Keeper’s Log Battery Point Lighthouse June 30

We are going out with a bang on our final day!  We climbed the tower at 12:40 AM to see the stars.  We had to wait until after midnight since this is when the spotlight which illuminates the lighthouse goes off.  We saw the stars in between flashes of the beacon light.  The reflections of the lights from the city also posed an obstruction.  Still we had a great view of the big dipper and the most recognizable constellations.  

The day dawned perfectly sunny and getting more windy as the day goes on.  I was up early and took some morning photos of the lighthouse and surrounding area.  As I crossed the tidal basin and rounded the corner to climb up the ramp by the parking lot, I came upon a raccoon.  We were both a bit surprised!  When the racoon was satisfied I was just moving through, it went on about its business.  On the way back, I pushed a few large rocks out of the path I plan to take when I bring the ATV to the mainland later in the day.

Next, I raked all the gravel on the walkways as it tends to go down over the embankments and gets into the flowers and ice plant.  Fred waddled along side of me as I raked the area close to the lighthouse.  As reward for his help, I fed him.  Again, he hung out after his modest meal of cat food, and we talked.  

We had breakfast and used up more of our remaining food.  Afterward,  I packed everything I would need for Oregon into one bag and everything that would wait for our return trip to Ohio in the other bag.  

After breakfast, I cleaned the tower glass inside and out.  With our work over the past month, I can plainly attest we are leaving the lighthouse in better condition than we found it.  Once Teare had packed, I fired up the ATV and took a load to the car.  This way, we will only have to make one trip tomorrow morning when we meet the new keepers.  At that time we will transfer all keys and leave the ATV in the parking lot so they can use it to move in.  Fortunately, the couple coming in for July have been here several times before, so we will not have to orient them like new keepers would require.

After I took the load to the car, it was time to straighten up for our tour schedule.  We wanted to have this done a bit early so we could visit a bit with the Schmidts who we have worked with the most on tours.  Since it is unlikely we will work with them in the future, this will be our last chance to visit with them until we return to Oregon where they live, or they visit us in Seville.

Our tours ran from 1:00 - 4:00 today and all went smoothly. Afterward, I played sheep dog a bit warning tourists about the incoming tide.  

We had dinner, and then visited with Teare’s sister Norleen and her husband Jim Hoadley via Facetime.   Afterward, I swept the stairway and Teare vacuumed upstairs.  Now it is time to make this final post from the lighthouse.

It has been a great experience and we will take these memories with us from this time forward.  It has been a stretch role for two people from Ohio to assume the duties of lighthouse keepers simply because it was our month!  Learning the history behind every stick of furniture and the lighthouse, supervising volunteers, running a gift shop, and changing beacon fuses and lights were all new to us.  Visiting with every new tourist was the easy part!  Thanks to the Del Norte County Historical Society for their faith and confidence in us.  Thanks to the many volunteers over the past month who have worked with us on tours. Special thanks to Dottie and Karen who mentored us and taught us how to run the lighthouse, register, and kept us supplied.  Finally, thanks to all who joined us on this journey.  

If you like the sport of Track and Field, you are welcome to continue to monitor this blog as I report highlights from the US Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Oregon.  We will be there from July 1-10.  We will drive our car to Redding, California, and fly home from there, leaving our car with Brett and Betsy.  I call that phase 3 of our adventure.  Phase 4 comes in September when we fly to California and drive back across the country taking a different route!

Signing off from Battery Point Lighthouse where the light is operational, tide is rising, and visibility is estimated at 5 nautical miles.

Bill and Teare

Keeper’s Log Battery Point Lighthouse June 29

I swept the walkway first thing this morning and met a nice couple from Switzerland.  I invited them to return while we were open for tours.   They did!  I also swept the stairwell from top to bottom and Teare cleaned right up until the time the first tour started at 12:00.  

