May 12, Did someone say rain?

The last two days I was on duty at the lighthouse and the weather was more like a typically coastal spring day. Cool temperatures, a light breeze and some sunshine. The sea lions were out sunning themselves on a rock outside the caves. There are so many of them they make the rock appear a light shade of brown instead of the almost black that surrounds the mouth of the cave. However, our forecast for the next two days is 100% rain with up to an inch each day.

There are a lot of interesting things to know about lighthouses and people always seem to ask the question you don’t have an answer for or a question about something completely unrelated to the lighthouse. My cohorts and I decided that if each day we are there we can learn three relevant facts we’ll have a better chance of remember things and then by the end of our time here we’ll be a font of knowledge at least about this lighthouse. So your interesting facts for today are:

• The lens was made in England by Chance Brothers, most 1st order lenses were made in France. 
• There are 392 pieces of glass 2” thick. 8 of them are the bull’s eyes that direct the beam of light straight out.
• It weighs over 2,000 pounds.

Any questions?

There was a fabulous sunset the other night once the rain quit for a little bit. Got to have some clouds to make for some nice color.

this one's my favorite so far

As I was chatting with a visitor the other day, he was asking me about where the light keepers lived. I was explaining to him about the house that’s there now was for the 1st and 2nd assistant light keepers house and that the head light keepers house was sold at auction in 1940 and torn down, pieces of which were used to build the Alpha-Bit Cafe in Mapleton about 20 miles east. He asked me three times where the tail light keepers house was located. It took me that long to catch on, but I’ll remember that one the next time someone asks me where the taillight keepers house was. 

Which reminds me of this; what washes up on tiny beaches?

Micro waves (collective groan here for dumb joke)

Alpha-Bit Cafe

The weather forecast for the next few days is 100% rain with up to an inch on Thursday and Friday. I don’t care how much rain gear I put on, if I go out in that, I’m going to be wet. Wednesday was dry, even if there was a cold wind, so I thought I need to get a short hike in somewhere. We had some lovely women visit the lighthouse who were avid hikers and shared with us some of their favorite hikes along the southern coast.

One is in Mapleton and just a couple of miles along Sweet Creek. Since it doesn’t get dark until after 8:00 and it wasn’t a far drive or hike I thought I would go exploring. Once inland, even though it was still only 52 degrees being away from the coastal air and the cold wind it felt much warmer and I was able to shed 3 of the layers I was wearing. No, that didn’t leave me naked. Yes, I’ve been wearing 4 or 5 layers of long sleeve shirts, hoodies, fleece and windbreaker plus leggings under my jeans and 2 pairs of socks. Have I mentioned I don’t like to be cold?

With all the rain we’ve been having the creek was running full. There were several waterfalls coming down the mountainsides and spilling into the creek in addition to all of the falls in the creek with their eddies and whirlpools. The hike was about 2-1/2 miles round trip, just enough to get some movement into my bones. 

Sweet Creek

it is a Sweet Creek

I always take a selfie so that you know it's really me taking all these photos

A quick stop in Florence on the way home for some clam and mussel linguini, a visit with my fellow hosts and it was a lovely end to the day.