Today we moved from Ohio 120 miles to Pennsylvania. Our campground is the Presque Isle Campground in Erie, Pennsylvania. I read in the AAA travel book that Erie is the 4th largest city in Pennsylvania. It doesn't seem to be a very big town, but I guess it is. As we checked in to the campground the lady in the office asked if we needed a map of the city. We told her we wanted to visit the Maritime Museum and the Niagara, a re-creation of Commodore Oliver Perry's wooden hulled flagship. She told us that the Niagara and several other tall ships would be entering the harbor in a parade of sails beginning at 4:00. She also told us how to get to a good place to watch the parade.
We quickly got the trailer set up and proceeded to Presque Isle State Park, a peninsua that extends for 7 miles out into Lake Erie. We along with several thousand people from Erie and the surrounding area traveled to the Coast Guard Station on Lake Erie where we watched the ships first sail out of the bay and out into Lake Erie. Then at 4:00 they lined up and paraded back into the bay. It really was a sight to see. We had an excellent spot to watch. We stood on a concrete wall that bordered a channel that was about 100 yards wide. The ships sailed from the lake into the channel and then into the bay. We were close enough to the ships to see and hear the people on board. The ships are here to celebrate in a Tall Ships Festival sponsored by the city of Erie. They have come from as far away as Norway, but most are from ports along the east coast. 
Many of the ships fired their cannons as they sailed by. The ships were truly beautiful as they sailed by with flags unfurled and a beautiful blue sky as a backdrop. I hope you enjoy the pictures.
Aye, aye, matey!!! Isn't it neat when you just "happen upon" an event that only takes place once in a blue moon? Just think, one day earlier or later and y'all would've missed seeing those wonderful ships! It happened to us in Orkney, Scotland, when we just happened to be there the day of their annual celebration, the Riding of the Marchers. Hearing their renowned bagpipe and drum band and seeing all those gorgeous horses was a special treat. Y'all must feel the same way about seeing the parade of sails. Your photos of the ships are terrific!
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