We conducted tours until 4:45 with the help of volunteers Bill and Gretchen.  I was in the tower all day. The morning fog gave way to beautiful sun shine during the early afternoon.  In addition to the couple from Switzerland, we had a number of families from Washington state today. 

It is ironic that water was a concern before the days of pumped city water given that the lighthouse is virtually surrounded by water!  As you know, you can not drink sea water, nor use it for baths.  When in the tower, I point out the pile of timbers that are the remains of a water tower that was installed sometime after 1907 when the upstairs bathroom was built.  The water tower was built so that it was higher than the upstairs bathroom so that it could be gravity-fed. Originally, all the water was gathered off the roof and stored in the 1200 gallon cistern under the kitchen and the 5000 gallon tank outside.  There was a hand pump that would pump it up to the kitchen.  Everyone took a bath Saturday night and used the same water.  The water was heated by firewood which came by horse and wagon up the ramp.  In those days, the ramp was built of wood and stone and had to be rebuilt several times a year.  They also gathered driftwood and stored it in the shed on the north side of the lighthouse.  This is just one of several aspects of life in the early days of the lighthouse to illustrate how difficult life was then.  

The other visible illustration of life in the 1850's is when we point out where the original outhouse was located.  It was perched litterally on a cliff and accessible via a wooden ramp that you would have to walk from the very top of the point.  If it was windy or stormy - and especially if it was dark, it would have been a treacherous ordeal simply to go to the bathroom.  This is when I remind them of the value of the chamber pots they saw in the Piland bedroom. It was the children’s duty to take the chamber pot down the spiral staircase and empty it.  That’s what I call earning your allowance!     

After the tour day was done, the clean up began.  Once again, I swept the stairway.  We used up a variety of foods for dinner as Teare made a farm scramble   Egg, bacon, cheese, pepper, and toast.  I know this sounds like breakfast food, but we used up the last of the pancake mix at that meal!  We are trying our best to use up all remaining food.  

After dinner, we took a break and went outside to soak in the sun.  Fred was waiting for us!  I fed him and we sat down on the picnic table.  Fred joined us from an adjacent rock.  We decided that we needed to climb on the rocks around the lighthouse.  The photo below is from our rock scrambling.  The area to the west of the lighthouse has a natural rock cove and the waves thunder and spray high in the air.  This is the what we hear from the lighthouse that sounds like explosions.  I also took various other photos from outside the lighthouse.

This carving is made from part of the old cypress tree!

Here is a view of the lighthouse from the base of the rocks.

High tide slamming into the rocks.

A different view from below showing the old cistern.

A close up of the volcanic rock.

A view of  the rock as we scrambled down.

Geraniums are starting to bloom in the flower box.

Soon it will be time to start packing for the next phase of our adventure. Tomorrow is our last full day as lighthouse keepers.  We hope you have enjoyed the Lighthouse Blog.  Thanks to those of you who encouraged us and supported the blog through your reading of our posts and your comments! For those interested in continuing to follow our adventure, I will publish periodic highlights from the US Olympic Trials of Track and Field from Eugene, Oregon on this same blog.   Look for our final lighthouse post tomorrow.  Our best to all!    

Keeper’s Log Battery Point Lighthouse June 28

Since our first tour was not until 11:00, we had a more relaxed morning.  I fed our pet gulls, and completed one of our exit tasks.  Namely, ensure the gas cans are full for the next keeper.  I emptied the current can into the ATV and mower and filled it along with our car for our trip to Eugene, Oregon.  While at the gas station, I saw the father of a family from Utah and he expressed his thanks for the tour.  I remembered he had three little girls.  As I walked to my car, I heard my name called and it was the girls excited to see the lighthouse keeper that they knew.  This is just one of many interactions I will recall with fond memories.  With three days remaining, we have identified what we need to do to transition and now this list was one task shorter.  

Volunteers Bill and Gretchen were here a little before 11:00.  We were open until 2:30 and at the last minute a couple came in and the guy begged to go to the tower.  He claimed that he wanted to propose to his girlfriend.  I followed them up and they wanted me to be with them (probably for photo taking).  In any case, I was witness to a proposal in the tower today!    

