September 1, 2022

WELCOME blog readers!  It has been a fast four years since our last stay and service at Battery Point Lighthouse.  We arrived in Crescent City, California yesterday and immediately went to the Del Norte Historical Society where we received a warm up on point of sale and various other updates on the lighthouse.  

We met the former Keepers at 10 AM this morning and picked up the keys and the 4 wheeler (aka quad) which is what we use to move our luggage and food, etc.

We are not open today and it was mostly a moving and transition day.   Our main chore was to bring our stuff across the tidal basin and lug it up the narrow circular steps to the second floor bedroom. 

On my way to the lighthouse there was a huge golden colored seal which appeared to be beached and in distress.  The prior keepers had called the Marine Animal Rescue group locally.  By the time I made my second trip on the quad, the seal was gone.  I'd like to think the incoming tide was enough to enable the seal to re-enter the surf and allow him to feed and regain his health. 

I was able to see my old friend, Fred the seagull, and fed him and his mate just moments ago.  There will be much more on Fred as the days unfold.  I am still uncertain if this is his mate, Janice, from four years ago.  If her screech is loud and obnoxious, it is Janice.  If it is not, it is a new mate... and we will have to come up with a new name.   

I will attach photos, server permitting, in the future.  We are here and all is well.  Tomorrow we will start giving tours and operating the gift shop.  

Getting here was part of the fun of this adventure.  I thought I might share our travel itinerary in the event you are interested and want to explore some of the same sites.

NOTE:  We limited our drive time to 5-6 hours a day so that we could also enjoy sites and attractions along the way.

Day 1  Fremont, Ohio (Rutherford B Hayes Presidential Home and Museum)                              South Bend, Indiana (Walked the campus and visited the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame University)

Day 2 Drove around Chicago on I-80.  Stopped in Ottawa, Illinois (Walked downtown to the site of the first Lincoln-Douglas debate)                                                                                                           Drove to West Branch, Iowa (Visited the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site including his birthplace and Presidential Museum - then walked the adjacent Prairie Trail)                                       Our final stop was in Grinnell, Iowa.  (Drove around and checked out Grinnell College.)

Day 3 Continuing on I-80 to Omaha, Nebraska.  (Visited the Gerald Ford Birthplace & Gardens)   We had lunch at a downtown Omaha deli.                                                                                        Stopped in Ashland, Nebraska (Visited the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum.) Here we saw a wide array of military aircraft and I piloted an F-63-3 Hellcat WWII fighter with Teare as my co-pilot and gunner in a very realistic moving simulator.                                                                              We drove to Kearney, Nebraska. (Found the childhood home of good friend, Dr. Stuart Ensor, and visited downtown Kearney where they were having a street fair.)

Day 4  Traveled on I-80 to western Nebraska.  For a change of scenery, we drove on a parallel road (US Hwy. 30) until we reconnected with I-80 through Cheyenne into Laramie, Wyoming.                          Our attraction here was the University of Wyoming, where we walked all around the campus, including the Performing Arts Center and Athletic Facilities)  The campus blended well with the rocky terrain.

Day 5  We began the day at the Wyoming Territorial Prison in Laramie where they held Butch Cassidy.  We listened to an audio book (The Judge's List, by John Grisham) as we traveled, making the miles go by quickly.                                                                                                                                  We took Hwy. 30 NW to Kemmerer, Wyoming.  (Here we visited and toured the original JC Penney store and home).

Day 6  Drove to Idaho through Pocatello on to Twin Falls.  (Spent our time at the Snake River Canyon and Shoshone Falls... Gorgeous!)                                                                                          Made our way to Boise via I-84.  (Teare wanted a fresh Idaho baked potato so we found a restaurant that met her needs!)  Finished the day with a walk on the Boise Greenbelt along the Boise River.  

Day 7 Began the day with a bike ride on the Boise Greenbelt (This took us through the campus of Boise State University.  We acted like we belonged and walked down a tunnel to the famous blue football field until we were asked nicely to leave!) We left Boise on I-84 but headed West to Ontario, ID on US 20 to Bend, Oregon.  For most of our six hours of desert driving, we saw nothing but free range horses and cattle.  After we arrived in Bend, we went out to eat at 10 Barrel Brewery.

Day 8 We rented electric pedal-assist bikes and rode on the Deschutes River Trail for four hours. Walked around downtown Bend and met friends Craig and Linda at the Deschutes Brewery Public House for dinner.  Linda is the sister of dear friend Barbara Gerspacher of Medina, Ohio.  

Day 9 Drove south on Hwy. 97, west on Hwy. 138 to arrive at the northern gate of Crater Lake National Park.  Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the USA at a maximum depth of 1943 ft.  It is a 33 mile drive around the entire rim.  We drove the West Rim and continued down Rte. 62 to Grants Pass, Oregon.  The air was thick with smoke from the recent forest fire outside of town.  Here, we picked up Hwy. 199 to Crescent City, California.  The drive down 199 was beautiful.  Part of the drive is through narrow canyons with the rushing Smith River far below.  As we entered Del Norte County, California we saw a sign which read: "The Redwood Gate to the Golden State".   We highly recommend this drive!    

                                                                         Crater Lake

Signing off from Battery Point Lighthouse

Join us again.  We'll leave the light on...

Bill and Teare