June 29, 2013

Cape Blanco State Park

Today was our last day as lighthouse hosts.  We were scheduled for the AM shift starting at 9:45.  There was a knock on our door at 9:15.  It was our co-host Jim informing us that a group had scheduled a special tour at 9 and were waiting at the lighthouse gate.  We hadn’t been told about the special tour.

Jim told us he would go ahead and begin the tours and asked us to warn visitors that it was going to be at least an hour until the next tour.  The special tour turned out to be a Boy Scout Troop and chaperones.  There were over 40 in the group.  We can only have five up in the lantern room at a time. 

Monte and I were working the Greeting Center.  I suggested that Monte go up to the Watch Room to help Jim.  What this accomplished was that 5 visitors could be sent up to wait on the Watch level with Monte while Jim had 5 up in the Lantern Room.  It really helped move things along.

Monte stayed in the Watch Room helping Jim even after the scouts had departed because as a result of the delay with the big group we had a large crowd waiting for tours.

The morning sped by and before we knew it we were saying goodbye to our co-hosts and had officially ended our final shift as lighthouse hosts at Cape Blanco.  

 Before we left, Monte took one last picture of the nest in the roof eave at the entrance of the Greeting Center.

We needed a few groceries and had planned on going into Port Orford after our shift.   It was such a beautiful day I made the suggestion we drive to Bandon for lunch and tour around because the last time we were there we only made a short stop on our way to Coos Bay.

There are a lot of restaurants in Bandon.

  We checked out a couple that had menus displayed in the window. 

They were way out of our budget.  We ended up at a small place that, like most places in Bandon, specializes in seafood. 

I don’t eat seafood.  So I ordered a hamburger.  It was, to be kind, not the best hamburger I have eaten.  BUT Monte really enjoyed his clam chowder.

We walked along the waterfront

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

and then stopped in to take pictures at the Washed Ashore workshop. 

 

 

 

 

 

Washed Ashore is a non-profit organization that collects marine debris, washes it and then creates amazing sculptures. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visitors are invited to participate at different stations

 set up for particular projects. 

We introduced ourselves to Angela, the executive director and lead artist.  When we told her we were going to be involved with the JR Ranger program at Humbug State Park, she gave us a tote full of postcards that we could distribute to visitors at the park. 

           

 Our next destination was the Coquille River Lighthouse, built in 1896. 

 

 

 

  

 It was in service until it was replaced by an automatic light in 1939.   

            We stopped in at the supermarket on our way out of town and were back home by 6pm. 

June 28, 2013

Cape Blanco State Park

Today was our last full day shift (we work only the AM shift tomorrow at the Greeting Center) so that meant it was our last day working in the lighthouse.

Monte unlocked the door,

 

 

 

 

 

  

 pulled out the dehumidifier reservoir

 

 

 

 

 

  

 and dumped the water outside. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is one of the boards I use as part of the interpretive tour.  It has a floor plan showing that the Work Room had been actually two rooms when the lighthouse was built in 1870.  The room had been divided with two fireplaces-one facing into the Work Room and the other into the Oil Room.  The Oil Room had contained eight 100 gallon drums that stored lard oil, the method that had originally been used to light the flame. 

As part of my set-up I had to open up the chest that stored replica tools used by the lighthouse keepers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

that included a measuring can, funnel, feather duster and oil carrier.

 

 

 

  

Monte started up the stairs.   

 

 

 

He unlocked the door leading to the Watch Tower.

 

Photo of motor turning the lens.

Stairs leading to the Lantern Room

A visitor.

Monte called down to me that he needed a broom to sweep off the bird feathers on the cat walk outside the Lantern Room. 

A gentleman named Ken came with his aerial camera to take pictures of the lighthouse for a project he is doing for the Heritage Society.  

 

 

 Of course Monte buzzed me on the radio to say he wanted to get one of the cameras.

 

These pictures were taken from the lighthouse door facing the Greeting Center.   

Monte took these pictures from the Lantern Room. 

 

 

The morning flew by with non-stop visitors.  We were relieved for lunch by co-hosts.  We worked in the Greeting Center in the afternoon.  The time seemed to drag with only a handful of visitors. 

The weather was beautiful with clear skies.  It was warm enough to be in short sleeves.

The last tour ticket was sold at 3:15.  At 3:30, Monte and I drove down to the gate to block the entrance so no more cars could enter but we left enough room for cars to depart.

When the last car drove through the exit, we closed and locked the gate.

We went for our nightly walk.   When we came to the bluff overlooking the shore it was warm enough for me to take off my long-sleeve top over my tank top. 

Monte and I sat on the picnic table for the longest time just staring out at the ocean.   Our time at Cape Blanco is coming to an end and although we have complained about the cold, we are going to miss this amazing place.