I took a little rest after the tours as this involves being on your feet  and speaking the entire time.  I find it is nice to just sit in a quiet room for a while after these sessions.  Afterwards, I mowed the entire grounds.   From time to time I would take a short break and just look around and soak in the views.  Where else are you mowing grass on a cliff overlooking the ocean while pelicans glide by at eye level?!? I took a break and placed a couple model ships on the rocks or picnic table and shot photos of them as if they were ships at sea.  Below is one of those photos.  Teare moped all floors that needed it, including the second floor bathroom.  She also did a lot of laundry.  

We had dinner and it was back to work.  I went out and weed-whacked everything I could not access with a mower and Teare continued to clean inside.  Whew!  When all was done, we sat on the bench on the high point of the island and watched the sun go down.  Who should come along and join us for the sun set?  FRED!   He just hung with us!   It was a beautiful sun set.  We had worked our tails off today.  I asked if she thought it was worth it and without hesitation we both said “YES”!   

Well friends, we are down to our final two full days at the lighthouse.  As you can see from today’s events, they are not days filled just looking out over the ocean or strolling the redwoods.  At the same time, our days have been filled with such simple pleasures.  Some of our best friends are sea gulls.  Some of our best moments are just in being observant of our surroundings.  The people we have met have been a pleasure to know.  The families have been respectful and appreciative. Today a lady went out of her way to tell me that this was the best lighthouse tour she has ever been on.  She went on to say that lighthouse tours are her hobby and she has visited every lighthouse on the Oregon coast.  I call that out just as an example of the kind of appreciation we have experienced.

My last task of the day was this log.  I wish everyone a great night/day!

Keeper’s Log Battery Point Lighthouse June 27

It was overcast and foggy this morning.  Visability improved over time but was still limited by the end of the tour day.  We conducted tours from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM today.  Teare made us both a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and threw in some pretzels and I took that to the tower with me with a half full bottle of water.  A tour bus dropped off 50 tourists at 9:30 this morning, so Bill & Gretchen hit the ground running as they arrived.  Bill went out to the front steps and did a makeshift presentation for the group as there was no way we could get the entire group through the lighthouse with the time they had on this brief stop.  The rest of the tours went well and we had 87 guests and collected over $300.00 in donations and gift shop receipts.  

Fortunately I had fed both Ginger and Fred, (our resident sea gulls) before the wave of tourists arrived!  We had time to close up the lighthouse and get off the point prior to high tide.  Now on the mainland, we will not be able to return to the point until approximately 10:00 PM tonight if the tide schedules are accurate.

It is quite unusual that I record events before they occur, however, given the tide scenario I described, it will be too late tonight to do so.  As I write, I am in the Crescent City Starbucks because you can always count on Starbucks to have good WIFI!  In a few minutes we will be meeting Bill and Gretchen Schmidt for pizza and beverages at the local microbrew known as Port O’ Pint.  There, we will teach them how to play FIVE CROWNS card game.  This is a favorite of Teare and I ever since Hal and Barb Gerspacher taught us to play.  Afterwards, it will be late, as I mentioned, and there will not be much more to report anyway!   

I want to wish dear friend Dan Hunter a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY today.  Dan is a musician and writer in addition to being an insurance agent.  We share books and music suggestions with one another.  It has been that way since high school.  Not only is Dan my original guitar mentor, but he continues to inspire me with his writing.  Friend Andy Platz indicated that this lighthouse experience should be inspirational and I should be inspired.  I have been.   So here’s to you Hunts!

The Fog Within

I look out over the sea

but can only see so far.

The fog keeps me from seeing

-the distant horizon

-the rocks nearby,

and the other lighthouse further up the coast.

I can not see the whales in the channel

but I know they are sometimes there.

I can not see a single ship

but they must be out there.

