Keeper’s Log Battery Point Lighthouse Tuesday, June 14

Today was a nice sunny, clear day.  We conducted tours from 1-4 and secured groceries and supplies.  We met people from France, Germany, New Zealand, and a number of states.  I knew that would not be extremely entertaining, so…..how would you like to hear a story?     

The Story of Kamone:

On March 11, 2011 an earthquake hit Rikuzentakata, Japan.  The same earthquake caused a tsunami which also impacted Crescent City, California, destroying the marina.  On April 7, 2013 a lone boat washed up on the shores of Crescent City, California covered in barnacles.  Students from the Del Norte High School took the small boat in and cleaned it up.  To their suprise on the side of the boat was written, in Japanese characters “TAKATA High School”.  An expert examined the boat and determined it was debris from the earthquake in Japan two years prior.  The students at Del Norte High School thought it would be nice to return the boat to its original owners.  The community came together and transported the boat to San Francisco where it took a freighter to Rikuzentakata, Japan.  It arrived on October 21, 2013 - 954 days after it was pulled away from the tsunami.  

The students at Takata High School were delighted to have the boat, that they had named “Kamone” which means sea gull, returned to them.  The Japanese students invited the students from Crescent City to visit their town.  In February, 2014, the students involved made the trip to  Rikuzentakata, Japan.  The following year the Japanese students visited Crescent City.  A bond was formed between the citizens and communities.  Kamone has become a symbol of hope because both cities had suffered devastation as a result of the same earthquake and tsunami on opposite sides of the Pacific.  They are now sister cities.  For more information, read the book The Extraordinary Voyage of Kimone by Lori Dengler and Amya Miller.

Our day ended with another beautiful sunset. 

Keeper’s Log Battery Point Lighthouse Monday, June 13

Our tours did not begin until 11:00 AM today.  With the tide out, I had time to take a 2 mile morning walk into town to 5th Street and back down A Street.  When the 1964 tsunami hit Crescent City, it wiped out the first five blocks of Crescent City.  Eleven people lost their lives in the tsunami which was triggered by an earthquake off the Alaskan coast.

I walked past the SS Emidio memorial, a US oil tanker owned and operated by General Petroleum Corporation.  The Emidio was the first casualty of the Japanese Imperial Navy on California’s Pacific coast.  The Emido was sailing from Seattle, WA enroute to San Pedro, CA when on December 20, 1941, off Cape Mendicino, the Japanese submarine I-17 hit the tanker with 5 shells from its 14 CM deck gun. (Note the date - this was just two weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor) A few minutes later the I-17 torpedoed the tanker.  Five crewman were killed and the remainder reached the Blunt Reef lightship in lifeboats.   The abandoned tanker drifted north and broke up on the rocks off Crescent City.  The bow drifted into the harbor, where it lay untll salvaged in 1950.   A section of the hall has been preserved as a monument  and the site declared a California Historic Landmark.   The memorial shows the names of the victums and displays a portion of the hull.  The jagged edges tell the story.

I completed my walk and prepared for the tour day.  We conducted tours from 11:00 AM until nearly 4:00 PM.  We had 90 visitors and collected $295.25 in cash admissions and gift shop sales.  ….after the tours, Teare and I enjoyed………sitting down……!

Afterwards, I walked the garbage to a dumpster over in the parking lot on the mainland.  I could have taken the gator, but did not see the need for three bags.  I walked to the beach then returned to play sheep dog for tourists unaware that high tide was coming.  

We had dinner while watching game 5 of the NBA FInals.  The Cavs were able to pull it off with both LeBron and Kyrie scoring 41 points.  This will force game 6 back in Cleveland.  Sweet, because I was surrounded by Warrior fans who promised me it was going to end tonight…

I fed Ginger and Fred at different times tonight, so my gulls are happy.  Fred hung out with me after I fed him and it appeared as if he was thanking me for the food.  He also was grabbing grass and walking it over to me and dropping it on the ground…almost like a dog would drop a bone after he’s fetched it.  Most unusual, and once again, these little suprises continue to endear me to this gull and this unique experience.

The sun is down now and another great day is winding to a close. 

Keeper’s Log Battery Point Lighthouse Sunday, June 12

Today’s log will be a bit different.  Instead of the log simply including a litany of events, I would like to reflect on life in a 1850’s lighthouse.  So let us dispatch with a brief account of the events of the day. 

I was up at 2:00 in the morning and decided this would be the morning I climb the tower steps and view the stars from a lighthouse in the Pacific Ocean.  I was not disappointed.  The stars were abundant and bright over a vast dark ocean below.  The lights of Crescent City behind me were an unwanted distraction as I focused my attention on the heavens above.  

