Sunday, September 18, 2022

Battery Point Lighthouse Keeper's Log

This was to be a leisurely Sunday morning.  We were not scheduled to have tours for the first time in 7 days.  It started off low key...  We had planned to meet our former supervisor Dottie and former volunteers Bill and Gretchen for brunch.  This reunion was planned with the tide schedule and the schedules of Dottie, Gretchen and Bill in mind.  Well, as the saying goes, the best laid plans...  Bill and Gretchen had driven three hours down from Roseburg, Oregon to meet us, so the least we could do is try to be at the restaurant close to on time despite the looks of the tidal basin.  Our meal time approached and waves were still washing over the walkway.  Teare came up with a plan to put plastic bags over our shoes and rubber band them to our legs.  

It was a good plan in theory, but the water was still too deep in practice... 

Of course, we both got our shoes soaked!  This broke our 18 day streak this year for keeping our feet dry.!

We did make it to the Good Harvest Restaurant and had a great visit and meal.

Me, Teare, Dottie, Gretchen, and Bill

We returned to the lighthouse parking lot, put on our wet shoes from before, and went back across the pipe and this time did not bother with the plastic bags!  Yes, we were soaked all over again!

We watched a little football and Teare began to prepare dinner.  Suddenly, she said it looked like Janice the gull was had her right leg trapped in the flood light.  Sure enough, she was hanging upside down, screeching like crazy, and was securely locked into a slot and could not get out.  I have seen Fred protect her in the past and I knew she would be very worked up when I approached her, but I had to do something.  I put my lawn mask on and my work gloves and went out to free her.  The video tells the rest of the story...

Here's a still photo in the event the video is too big

Fortunately, we were able to free her.  She did lose some tail feathers and her leg is injured.  I kept an eye on her, and for a couple hours she could not put weight on the right leg.  I fed them closer to their normal perch so she would not have to move so far and to protect her from potential predators.  Later, I noticed she did put a little weight on the foot.  I will keep an eye on her, but hope she will regain full strength in that leg.  We have already seen where a weakness resulted in a new mate since the first time we were here...

The last rain cleared out and it resulted in the best visibility since we have been here,  We could clearly see the outline of St. George Lighthouse which is approximately 8 miles from our location.  With binoculars, the structure was very clear and the tower lighthouse miles out in the ocean is an impressive site.

The remaining clouds made for a gorgeous sunset and backdrop for the lighthouse.

Here's wishing you a good evening from Battery Point.

Teare and Bill

Saturday, September 17, 2022

Battery Point Lighthouse Keeper's Log

We were up early.  The clear skies once again clouded over as I did my sweeping.  We made sure to get some things done early so that Teare could make a trip over to the Del Norte Historical Society and Museum to pick up some pennies for change and some additional merchandise for the gift shop.  Our tour was to begin at 10:30.  I met Teare halfway to the parking lot to help carry bags and we made it back up the hill with 5 minutes to spare!  As 10:30 arrived, we opened the front door and here was the small crowd ready to take a lighthouse tour:!

We began the tours. and had a steady stream of visitors until we put up the closed sign at 11:30.

Our restricted time was due to the narrow tide window today.  Within that hour, we had 31 guests and collected $297.33 in donations and sales.

My work plan today was to do the trimming after yesterday's mowing.  Just as we finished lunch, it started to rain, and continued all afternoon.  I read a little, and Teare did a couple loads of laundry. 

We were able to visit via video call with Betsy, Samantha, Brett and Billy briefly.  Billy and Samm are visiting Brett and Betsy at their home in Leland, North Carolina.  This was the first time our three grand children were in one place at the same time. 

Left to right:  Billy & Samm's son Patrick, Brett and Betsy's sons Edison and Calvin  

We were very fortunate that a local network was broadcasting the Ohio State - Toledo football game!

Surprised, but very happy, we watched the game...such as it was...70-21.

We both did more household chores afterward and we are closing in on the end of the day. 