I can only see what the fog permits

At some point the skies will clear…

…but what invisible mist will I carry with me?

-that will keep me from seeing the possibilities

that are just beyond the fog.

wvr  6/6/16

Have a great day everyone!

Bill

Keeper’s Log Battery Point Lighthouse June 26

Teare got the day rolling with her famous blueberry pancakes.  We enjoyed them while looking out the window at the ocean from our radio room perch.  It is called the radio room as this is where the Coast Guard had their radios during the time they occupied the lighthouse.  There is still a 2 way radio in the corner of the room.  

Every Sunday morning, we wind the original Howard and Davis 1856 clock in the parlor.  This was presented to the lighthouse on Christmas Day of that year by the United States Lighthouse Establishment.  We wind it once a week and it keeps perfect time - as it has for 160 years.  When I climb the small step ladder, open the glass face, pull the old key and insert it, I feel a connection to the long list of lighthouse keepers who have performed the same task for the entire history of the lighthouse.  I take a tremendous sense of satisfaction in this humble task.   

I also fed Ginger and secured the old exterior access door to the basement cistern.   

We had the day off from tours and decided to spend the late morning and early afternoon off the point while the tours were here and the light was being attended.  We drove north of town to the Tolowa Dunes State Park and parked where the dunes meet the sea.   It was a foggy day and visability was a bit restricted.  We walked down the beach and discovered various rocks, shells, and agate.   Next, we hiked on the dunes on a trail which ran along the ocean.  The grass covered dunes had a footpath just wide enough for one person at a time.  The grass was of various heights and, at one point, waist high.  We ended up on the beach again, and returned to the car via the beach.  On the way, we encountered a family who was fishing.  They already had four fish in a bucket and the man was reeling in a perch as we walked by.  These fish would be tonight’s dinner.  This area has beaches, dunes, redwood forest, crystal clear rivers, farmland, and snow capped mountains.  If you love the outdoors, this is your kind of place! 

We drove down another road and tried to get a look at Lake Earl, a large fresh water lake within a State Park Wildlife Area.  The lake is a wildlife sanctuary.  It was tough to get a good look at it due to the marsh area that surrounds it.  

We were aware of our time constraints and headed back to Crescent City.  We stopped to get some light bulbs and have lunch on the way back to the lighthouse.  We returned just prior to the close of the tour day.  We were able to finish with the last of the visitors and let them browse the gift shop so the volunteers could leave for the day. 

Before long, the tide was in and we had the island to ourselves.  Teare wrote post cards while I read a short book about a local pioneer.  I fed Fred the seagull and he brought me a large wad of dried grass as a show of appreciation and dropped it at the picnic table.  He waddled over and stood next to me as I sat there.   It is just about time for sunset, but it is so overcast, it will simply fade to dark tonight.  It will also cut down on the tourists outside our window who will wander over for the sunset from our high rocky point. 

Our best to all!  Four days are all that remain of our lighthouse keeper month.  We will try to make the most of them! 

Keeper’s Log Battery Point Lighthouse June 25

We were up early in order to be ready for a 9:00 AM private tour.  They left at 10:30 by the time they looked through the gift shop and had their refreshments.  Teare made cinnamon rolls and chocolate chip cookies.  We started the public tours before the small group left.  Dottie was here along with Mike.  The tours went smoothly.

After the tours were complete, Dottie and Sharon stayed for lunch with us in the radio room.  We presented them both with a gift as we expressed our appreciation for their help and guidance during the month.  We will not work with either of them for the rest of our time here. Our time together was short because the tide was getting high.    

We followed them off the point and wanted to take advantage of the rest of the day.  This included a trip into town.  We started at the Historical Society Museum.  We checked out all the exhibits on the two floors.  They have quite a collection of Indian clothing and artifacts and a wide array of exhibits regarding the tsunamis.  In the rear two story portion of the museum is the two story Fresnel Lighthouse Lens and base which used to be in the St. George Reef Lighthouse.  It is large and impressive.  The museum is really expansive and well done.  Since the building used to be the jail, they have incorporated some of the old jail cells and have an exhibit devoted to an escape attempt using a saw and bed sheet to scale down the jail wall. 

