Beyond their majesty and mystique, Lake Erie’s lighthouses served important maritime duties. For some, these duties have diminished over the years as technology increased. Even those lighthouses whose duties were replaced with hi-tech innovations still serve as valuable landmarks for boaters and mainland visitors. Lighthouses were used to mark dangerous coastlines, hazardous shoals away from the coast, and safe entries to harbors. For 2007, the Across Ohio Bicycle Adventure-Lighthouse Maritime Heritage Tour visited the lighthouses along Lake Erie’s Shoreline.

Photogenic and often remote from the Interstate Highway of the twentieth century, lighthouses lure the explorer to find the road less traveled. Two Hundred thirty (230) cyclists peddled 420 miles on a week long tour along the shore of Lake Erie. The tour started in Edon, Ohio and had overnight stays in Sylvania, Marblehead, Castalia, Avon Lake, Mentor, Austinburg and ended in Conneaut, Ohio.

During this week cyclists heard presentations from Fred Snyder-District Specialist, Ohio State University’s Sea Grant College Program on the Status of Lake Erie, Dave Kelch-District Specialist, Ohio State University’s Sea Grant College Program on Fish Consumption, Barbara Kooser-Naturalist from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History on Mentor Marsh and Melinda Huntley who introduced the film, Lake Erie, Ohio’s Great Lake. In addition, cyclists had a chance to visit maritime museums in Sandusky, Vermilion and Fairport Harbor. Old Woman Creek (nature preserve) provided refreshments for weary cyclists when we passed.

Lots of history, plenty of good eating and great roads (okay, I’ve been know to exaggerate at times) made participants happy that they chose to spend their vacation time with us.

Interesting enough, the prevailing winds are normally out of the west in Ohio during the month of July. This year was an exception. Rider’s encountered winds that were generally out of the east during the entire week’s ride.

This year’s sponsors included the Ohio Sea Grant College Program, Coastal Ohio, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Hubbub Bicycles and High Peaks Coffee.

Pete Toomey, a long time XOBA rider from Rocky River Ohio.	XOBA 07! Sandy Daniels, Barb Engler, and Allen Foster of Topeka Kansas at the Marblehead Lighthouse.	Our Mechanic friend from HubBub.
A farm stand on the Marblehead peninsula.		2 riders from Rochester NY pedal into Sandusky.

Maggie Stewart and Buck Hickman in Castalia.	Pointing out the Cedar Point roller coasters from Sandusky's lakefront.
OBA Director Walt Williams takes a photo of a group of riders in front of Marblehead Lighthouse.	XOBA rider Dale Williamson takes a photo of his buddies t the lake front in Sandusky.

All XOBA Photos by Ann Gerckens.