Sunset after a rainy day on the Pacific Coast

 

Thanks for reading the blog.  We wish everyone a good night and a happy Sunday!

Keeper's Bill and Teare

Friday, September 16, 2022

Battery Point Lighthouse Keeper's Log

We were both up early and I dispatched my morning duties.  Fred and Janice were on me like two vultures this morning.  Fishing must not have been good last night...  We had some dry beach, so Teare decided to make a morning shopping trip.  Good thing, because we were getting low on cat food and I wouldn't want to face those two birds empty handed!  

Teare called when she was on her way and I took the ATV over to meet her in the visitor parking lot.  While there, I met a local couple, Dough and Diane.  They live on the cliff which has an excellent view of the lighthouse.  We have been showing a photograph during the tour to demonstrate the power of the sea.  Turns out, Diane is the photographer who took that picture.  I told Diane that we refer to that photo quite a bit and she was pleased.  Below is a photo of Diane's picture which was taken from their home.

A photo is worth a thousand words...this one shows our little lighthouse and the power of the sea

(Taken March, 2016, three months before we were here!)

I bungeed the cat food bag and other groceries to the front of the 4 wheeler, Teare hopped on, and we made our way across the basin and up the hill to the lighthouse.

We had a robust start to our tours this morning, but then it quieted down during the second hour.  This was one of those days when the tide starts to cover the crossing area before our guests have a chance to leisurely finish a tour and linger in the gift shop.  In fact, the phone rang while we were in the middle of our final tour.  Dan, a local volunteer, phoned to let us know the walking path was already covered and visitors would have to use the pipe.  I informed the last couple of guests and the lady in this tour decided to run up the steps anyway just so she could take in the view from the lighthouse tower!  We had 28 guests and collected $180.04 in donations and sales.  As usual on these types of days, I took over the remainder of the last tour and let our helpers Cary and Millie get a start on their exit.  They do not like to cross the sometime slippery pipe so they come equipped with rubber boots and choose to walk through shallow sea water.  

After the tours were over, Teare and I had lunch and then I went to work outside.  I mowed the entire property.  

Teare watered and trimmed some flowers.  The day was sunny and afforded excellent visibility, so it was a pleasure being outside.  The temperature high was 61 degrees today.  We both took breaks to soak in the surroundings.

After dinner, I fed our pets and brought in the flag.  We enjoyed a beautiful sunset.

  

 

We wish you a good evening. 

Under clear skies and looking over calm seas, this is Keeper Teare and Bill signing off.

Thursday, September 15, 2022

Battery Point Lighthouse Keeper's Log

This is the halfway day!  We are officially half way through our stay at the lighthouse.  It has been well worth the time, travel and effort.  

Since the tides permitted us a reasonable exit and re-entry, we chose today to venture off the rock and do some hiking up in Brookings, Oregon,  We prepared for the tour this morning and completed all chores by 9:00 AM.  We conducted tours from 10 - 11:15 AM.  We gad 22 admissions and realized $220.34 in donations and sales.  The returning tides were close to our last tour, so we had to hustle to get off the rock before we had wet feet!  

Teare made sandwiches which we stowed in our Osprey day pack and as soon as we finished the last tour, we headed for our car and were headed north to Oregon.  The half hour drive up to Brookings, Oregon was a pleasure as this was our first day off the island since the Ensor's visit and our hike through the redwoods.  We began our adventure at the Lone Ranch Beach section of the Samuel Boardman State Scenic Corridor Beach.  Here, we walked the beach among huge rock formations and tidal pools left behind from the last high tide.  

From there, we went to the Indian Sands hiking trail.  This was our favorite hike of the day.  This loop involved forest, cliff overviews, sand dunes and fern lined trails with constant views of the ocean and rocks which make the Oregon coast so scenic.  The clouds cleared and we had sunshine for the rest of the hike!

We stopped at the Thomas Creek Bridge and Natural Bridge overlooks.

We filled up the tank and washed the car before we left Oregon.  The cost of gas in Oregon is at least a dollar a gallon less than in California.  

