Day 4 (Aug 2) Sunday

Just so you don't think everything is happy, happy, joy, joy I'll just say that the La Quinta we're staying at in Erie is a far cry from the Quality Inn in Franklin.  The Quality Inn may have been in a small town of 6500 people, but the staff there was very professional and it seemed they really cared about us having a good stay.  La Qunita, not so much.

But enough complaining.  We started today at the Burch Farms Country Market, where we got a few things: apple butter, elderberry jam, sweet potato pancake mix, plums, wine).  The drive there was enjoyable too with a lot of vineyards and farms.  

The drove back was interesting too.  I took PA 5 back towards Erie and since it paralleled Lake Erie, there were a number of turn-offs that could take you to the lakeshore.  One was to Shades Beach Park in Harborcreek Township.

Shades Beach

Windsock, Shades Beach

We were headed to the USS Niagara.  It was supposed to be right past the convention center, but try as I might, we couldn't fin it.  We did see the Bicentennial Tower.

Bicentennial Tower

Next was Presque Isle State Park.  This is a really impressive state park that has a lot of history, hiking/biking trails, and beaches.  We were dodging rain all day, but we were also lucky that it seemed to clear off a bit when we wanted to see something.

There are two monuments to Commodore Perry that I know of on Lake Erie--this one, and one in Put-in-Bay, OH (which we saw in 2007).

Perry Monument, Presque Isle State Park

The Presque Isle Lighthouse was closed for tours, but you could get photos.

Presque Isle Lighthouse

Because it was on the way to our hotel, we stopped at Romolo Chocolates again.  This time I had a mocha and Fe had a two-scoop chocolate cream ice cream cone.  The place isn't exactly cheap, but they give you your money's worth--and it was a better mocha than I've had in a while.

Tomorrow we head back home.  I know I'm getting old because I'll be glad to get back into my routine.