After our visit to the museum, we took a nice walk down Front Street from 5th street all the way to the Mexican Restaurant.  We decided to have an early dinner at a restaurant near the marina.  Afterwards, we still had time for a movie.

I took another quick walk up to the Brother Jonathan Memorial just before sunset.   I returned to jot some notes and Teare went to close the drawer for the day.

Pictured below are the tsunami water level in the marina area.  Keep in mind we are already 8 to 10 feet above the normal water level due to the pier we are on.  The second picture is tonight’s edition of the sunset taken from a mile up the coast.

We hope all is well with you and we will visit again tomorrow.

Keeper’s Log Battery Point Lighthouse June 24

The morning sun was already bright when we awoke.  I set up breakfast while Teare straightened up upstairs.  After breakfast, she made a trip to pick up inventory for the shop while I took a walk.  It was a beautiful morning for a walk and I ended up carrying my jacket.  When I arrived back at the lighthouse, it was time to prepare for the tour day.  

Bill and Gretchen Schmidt arrived soon after Teare, and we divided tour responsibilities and planned a farewell dinner together.  Today, I would be in the tower.  As I climbed to the tower, I did what I do continually throughout the day - make sure the light is working.  I waited the requisite 26.5 seconds but for the first time I did not see the light come on.  I waited longer….no light!  A tour group had already been admitted and was expecting to visit the tower.  After my call to the Coast Guard and Dottie, our advisor, I suspended the tower part of the tour until I could replace the light.  I followed the procedures which involves cutting the 750 watt electric source and wearing cotton gloves to handle the new halogen bulb.   We turned the power back on ….. and no light.  This meant we had to replace the fuse.  This involved a little more work and some additional tools.  After cutting power once again, and getting what we needed, we had to get into the switching mechanism.   It took needle nose pliers to replace the small fuse in the switch, but we made sure the contact points on the fuse cradle were lined up with the fuse and gently pushed it into place.  I replaced the switch plate, then the plate over the power box.  Next, I called down to Teare to turn on the breaker.  Once confirmed, I switched on the power switch in the tower for the beacon light….

It came on immediately!  I watched until it repeated it’s unique light signature of 3.5 seconds on followed by 26.5 seconds off.  Once I confirmed this, I drew a huge sigh of relief.  Now I felt like a real lighthouse keeper!  I called the Coast Guard to report the light as operational then called Dottie to report same.  Everyone was happy, including me, and we resumed tower tours as usual.

After the tour, we had lunch and I went to the Piland Room and was looking through the antique books.  As I write I am using the antique secretary drop-down writing desk.  It was built in the 1860’s and has three shelves within a glass cabinet full of antique books.  Built into the writing surface is a piece of fabric with the consistency of soft burlap. The purpose of the fabric is to absorb the excess ink from the quill pens used in that era.  The ink would be contained in the fabric and not discolor the wood surface.  The secretary is a piece of Eastlake furniture.  Charles Eastlake was an English architect and writer and considered the father of the Arts and Crafts style of furniture.   Replacing the light was meaningful and reporting those events on this period furniture makes the experience complete.

I came across two books in the secretary that caught my eye.  The first was a miniature bound edition of Troops in Campaign - Regulations for the Army of the United States  printed in 1892.  The 4 by 5 inch book outlined everything from Issue of Rations, Occupations, Prisoners of War to Movement of Troops.  Here are a couple exerpts:  “Section 86:  Whoever intentionally kills or wounds an enemy already disabled, or who encourages others to do so, shall suffer death.”   “Section 91:  A prisoner of war, while attempting to escape, may be shot, but if recaptured neither death or any other punishment shall be inflicted upon him simply for his attempt to escape, which the laws of war do not consider a crime.”

