WORK at the LIGHTHOUSE, CAPE BLANCO in OREGON

Sun is setting off the Cape Blanco State Campground bluff. Some times more beautiful than others. I will try to send you more picturesque shots, when I am willing to brave the wind and rain to go out to the bluff.

On a routine day when going to work, we wait in the parking lot outside of the Lighthouse grounds for other co-volunteers. One of us need to let the workers through the gate, but must remain behind to be sure that no one gets into the grounds before 10 am when the tours begin.

This view of the lighthouse, through an opening in the sign, was possible because of the sign's design by our Park Ranger, Greg. Neat, huh??

Today we began the day working at the Greeter's Center and Gift Shop. Gary gives his little story just outside of the GC in the corner which blocks much of the north wind. While he does this, I continue to greet newcomers.

From this story they move on to the Lighthouse for the next story with another volunteer in the workroom attached to the bottom of the Lighthouse tower. The second story teller then sends them up into the tower, five at a time, for their last volunteer storyteller in the Lantern room at the top. There are 64 steps up, with the last eleven being much like a ship's ladder.

This work day we had Coast Guard visit us off the bluff with their helicopters doing recovery mission practice maneuvers. They are not sitting on the ground as it appears, but are rising from the rocks in the shallow waters below.

Here you see the (stuffed) dummy victim that they are rescuing.

When we are at the Greeter's Center, we not only have the Lighthouse view to the western most point of the Pacific coast of the 48 states. But also looking in the opposite direction, we see the trees to the east where the State Park Campground is (home to us) with the road and a large parking lot between the campground and the lighthouse.

Often there are people flying their model planes and gliders off the ridge on the right of this picture near the eastern parking lot.

The road then is both hilly,winding and pretty narrow with only a couple turnout spots. We had a fifth wheel come clear back for the Lighthouse one day and he chuckled as it would have forced anyone traveling in the opposite direction to back up. He said that since he would not have gone in to reverse they would have had to back up!! If I had been driving the firth wheel and wanted the tour, I would have walked that last mile!!

When we have time for watching the sights around us, this is our view of the shore off the north of our bluff.

It is fun watching the breakers and occasionally hikers. One day a Park Ranger came up to us and asked if we had noticed a hiker on the beach in an orange jacket who he noticed had been sitting down there for quite some time. We had not noticed, but we continued to watch then until he finally put his back pack on again and began to trek further north. The Rangers have stories to tell of rescuing people on these rocks. People who forget that they are not as young as they used to be!! It keeps the Rangers on their toes!!

Now back to the Lighthouse:

A close-up of visitors in the Lantern room with the volunteer guide.

Now to take YOU up into the Lantern room at the top, Gary took these photos.

Looking past the Fresnel Lens installed in 1936, which was the second lens installed in this particular lighthouse.

View of the lens pieces, while looking to the top peak.

Looking in though the bulls eye of the lens to the two- 1000 watt bulbs. One burns all the time and the second one will come on if the first one burns out. This is all maintained by the Coast Guard, cleaning of the lens as well.

Also on this floor, there is one section of outer window that opens for air and for cleaning the outside of all outer glass of the tower.

Then there is the curtain that can be pulled if the light burns out so that the sun can not shine through the magnifying lens causing a fire. Of course, today we would then have to call the Coast Guard also.

Leaving work for the day, this is the view on the south side of the bluff that we can see when winding our way out of the Park.

Not two lighthouses!! Just showing you both the south and the north side of the 200 foot bluff that the 50 ft. Cape Blanco Lighthouse is located on.

Back home in the park, we stopped to take a picture of our neighboring volunteers. They are here volunteering for their ninth year. She wears a pin for 4000 volunteer hours!! Can you tall they like their lighthouses?? Most of them in the window stay there even when they are traveling down the highway, thanks to Velcro. Jack and Pat are very nice people to visit with!!

Stay with us and we will take you to the Redwoods again, but very north California this time.

OREGON's CAPE BLANCO LIGHTHOUSE STATE PARK

Just leaving Hwy 101, this is the mileage sign for our destinations. Cape Blanco Lighthouse is the point farthest west in the United States (48 states). We arrived at Cape Blanco State Park on Friday after a beautiful drive down Hwy 101. As state parks go this is very nice. The Hosts campsites are pretty well walled in by green bushes, brush and trees. We do have all open sky overhead, and love that for sunlight!!! We will be more careful in the future to make sure that the sunlight will shine through to us. Back at the entrance to the campground, we took pictures of the light house which is probably a mile away by roadway (maybe half mile as the crow flies). I did manage to catch it as the light came through on our side!! After setting up house, we drove on into Port Orford to check it out for a church, grocery and laundromat. We found two out of the three. Did not find a church to suit. But after we found out our schedule to work at our meeting the next day, it did not matter. Our first day to work was Sunday. Guess we will have to dig out our CD's of church services at churches we visited a couple years ago. We got a few of them along the way. In Port Orford we checked out a Marina where we located his little restaurant. So we decided to take lunch here. The food was good, but felt that it was a little skimpy for the money. We never know when walking into some place new. But the ambiance and view was great!!

This is the coast line here at the restaurant.

On Monday the Host workers meet in Port Orford for breakfast every week. So we are looking forward to doing that and getting better acquainted!!

Then on Tuesday we will go back north to Coos Bay to find the nearest Walmart. We must go there to fill my prescription for the month. When I called them to make sure they have what I need, the pharmacist was able to get the script moved to Coos Bay from Gresham, so it will save a day. He could also see where all we have been and he got a kick out of that!! It is a must to have one prescription source that is all across the county, but in this area they are farther apart. Oh well, it is an excuse to cruise around more??

Gary has had to dig out the DVD player for movies as we do not have TV reception. We have not had this need until now!! Before we have always at least had local stations. We also have to walk up on the bluff above the ocean to have cell reception, rain or shine. The sounds of the ocean make it difficult for those we call to hear. I guess that might keep our calls to a minimum. We were too busy at the lighthouse on Sunday to try the cell phones then. But I am sure there will be boring days at work, when we can try it.

Stay with us!!