Keeper's Log Wednesday, September 5

Welcome Back!  Special welcome to Facebook friends who may be tuning in for the first time!  We have enjoyed the responses and comments and one recurring thought is how we wish we could share this experience with everyone.

Today was a work day.  We started the day with normal morning chores (flag raising, seagull feeding, walk sweeping).  For those of you who are new to the blog, we have two seagull pets; Fred and Janice.  It is actually part of the job here to feed the gulls and there is a supply of cat food in the entry room.

While walking around the point, looking for garbage to pick up, I heard the familiar bark of sea lions.... This should be under the caption of "Things you don't see in Seville"...  Two sea lions were swimming side by side and headed for the jetty.  As I was sweeping down the walk close to the water, I just looked up at a gray seal bobbing in the surf who was just watching me work!  That will teach me to leave my phone/camera at the lighthouse!  Next, I weed whacked the entire grounds where I could not mow yesterday.   

It was an overcast and cool day (high 50's).  I am never quite sure if it is overcast or just extremely foggy...but today, it never quite burned off and was actually cloudy. As I write and look out over the ocean, it is also foggy.  This is a good night for the fog horn to be working!  

After breakfast, I cleaned the tower glass and took out all the cob webs and spider webs around the top of the tower.  Today there were also more pelicans in the area and the largest crows I have ever seen.  Teare prepped the gift shop with inventory and fired up the register.  She also swept the steps in preparation for our day of tours.  We had an early lunch and did tours from 1-3 PM with Fred and Jill, our excellent tour guide volunteers.  Teare ran the gift shop, Jill presented in the parlor, I took the second floor and (non-feathered) Fred led in the tower.  Teare commented on how friendly the guests were and I would have to agree.  We had happy and interested visitors today.  We had a total of 49 visitors and raised a total of $358.13 in donations and sales.  

The tide returned and once again our rocky outpost is an island.  I am enclosing a photo to show what that looks like from the top of the rock.  We enjoyed the last of Betsy's homemade lasagna, and I had to look no further than to the entry screen door to see Fred (the gull) standing as if to say "Hello?"  "How about dinner!?"...photo below.  I took down the flag and took a photo of the "sunset"...but note that there is no sun due to the clouds and fog.  Friend George Chambers, professional photographer, suggested I take a photo from the same place every day at the same time, so I chose our sunset photos.  

Teare and I took down the large curtains from the parlor and washed and rehung them.  They look fresh and clean as if they were brand new.  If you wondered to yourself "What do lighthouse keepers do all day, I hope this provides some helpful insight!  I will read a little and then call it a day.  Thanks for joining us.  This is Keeper Reedy signing off from a cool, foggy Battery Point Lighthouse.  Good Night. 

                                         The tide covers the path to the lighthouse.

                                                     Forgetting Something?!?

                                                    Sunset at the normal time!

Keepers Log - Tuesday, September 4

We were up early and it was looking overcast, but once again the overcast was really morning fog which burned off by 8:00 AM.  I did my usual morning chores of putting up the flag, sweeping the walkway, and feeding Fred and Janice.  The gulls appeared especially hungry this morning.  Since the tide window was narrow (short time between high tides) we did not open the lighthouse for tours today.  Teare was out and talking with some early visitors and after sensing their sincere interest in the lighthouse, we decided to conduct a private tour.  The father/son duo were from Dallas, TX and the couple was from San Francisco.  Both parties made a generous donation and purchased a book. 

Teare and I took a walk, ever mindful of the tide's return.  The photos of the flower and views looking back at Battery Point are from a distant cliff.  Our walk took us past the Brother Jonathan memorial and cemetery.  The Brother Jonathan was a paddle wheel steamer that hit the rocks 3 miles north of Crescent City and sunk resulting in over 200 casualties.  This accident took place in 1865 and underscores the importance of the two lighthouses along this stretch of the California coast.

We returned with dry feet and had lunch.  After lunch I read from a book in the Captains Bedroom published in 1881.  It is the book of American Presidents to that time (Chester Arthur).  I focused on Andrew Johnson.  It was interesting to read how he dealt with the post Lincoln era and the continued division among the states.  I recall reading about Washington from the same book two years ago.  

Afterward it was back to work.  Once again being on our private island, I mowed the grass around the lighthouse and the fenced area at the top of the walk.  I noticed that it became very windy and cooler during the afternoon.  After dinner, we noticed our two pets were just outside the side door waiting for their evening snack.  We watched the sunset wrapped in blankets and holding on tight so they would not blow over the rocks into the sea.  The flag was also a challenge to bring down and secure in the heavy wind.  We are both glad to be inside as the wind continues to press against the windows.  My final chore of the day will be to add Rid-X to the toilets to aid in the breakdown of the septic tank contents.  Tomorrow is an open day with 2 hours of tours between 1-3 PM.  Our RV helpers, Jill and Fred (not the gull) from Phoenix, AZ will assist with the tours.

We hope everyone is well back home in Ohio.  The seas are up but the light is on.  Signing off from Battery Point, this is lighthouse keeper Bill.  Good Night.

Keepers Log  Monday, September 3, 2018

We were blessed with a third beautiful day in a row!  Temperatures around 70 and crystal clear skies!

Dottie gave Teare and I the day off since this was Betsy and Brett's last day with us before returning to their home in Redding.  After my usual morning chores of raising the flag, sweeping the walk, picking up trash, and feeding our sea gulls, it was time to eat breakfast.  