            …..then the light came on……       It was BLINDING in the darkness.  At first I looked away, but the interior of the tower is painted a bright white which only reflects the light, so not only am I ducking to not block the light, now I am closing my eyes for the brief periods that the light would come on.   The stars were amazing from the tower and I plan to do it again before our stay is over.  To not do so would be to squander opportunity… 

We conducted tours from 10:00 AM through 2:30 on a solid, continuous basis.  Knowing this would be the case, and knowing I would be in the lighthouse tower the entire time, I drank a small cup of coffee for breakfast.  No elaboration required.  We provided tours for 89 visitors and collected $361.14 in donations and gift receipts.  Our guests were from all over the country including Akron and Ottawa Hills, Ohio.  We observed whale and seal while in the tower.  

Teare and I sat on the picnic table in the sun after the tour day ended.  She closed the drawer and we had dinner in the old parlor.  This provided the inspiration to focus today’s log on our surroundings and lifestyle while keeping a lighthouse listed as a location in the National Registry of HIstoric Places.   

Let’s begin with the 1856 clock.  This was an original gift from the National Lighthouse Establishment and was presented to the lighthouse on Christmas Day, 1856.  They call it the “banjo” clock, because of it’s shape.  For me, this working, precise timepiece is the most valuable piece of furniture in the entire lighthouse.  The other would be the original lighthouse lens in the museum/gift shop.  The 1860 era organ adds a personal touch.  I picture various family members over the years playing the old organ.  To operate it, one must pedal the dampers and press the keys while pedaling.  It still puts out a good tone, albeit over the racket of the foot pedals.  There is a “fainting” couch in the original parlor with one end turned up.  Very victorian.  There is an old Victrola phonograph player.  The fire place is original.  There is authentic, original hair art in a frame on the wall.  Hair art was popular in the 1800’s and the lady’s would gather strands of hair in ceramic containers and then when they had enough hair, woud make something from it.  In our case, they made an anchor of human hair.  It struck me that their hair is still in the old lighthouse long after they are…

The Piland bedroom, complete with 1907 bed and dresser is adjacent to our bedroom upstairs.  It has a wood buring stove, a beautiful old high pitcher wash basin, an old rocking chair, and two chamber pots of the era.  When you see where the old outhouse was located, perilously located on the cliff, trust me, you would use the chamber pot too.  Fortunately, we have a beautiful old bathroom with a claw foot tub and modern plumbing so we do not have to use the old outhouse!

There is a secretary complete with ink blotting cloth built into it for quilt pens.  The Eastlake furniture piece was built prior to 1890.  The children of the era would collect anything woolen that was discarded…mittens, sock, blankets, coats, and make braided woolen throw rugs from them.  There is also a piece of tree fungus that has a paininting of Battery Point.  With no craft store to go to, they used their own creativity and improvised.

There is a model ship of the Kersage on a shelf in the Piland bedroom.  It has been in the lighthouse for decades.  The Kersage was a Union civil war ship that engaged and sank the Alabama.  The Alabama was a Confederate ship that was effective in sinking supply ships from the Union that were bringing back supplies to the Union States during the Civil War.   Captain Sanford, who was the captain of the Del Norte, a lumber hauler in the civil war era, later became the lighthouse keeper at Battery Point.  This is just one of the string of characters and stories that these old walls could tell…

As I write, I do so by an original kerosine lantern turned electic on the table next to me.  The window next to me looks down on the Pacific.  The quilted bedspread is not historic, but has a likeness of the lighhouse on the quilted pillow covers.  The wood buring stove, wood holder and tinder box full of fire wood add much to the charm of the room.  At the foot of the bed is the pirate treasure chest we open for children on the tour.  It is a chest of the type that would have been used in the era as keepers moved their belongings to their next lighthouse assignment.  The sloped ceiling and lace curtains give this room a quaint feel.  The old picture frame with the arched glass and gilded mirror are authentic to the period.

I am trying to paint a picture which depicts the charm of the lighthouse living experience I feel compelled to reflect on.  When all of your furnishings are circa 1850’s you sense the pace of life, struggles, and simplicity that went into life at that time.  Life here is less about the computer and TV.  While we still have and use these things, their use is limited.  Our interaction with tourists is our chief entertainment.  The animals provide further entertainment as simply watching gulls glide above the cliffs is a constant source of joy.  Minutes ago, Teare and I watched the sunset….more stunning entertainment.  Just the two of us on our private island in the Pacific watching the day come to a close.  Soon you will not see the gulls any longer.  They will be resting for early fishing in the morning.  So it is with us as the sun goes down and with it, the last of the entertainment for the day.  

