's Dock of the Bay
Our only rain came on the day we started out early by visiting the Cape Vincent Breakwater light
Tibbets Point lighthouse with its hostel in the old keepers house gave us an opportunity to get distant views of East Charity Shoal and Galloo Island lighthouses
Stony Point (Henderson) - A beautifully restored lighthouse, the result of a great deal of work by the owners, John & Cheryl Faust
The Selkirk Lighthouse was active for only 20 years (1838-1858) which explains why the birdcage lantern was never replaced by the larger lantern rooms required for Fresnel lenses
A close up of one of the few birdcages lantern rooms still in tact in the U.S.
Lunch at and a tour of the Lee H. White Museum were arranged by Oswego residents and Society members, Gail & Ned Goebricher
Ann discovers that she will need a box to stand on if she wants to steer this ship!
In addition to the museum, the group was provided a tour of the Tug, LT-5, a National Historic Landmark. This is the last known unmodified Large Tug still in operation from the Normandy Invasion
Local groups are working hard to obtain the funds to restore and open the Oswego West Pierhead light to the public
Built in 1822, the original keeper's house for the Oswego West Pierhead still stands today at Fort Ontario
A rose among the thorns!
The Sodus Point Lighthouse was a great stop: We parked next to the lighthouse, shopped at the gift shop, climbed the tower, got our Passports stamped & it came with a "facility". The only thing missing was ice cream!
Our last day began with a visit to and climb of the Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse
The Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse Historical Society sold over 700 bricks at $10 each to help raise funds for the wonderful restoration of the lighthouse
The current owners of the Braddock Point B&B were out of town, but we were still able to get a good view of the lighthouse
In 1995, The U.S. Postal Service selected Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse to represent Lake Ontario in a set of five stamps covering the lighthouses of the Great Lakes
Leann & Matt atop the 30 Mile Point Lighthouse with their mascots - Zeus & Pooky
Fort Niagara Lighthouse was our last stop where the lightkeeper, Terry Yonkers, met us for a climb and some history
The Niagara River Range lights, on the grounds of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Sailing Club marina were viewable across the river from Fort Niagara
Bosley & Quackers paying no attention to the sign at Fort Niagara
The farewell dinner and raffle provided an opportunity to get cleaned up and reflect on a great tour
Tour leaders and mascots - Team Sherwood