Before I describe the wonderful breakfast Betsy made us, let me share that we believe the dominant gull is, in fact Fred.  Yesterday when Fred's mate was squaking during feeding, Betsy commented that she had a rather annoying tone.  I provided Betsy with the high honor of naming rights for Fred's mate and she named her "Janice" for the character from the TV serial "Friends"!  Those of you familiar with this old series will understand immediately,   We will miss Ginger but now officially welcome Janice! (high pitched squawk and all)

Betsy made an amazing breakfast of banana bread french toast.  It was served with strawberries, bananas, two different flavored butters (almond and cashew), black raspberry jam, and real maple syrup which could be added as desired!  It was delicious!  Thanks again, sweetie!

Afterward, we drove up to the Jedediah Smith State Redwood Forest.  We hiked the Stout grove, similar to our last visit.  This grove, along with the drive through the park, is awesome.  Along the way, we detoured down to the river where we saw an otter swimming in the crystal clear water.  We have been in town two complete days and have already been to our two favorite spots outside of the lighthouse!  Here are a couple pics of the Redwood Forest.

Our next stop was to pick up more groceries.  Once Brett and Betsy leave town, we will not have a car, so this was really important for Teare and I to stock up.  On the way back to town, Betsy came up the idea to divide up our shopping list and each of us would get the items on our list.  This plan worked well - especially as I was able to get my favorite ice cream and some cookies not on the list...

We arrived back at the lighthouse before the tide came in and before the tours were completed.  Thanks to B&B for the transportation and a special thanks to Brett for lugging the "Big Bertha" suitcase up the rock.

The low tide duration was fairly short today.  One of our duties is to warn visitors that they have crossed a tidal basin to get here and that the tide is returning which will make Battery Point an island.  Around 2:00 PM we were warning folks that the ability to cross without getting their feet wet was quickly disappearing.  Most were good about it and I always feel bad for those who just arrive and can not make the crossing and see the spectacular views that the lighthouse hill provides.  

We enjoyed the sunshine and were cooking burgers on the grill when Teare heard a commotion outside the screen door.  She walked to the door to find (sea gull) Fred squawking and standing at the side door as if to say if we were cooking then it was time for him to eat as well and he was hungry and wanted his evening meal!  Teare came to get me and we had a good laugh.  Still, Fred is training Teare well as she responded by promptly getting the cat food for them!

We enjoyed the sunset, took down the flag and put the grill away.  Teare closed the register for today's sales.  Another great day in Crescent City.  We are so thankful and honored to care for this National Historic Landmark.

The Trip Out

Due to having two sets of reward points, Teare and I took different flights to San Francisco.  My flight included a stop in Las Vegas.  On the way, I chatted with a couple who were heading to Vegas.  The lady shared her story with me.  She originated from Iran and first came to this country at the age of 15.  After telling me about her family, she shared that she attended and graduated from The College of Wooster ‘86.  Further, her cousin had come from Iran and had attended Wooster prior to her arrival.  We had a good chat when I told her we had that in common!

Teare and I met up in San Francisco and flew together to Eureka, California.  Here, we stayed one night and rented a car in order to visit our daughter Betsy and son-in-law Brett in Redding.  Our drive from Eureka to Redding took us across State Route 299, over the Trinity Mountains and right through the heart of the Carr Fire destruction, which, as of this writing is 96% contained.  At some spots you could see the charred roadway where the fire crossed the highway.  The fire skipped around so that there were areas left unscathed while next to it the landscape was either charred or singed.  Many leaves were brown from the heat, but not consumed.  Closer to Redding, we saw rubble where homes once stood and burned out cars left abandoned along the road.  Photos of the Carr Fire are included below.

We enjoyed a nice visit with Brett and Betsy.  On Wednesday night, we went out for hamburgers and to Fall River.  The brewers of Redding collaborated to make a beer for which the profits would go to the Carr Fire Foundation Relief Fund.  We also fit in a game of Euchre.  Between the generous donations of Denise Gilmore, Brian Merce, and Performance Partners LLC, we were able to present a check for $1000 to go to the Carr Fire Relief effort.

Sunday, September 2, 2018

We were up early as today was our first day with tours.  I fed the gulls.  I noted the dominant male gull (still unsure if it is my old friend Fred) was there when I laid out the cat food was accompanied by a new mate.  I raised the flag and swept the walkway.  I noticed a couple healthy banana slugs on the walk! (pictured below) We had breakfast with Brett and Betsy.  Soon after, Dottie, Jill and Fred arrived and we planned the tours.  We conducted tours from 10:00 AM until after noon.  This involved 105 guests and $670. In revenue from donations and gift shop.  A good day!  Teare worked the register in the gift shop.  Jill led the tour in the Parlor, while Fred took the bedrooms.  I manned the tower.  The day began with clear skies and great visibility, but  between 11:30 and noon the fog rolled in and greatly impaired the view from the lighthouse tower.  We enjoyed lunch on the picnic table, soaked in the sun and played cards in the afternoon.  We tinkered with the gator and got it running after we unlocked the weird sequence of steps to put it in reverse!  We enjoyed dinner and a great sunset.  Betsy helped me lower Old Glory.  We spotted what appeared to be humpback whales and visited with four young folks who wandered over.  We invited them in for a private tour.  It turns out two of them were from Australia and the other two were from Medford, Oregon.  Thanks to Teare for some late night sweeping!  We finished the day with some ice cream and called it a day!