I will close for now.  It has not been a wild day of adventure.  We never left Battery Point.  Seemingly, there is little to report.  Yet, Teare just told me what a great day she had.  The fact is, it was another great day as lighthouse keepers of a national treasure.

Keepers Reedy

Keeper’s Log Battery Point Lighthouse Saturday, June 11

Today’s Log is dedicated to Levi Fausnight.  Levi, Teare’s dad, would be 88 years old today.

This was a day off!  By “day”, we mean we can leave the point while the other volunteers are here at the lighthouse and return before the tide…  Still, we were able to get out for breakfast and a few hours of exploring, so we are grateful for that!  

We encountered a guy from Eugene, Oregon who was painting a watercolor of Battery Point and Lighthouse.  It was excellent.  Turns out, David is riding his bike to the Grand Canyon and painting scenes that strike him as especially beautiful or inspirational.  Battery Point qualified.

After breakfast, we drove out to Walker Road within the Simpson-Reed Grove of the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park - just a few miles outside of Crescent City.  We took the road to the end at Smith River and looked around a bit.  Next, we took another fork of the potholed dirt road to another hill which led down to the river again.  This time, the rocky sand riverbed was very loose and deep.  One car was already stuck in the sand.  We offered to help but they declined our offer as they had help on the way.  We were able to back up and out of the narrow road and parked at a trail head that looked especially inviting. 

We ended up hiking a mile on the Leiffer Loop Trail.  Due to the terrain and amazing scenery at every turn, it seemed like two miles.  It was fantastic.  We enjoyed it because for 98% of the time we had the trail to ourselves.  Once again, we were struck with the sheer majesty of the redwoods.  Equally notable is how still and quiet it is in the midst of these giants.  It is something I wish everyone could experience at least once in their lives.  

We hiked a while, hid in hollowed out trees, gazed at the up-turned roots, and saw faces in the bark.  We admired the ground cover of fern and three leaf clover.  We stopped under moss-draped branches.  It was a beautiful day.  Every so often we would reach a sunny spot and just soak it in.  Once, we found a bench perfectly situated in the sun and surrounded by the quiet giants.  Unspoiled and in it’s original perfection, I imagine it to be the forest version of the Garden of Eden…

After the hike we drove back to Crescent City and explored a bit.  I wanted to scout a potential bike ride we might take.  The ride takes you along a bluff overlooking the coast and winds along on the California Coastal Trail.  The day became very windy on the coast as we parked the car and walked back out to the lighthouse.  

Once back, we thanked our tour volunteers and closed up after them.  Teare balanced the drawer and I started making my rounds to advise visitors to either reconsider crossing or to return across the shallow water before the wind-blown tide made it too dangerous to do so.

We had dinner and Teare worked in the gift shop while I shimmed a window shutter that was rattling in the wind.  We played some cards and now you are caught up on the day!  We hope everyone is having a great weekend and we will touch base again tomorrow.  

B&T

   

Keeper’s Log Battery Point Lighthouse Friday, June 10

We awoke to a clear, sunny morning!  I fed Ginger, the gull, and we were off and running with school tours beginning a little after 9:00 AM.   We rolled right into the public tours at 10:30 and did tours continuously until 2:00.  Good thing I took some water and trail mix with me to the lighthouse tower…  It was a beautiful day up there!  The views were the clearest since we have been here and you could clearly see the lighthouse at St. George, which is seven miles away.  The public tours included more folks from Utah, followed by Colorado and Oregon, with a few visitors from the area sprinkled in.

While in the tower, we saw whale, eagle, and seals.  The two eagles were bald eagles and they were flying in perfect tandem as if it was a dance in the sky.  We had binos and the two birds were always in the same field of vision.

After tide was in, we were able to eat a meal at 3:30.  Teare and I stayed out in the sunshine and walked a couple laps on what was our private island in the Pacific.  As we completed our second lap, who should drop in but Fred, the sea gull.  Fred waddled along side of us and provided a personal reminder that it was dinner time.  Tonight, I gave the tin cup to Teare and she bonded with Fred…

Later, we watched the Cavs lose a tough one to Golden State to fall to 3-1 in the NBA Finals.  That was gut wrenching to watch.  At least we had a nice sunset. 

Teare is balancing the drawer now that it is dusk and I am providing you this update.  Now with the chores and tours complete for today, we are looking at another day off tomorrow.  Thanks for joining us and stay tuned for more adventures to come!

