[dobermankid]

These are some images I took of Erie's bayfront a couple weeks ago during my visit. Didn't really get a chance to take any of the city.

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o56/dobermankid/Erie/100_2265.jpg?t=1167010145

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o56/dobermankid/Erie/100_2264.jpg?t=1167010397

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o56/dobermankid/Erie/100_2263.jpg?t=1167010435

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o56/dobermankid/Erie/100_2261.jpg?t=1167010460

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o56/dobermankid/Erie/100_2260.jpg?t=1167010481

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o56/dobermankid/Erie/100_2259.jpg?t=1167010502

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o56/dobermankid/Erie/100_2257.jpg?t=1167010518

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o56/dobermankid/Erie/100_2256.jpg?t=1167012942

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o56/dobermankid/Erie/100_2255.jpg?t=1167013007

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o56/dobermankid/Erie/100_2254.jpg?t=1167013024

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o56/dobermankid/Erie/100_2253.jpg?t=1167013040

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o56/dobermankid/Erie/100_2252.jpg?t=1167013056

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o56/dobermankid/Erie/100_2251.jpg?t=1167013078

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o56/dobermankid/Erie/100_2250.jpg?t=1167013216

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o56/dobermankid/Erie/100_2249.jpg?t=1167013613

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o56/dobermankid/Erie/100_2248.jpg?t=1167013641

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o56/dobermankid/Erie/100_2247.jpg?t=1167013661

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o56/dobermankid/Erie/100_2246.jpg?t=1167013690

[BigKidD]

Not bad. Did you happen to check out any of the churches in the city, there is quite a big one at 8th and Sassafras street?

[DallasTexan]

eerie.

[PhillyRising]

I just cannot fathom that there is an acutal beach in Pennsylvania. I've never been to Erie.

[Wheelingman04]

Wonderful

[Paintballer1708]

Erie such a great city that is making a huge comeback.

[HeartInErie]

I miss home.

[donybrx]

What are those objects in the water, the elongations paralleling the shoreline...some kind of jetty?

How warm does the water get in summer?

[pj3000]

What are those objects in the water, the elongations paralleling the shoreline...some kind of jetty?

How warm does the water get in summer?

Those are the infamous breakwaters installed by the Army Corps of Engineers about 20 years ago now. They were installed to protect the shoreline from erosion. They are pretty common on the Great Lakes, but the jury is still out on their true effectiveness. They have helped to lessen the beating that the beaches take during harsh storms where wave crests can reach 10 feet, but in helping to keep the sand from washing away, they have also disrupted natural currents. They have had the effect of creating a scalloped shoreline and aesthetically, they're just not that pleasing to the eye. The eastern end of Presque Isle does not have the breakwaters and the view of the water is uninterrupted by lines of boulders.

As for water temp in the summer: warmest is from late June thru early September; averaging in the mid to upper 70s for the past few summers. It's warmer than the Jersey Shore, so if you can stand it there, the waters off of Presque Isle are quite nice. A new sand replenishment program is also slated for this coming year. It will only replenish the beaches with soft sand dredged from Lake Erie, rather than trucking in "sand" from some Pittsburgh gravel and conglomerate company which has been the low bidder for the State project... sometimes it sucks that it's a PA State Park in that decisions are made in Harrisburg.

[Evergrey]

I love that bayfront parking lot.

[donybrx]

Those are the infamous breakwaters installed by the Army Corps of Engineers about 20 years ago now. They were installed to protect the shoreline from erosion. They are pretty common on the Great Lakes, but the jury is still out on their true effectiveness. They have helped to lessen the beating that the beaches take during harsh storms where wave crests can reach 10 feet, but in helping to keep the sand from washing away, they have also disrupted natural currents. They have had the effect of creating a scalloped shoreline and aesthetically, they're just not that pleasing to the eye. The eastern end of Presque Isle does not have the breakwaters and the view of the water is uninterrupted by lines of boulders.

As for water temp in the summer: warmest is from late June thru early September; averaging in the mid to upper 70s for the past few summers. It's warmer than the Jersey Shore, so if you can stand it there, the waters off of Presque Isle are quite nice. A new sand replenishment program is also slated for this coming year. It will only replenish the beaches with soft sand dredged from Lake Erie, rather than trucking in "sand" from some Pittsburgh gravel and conglomerate company which has been the low bidder for the State project... sometimes it sucks that it's a PA State Park in that decisions are made in Harrisburg.

Thanks for the response and info pj3000; I suspected that they are breakwaters, I've just never seen any that, er, homely...jetties are usually revetments made of boulders that are perpendicular to the shore (which you know) and also create that scooping out effect in the sand.

So the water really warms up out there?..sounds nice.....our temps (ocean) generally reach 70-73 degrees which suits me fine...refreshing when the days are too hot to live.....
Thanks again....

[pj3000]

Thanks for the response and info pj3000; I suspected that they are breakwaters, I've just never seen any that, er, homely...jetties are usually revetments made of boulders that are perpendicular to the shore (which you know) and also create that scooping out effect in the sand.

So the water really warms up out there?..sounds nice.....our temps (ocean) generally reach 70-73 degrees which suits me fine...refreshing when the days are too hot to live.....
Thanks again....

There used to be many more stone jetties and groins that were situated perpendicular to the shoreline (some still remain on the westernmost end of the peninsula). However, most were removed when the eyesores, I mean, breakwaters were constructed. Supposedly, the jetties were disrupting the longshore current too much and thus disrupting the natural deposition of sand along the peninsula (eastern beaches were shrinking). Now, these types of breakwaters are being implicated in water quality problems across the country and especially in Lake Michigan. As for water temps, yes, the lake warms up pretty nicely in the summer as it's by far the shallowest of the Great Lakes.

[Evergrey]

what are the plans for the old brewery?

[pj3000]

^ Since the old Eagle/Koehler brewery buildings were demolished, the site has had zero activity on it. It currently sits as yet another empty lot in the city. The developers somewhat recently received the private funding they were looking for to begin the project. So that's a good sign, I guess. Plans include a retail, commercial, residential development in two phases. The first phase is reportedly set to begin soon with groundwork and construction of the main building (a replica of the 1857 brewhouse) which will include offices (tenants are already secured) on the upper floors and Urbaniak's Old World Market, a restaurant/bar, and an Erie brewing history museum on the main floor. Phase II was to include a 10 story office building, boutique hotel, and townhouse development... I highly doubt that will ever happen.