On our way south, we saw an elk herd in a field between Hwy. 101 and the coast.

We returned to Crescent City and had dinner at the Sea Quake.  Teare had clam chowder and I had a pizza.  We parked the car and walked the three quarters of a  mile back to the lighthouse.

We are back on the rock and all is well. 

Keepers Teare and Bill signing off from Battery Point. 

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

Battery Point Keeper's Log

I enjoy sweeping.  That sounds funny, but as I sweep, visitors make their way up the walk and I have a chance to engage and visit.  Plus it is a nice break from my work...   This morning, we had two couples from Idaho and they were joined by a couple from Montana.  I chatted with them around 8:20 AM.  I let them know we would be leading tours of the lighthouse beginning at 10:00 AM.  We visited for a while and I finished my sweeping and returned up the walk.  As I approached the lighthouse, I saw a woman who asked if I lived here.  I put the broom down and we chatted for a while.  Turns out her and her husband immigrated from Honduras.  She spent the whole time telling me about how their two children graduated from college in this country and have gone on to have good jobs.  She wanted me to know how blessed they were to have been able to come to this country and to be able to call the USA home.  She was so sincere and heartfelt, I did my best to keep from losing it on the spot as my eyes welled with tears.  I told her I was only second generation in this country myself with both sets of grandparents having immigrated from Ireland and Italy.  We have our challenges, but at that moment I looked at our flag with tremendous pride.  

I made sure to feed our pet gulls and straighten up before putting on my tour clothes.  Who is first in line for a tour but the couples from Idaho and Montana!  I told them I was happy they came back and they told me they never left!  We had 25 visitors and collected $308.97 in donations and sales.

One of the lighthouse artifacts we display is a small circular ceramic bowl with a removable lid which has a one inch hole in the middle.  I usually ask if our guests know what this is, and most respond that it looks like a candle holder or potpourri holder.  In reality, it is a hair receiver.  These were used in the 1800's to store human hair that might come off when ladies brushed their hair.  Instead of discarding the hair like we would today, they would collect it in this container until they had a large quantity.  I then ask what would they do with it?  Then I point to a piece of "hair art" on the wall in the shape of an anchor, which is made entirely of human hair braided together to make the anchor design.  If you look closely, you also can see where they wove little flower designs into the anchor.  The names of the hair donors are on the back side of the frame, and it reveals the names of the Magruder clan of women.  This is significant, as Magruder was the very first lighthouse keeper in 1856!  Recently, I discovered numbers associated with each woman's name on the back of the frame.  Upon closer examination, there are tiny faded numbers around the anchor.  These correspond to the individual woman who contributed her hair to that particular part of the anchor!

The hair receiver

The hair art anchor

After the tour, I swept the tower steps and cleaned the tower glass inside and out.  This meant I had to crawl through a small opening and be on the outside of the tower in the crow's nest.  

Our 5th order Fresnel lens in the tower

Outside on the crows nest

Teare balanced the sales register and organized sweat shirts and tee shirts and put them in order of size and ensured that each item had a price tag.

After dinner, I met a couple from Johnstown, Ohio.  They were very interested in the lighthouse.  I gave them a private tour.  They were very appreciative and enjoyed the tour and tower experience.  

Evening chores were completed and darkness has fallen, leaving only the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks below.  Every so often I look at Teare and ask "Can you believe we are living in a lighthouse?!"

This is Keeper's Teare and Bill wishing you a good night from Battery Point.

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

Battery Point Lighthouse Keeper's Log

The day began cool and foggy...and stayed that way!  In fact, it is thicker now at sundown than at any time during the day.  I did my morning chores and saw no one.  

We were scheduled to conduct tours from 10:00 to 11:00 AM.  We noted beforehand the tide would be coming in at approximately 11, so I took a sharpie and changed the schedule on the door to close at 10:45, giving the last tour group a reasonable chance to cross the tidal basin ahead of the deeper water.  I instinctively took the upstairs, so that Cary and Millie could get a jump on their exit.  Just prior to opening the front door for the first tour, I noticed a woman with a small dog.  I advised we do not permit dogs.  She replied that it was a "Service Dog" under the ADA definition and that she would carry it through the premises.  We permitted the dog, and thankfully, it was well behaved and did not do it's business!  We had 27 people visit us today and raised $197.49 in donations and sales. 