The second book I read from was a portion of Presidents of the United States by John S.C. Abbot and Russell H. Conwell.  Copyright H. Hallett and Co., 1881.  I read the section devoted to George Washington.  What was interesting was how General Washington was an advocate for prisoner rights and the humane treatment of prisoners of war.   I saw a direct link to the humane treatment outlined in the Army manual over a hundred years later.  Washington was not afraid of challenge and was a man of high character.  I also liked his sense of punctuality.  If dinner was at 4:00 PM, he was seated and in place by 3:55.  To those who came late he once remarked “Gentlemen, we are punctual here.  My cook never asks whether the company has arrived, but whether the hour has.”

The Piland room is full of antiques and is dedicated to Wayne Piland.  Wayne was the last lighthouse keeper before the light was automated in 1953.  As early as 1949, Wayne was writing letters to anyone and everyone to save the lighthouse.  When Wayne left in 1953, the Historical Society of Del Norte County took it over with the Coast Guard who used it as a receiving station and had a crew come around and service the light.  This lasted until 1965 when the light itself was decommissioned and the Historical Society took over completely.  This makes the lighthouse lived in continuously for 160 years.

After dinner, we worked for much of the rest of the day.  Teare cleaned the downstairs.  I cleaned upstairs and all the tower glass.  

Later, Teare was watching the sunset with a couple from Sweden, their son and his girlfriend.  We ended up providing a private tour of the lighthouse.  The views from the tower were beautiful tonight as we were up there just after sunset.  At the conclusion of our visit and tour, they invited us to Sweden so they could show us around!

I now have fed Fred out of my hand for three days in a row.  Below, is a short piece devoted to my buddy Fred, the sea gull.

Ode to Fred

There you are again.

You come and go like the tide.

When I think you’ll be there,

you fly and hide.

I know you’re a mooch,

but I can’t help but like you,

and besides, 

I haven’t got a pooch!

I like it when you do unusual gull things

like walk behind me

or eat out of my hand.

The capper was when you pulled grass

and waddled over and dropped it in front of me

….like a Golden Retriever.

But nesting material means a lot to you

so I thank you for it.

Yep Fred, you are one gull with personality.

I guess that’s why I like you

and why I’ll miss you when we leave. 

You'll have to break in a new keeper.

wvr  6/23/16

Closing for now with a new light and fuse.  

The Battery Point Light is operational.

Keeper's Log Special Addendum The One Who Watches

The One Who Watches

As you have seen in our photos, our lighthouse sits high atop a rocky out-cropping connected to the mainland by a “beach” of sand, gravel and rock.  As the tide comes in, it closes around the point and it covers the beach area, and at its deepest, is waist high at high tide.

Part of what I do as keeper is to warn tourists who either crossed before the tide rises or who cross when the water is very shallow and don’t mind getting their feet wet.  In either case, they may be unaware that the tide will continue to rise to the point where is covers the beach and at the deepest, is waist high at high tide.

The danger is not the depth or the strength of current.  The danger is that you can not see the rocks to step on when under water, and if you do fall, you are not falling on soft sandy beach, but pointy rock and this is how people get hurt.  

So I will make my rounds and warn people.  As everyone exits, I will stand at a point high on the hill where I could see who might be still crossing despite the shallow water cover, and those who remain on the mainland side of the tidal basin.

As I looked down on these explorers, it struck me that this might be similar to how the man upstairs watches us.  He knows how drawn we are to the lighthouse - or anything that lures us in this life.  All He can do is warn us of the dangers - but in the presence of this danger never does He take our free will from us.  

So if we cross, we cross.  If we heed the warning, we return to the mainland.  If the keeper warns us and we ignore it, then we very well may pay the consequences.  The Wathcher knows the allure of the lighthouse sitting so invitingly on the hill and just wants us to be safe.  

I imagine He just wants us to be safe.