The lighthousing trip in Oregon was one of the most profound light experiences I've had in my 4 years of serious lighthousing. Each light was so unique and special, I had so many favorites. But this first one, this one is at the top. I think it's my very favorite.
Because of Laura's delayed flight, we got back from the airport around 2, and had planned to start our trip at 6. We talked before bed and decided to go for it. We had everything planned down to the minute, and we both know how important it is to follow the light schedule.
So we got up at 5:45 and were buckled in the jolly green and ready to head off on her inaugural lighthouse trip by 6:00. We drove 3 hours and 45 minutes, all the way down the Oregon coast to the southernmost light in Oregon - Cape Blanco. By front loading our driving, we were able to spend more time visiting the lights, since they were all only open 10-5.
As we arrived the fog was rolling in and it was just... there are no words, just breathtaking. We drove up a windy, one lane road, through tall grasses, (one of my favs) and up to the light. The waves were crashing on the rocks, the sky was clear and blue (it had just stopped raining), and the fog was lightly blanketing the rolling hills. I chose this picture because it shows the front of the jolly green giant on her maiden voyage marathon lighthouse trip.
We got there 15 minutes early and thankfully they let us in for our souvie shopping.
And there she was!!! Pretty lady, Bam!!!
We got lots of pictures outside, and then were the first people to climb the light with Walt, our very knowledgeable tour guide.
This light is still an active aid to navigation, which is amazing that the coast guard even lets people near it, let alone to climb it and be that close to the fresnel lens!
Walt told us that this is the tallest light in Oregon, not the tallest tower, but tallest light because if you measure from the mean water level (not the highest or lowest tide but the average) to the light, it is the tallest.
We could have spent some serious time up there visiting with Mr. Walt.
But we couldn't.
For one thing, we were on a schedule, (only 1 hour allotted to climbing each light) and for another thing, Walt had gotten a call from the coast guard that asked him to evacuate the tower because of a fire.
So when Laura and I were walking from the gift shop to the light, we smelled and saw smoke in an electrical area.
We reasoned that there were enough volunteer workers around and that surely it was a controlled fire and that somebody knew about it.
We were wrong. Apparently Walt saw the fire when he got up to the tower and phoned it in, and no one did know about it. Oopsie.
These pics are all majorly our of order, but I just can't. So there.
Laura got out of the car and realized two things. First that it was freezing. Second that she'd forgotten her jacket. Good thing Matt had left one in the jolly green.
Each light we left feeling like we could have spent all day there. Like seriously, I could live here.
And as we left the fire department showed up. Heavenly Father loves us and was aware of us and our silly lighthousing habit because we were blessed to be the first, and maybe only ones to climb before they shut things down.
#blessed
Valuable lesson learned. Always ask about fires, especially when no one is right nearby. (:
#blessed
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