Keeper’s Log Battery Point Lighthouse Thursday, June 9 Day 9

I was up early and slipped my running shoes on and went out into the 54 degree air for a jog.  I went to the Coast Guard Station on the south side of town.  This took me by the pier, on a beach, past a campground, past a couple restaurants serving breakfast…the smell of bacon wafting in the sea air, past fisherman loading their boats at the public boat ramp, and the ever-present sea lions near the marina.

After breakfast we paid a visit to the Del Norte County Historical Society and Museum.  Teare handled some money matters there.  Teare went into a shop and I discovered a mural to commemorate the Tsunami of 1964.  Across the street from the mural was a memorial to the 11 people who lost their lives to this tidal wave.

Next we went to the Crescent City Visitors Center.  We learned of new hiking trails and scenic drives.  We also received a tip on a lunch spot and we followed up on this.  This turned out to be a deli style restaurant and we shared a sandwich (and carrot cake).  

I would like to report we then went hiking, but the truth is we had time only to go to the grocery store before the daily tours would be ending and we wanted to be back to help close the drawer.

It took two trips to lug the grocery and supplies we had purchased.  Bill, Gretchen and Bob had a busy day with 74 visitors and donations of $347.  We were there to help Gretchen close the drawer and see everyone off.  

Being back on the point also provided the opportunity to help ensure that visitors were able to get back across the tide basin before the sea choked off a dry, safe exit.  We had a father/son from Gettysburgh, PA. who had just come across and another family just about to follow their father across when I suggested they turn back.  Just about that time, a wave came in and the guy got a bit wet.  

The other reason we wanted to return to the lighthouse was to do our chores.  With the tide in, tours closed for the day, and dry weather, it was a good opportunity to mow the grounds.  I mowed the large fenced in area which used to be a vegetable garden for the first time.  I went on to cut all the grass that I could with the mower and trim the remainder with the weed wacker.   Teare swept the spiral staircase and cleaned inside the lighthouse.  She also wiped down some wood work and door frames.  

We had dinner outside on the picnic table and saw two more seals swim by.

  

Of course I fed Fred.  The tide was going out and people started coming up the hill.  Two of them stopped to visit with us and we learned one had graduated and one was a senior agriculture student at Chico State University in Chico, California.  We decided to invite them in for a private tour.  His name was Chris and her name was Emily.  We ended up talking with them for a while after the tour.  They left to return to their campground and we did the dishes.  

While we did our share of chores today, we recognize that is part of the gig.  Still, we are living in a lighthouse looking out over the Pacific Ocean in what can only be described as "Wild Kingdom" with all the various marine life, birds and ground animals here.   

Keeper’s Log Battery Point Lighthouse Wednesday, June 8 Day 8

It was hard to tell if it was raining or just wet from the mist and rain this morning.  In any event, it was dry when I went out to feed Ginger the gull.  

Our tours ran from 10-12:30.  We had the help of Bill and Gretchen Schmidt, RV volunteers.  They were here early so Teare could review the register with Gretchen.  This freed Teare up to conduct tours in the rest of the first floor.  Bill took the tower today and I took the second floor.  Tide was due in by 1-1:30.  As soon as the tours were complete, they headed back down the walkway.  We had 56 visitors, including 45 adults and 11 children.  We collected $309 in donations.  Within our groups today, we had 2 parties with ties to Ohio.  Others were from  Germany, Utah, Colorado, Oregon, and various parts of California.  After the tours, I met a nice couple from Basel, Switzerland as I made my outdoor rounds.  

We had lunch and it was time to feed Fred.  When I stepped outside, Fred was on his lookout way down on distant rocks.  Two shakes of the tin cup had him air borne and swooping down to my side with his 4+ foot wing span.

Teare and I played some cards, and I read a little.  She touched base with Karen at the Historical Society office on some money matters.  We collected donation money left in the tower.  I oiled the hinge of the display light in the museum.  

After dinner, we turned on game 3 of the NBA FInals.  The Cavs won game three by 30 points to draw to within a game of the Warriors in the best of seven series.  Go Cavs!  

About the same time, the sun reappeared, setting up a gorgeous sunset.  There was a small gathering when we went out to enjoy it.  We visited with a couple from San Diego - she had just retired 4 days ago.  Another couple from Mesa, Arizona was in an RV not far from the Point.  This couple leaves Mesa in their 42 foot motor home when the excessive heat returns and travel all about the country with their Harley in tow.  They described the work/camp possibilities out there for RVers.

Teare and I took a walk after sunset.  We enjoyed another great day as light house keepers.  Tomorrow we are off!  We plan to spend some time on the mainland.

   

                                                   The view out our bedroom window.

Sunset off Battery Point

Battery Point Lighthouse at night with the light on