I was out at mid day and there were just a couple people milling about.  One gentleman from the LA area advised that he used to service lighthouses in that area.  He was interested in our lighthouse, so I provided some technical details about the lens.  He is also one of those folks who has a Lighthouse Passport.  These are small booklets similar to a real passport which lighthouse operators stamp in the same manner as a passport gets stamped when you enter a new country. He asked that I stamp his passport, which I happily did.  While he did not tour the interior, I felt his effort to get out on the isthmus was worthy of a stamp! 

I was talking to the gulls when I fed them their evening cat food, thinking no one was around, when over the hill strolled a man and woman with their fishing poles.  Since no one was around and the tide was quite high, I was quite surprised to see him.  He informed they had been here since the last low tide down over the rocks.  They must have wondered who I was talking to!  No wonder he gave me a wide berth as he made his way away from me and back down the walkway! 

The lighthouse before the fog thickened

The view to the west down over the rocks

 

I found my favorite book from the secretary in the historic Piland Bedroom.  It is entitled "US Presidents" with a copyright of 1881.  The current president at the time of publishing was James Garfield!  The book is talking about the country at that time making reference to all 36 states! 

Teare and I also did some planning for our drive back across the country when our lighthouse service is over at the end of the month.

Teare made a short grocery list, and left the rock at 5:20 PM.  I carried recyclables and garbage over to the receptacles on the mainland and also walked back to meet her to help carry groceries when she returned from the store.  Teare made blackberry cobbler from the bag full of blackberries the nice lady visitor gave us two nights ago.  We enjoyed it with cherry vanilla ice cream and whipped cream - yum!

Did some other routine evening chores and cleaning up and we are ready to call it a day.

We hope all is well with you.

Thanks to those of you who have provided feedback on the blog!

We are going to keep the fog horn on and the light on - it going to be a tough night for boating!

Keepers Bill and Teare

 Monday, September 12, 2022

Battery Point Lighthouse Keeper's Log

We had a short visit with the Ensor's over breakfast and loaded their bags on the 4 wheeler and said goodbye in the parking lot.  We were so thankful they set aside the time to drive down to spend the last couple of days with us.

We had already fed the gulls and put up the flag, so that we were ready for our scheduled tours from 9:00 to 10:30 AM.  The German family we met last night was first in line.  The tour time seemed to fly by.  I took the last group solo so that Cary and Millie could make their exit off the rock with dry feet.  Teare and I figured out how to fix the tape receipt machine, so that was a win!  It was so foggy the only view from the tower was the immediate grounds around the lighthouse during the tours.  Teare ran the totals and we had 23 guests and collected $256.50 in donations and sales.

After the tours, Teare did laundry and I went outside to work on the grounds.  I watered the boxed flowers.  Some of these are cactus, so I'm not sure how necessary that was!  We also used a sprinkler to water in several places in the front side of the lighthouse.  Afterwards, we both relaxed and soaked up some sun.  It was only 65 degrees, but felt much warmer.

This is the old kerosine storage building built in 1881

This is the sign on the side of the 1881 storage building

I fed the gulls in the late afternoon.  They were a bit interrupted by people who had started to wander over from the mainland.

The fog started to clear, revealing the tops of the distant hills

This is a photo from the north side of the lighthouse

Note the old round cistern used to collect and store fresh water

We baked a pizza and relaxed while we watched Monday Night Football in our bedroom.  Our bedroom has two recliners, a flat screen tv, and a birds eye view of the Pacific Ocean.

Teare, relaxing after a day tending to the lighthouse and gift shop

The evening fog is in.  The fog horn is sending its warning sounds from the end of the pier.  

The light is operational and all is well at Battery Point.

Keepers Teare and Bill signing off.