Heceta Lighthouse from Cheryl

Cheryl's News from Heceta Lighthouse

March 31, 2016

View looking south from Lighthouse

Having participated in many tours, I had a clear sense (in my mind, at least) of what makes for a dull tour. And one of the key variables, to me, was always how connected the guide was to the audience - how the guide engaged them and determined what is of interest to them to hear about.

Okay, so, public speaking is not my forte. I bumbled along. It's way more difficult than you even imagine. And then there's the gaffe. With impromptu public speaking, there is always the moment you make a gaffe. It's like it's inevitable. So, mine was saying: “ the lighthouse keeper and his wives.” Oops!  

By the end of our stay, though, I think I had reached a point where I was able to give a reasonably interesting tour of the lighthouse. Thankfully, whew.

Prior to arriving at Heceta Lighthouse, I had, of course, imaged what our job would be like. I imaged that we would be indoors for our shift. This is not the case. Rather, we are outdoors unless we are giving a tour. As you may recall, March has had above normal rainfall. Rich and I scored again - volunteering outside during heavy rains. 

During heavy rain, at least there is a nearby staff building where we can be out of the rain and warm up. For the most part, though, Rich and I and the other volunteers (there were three or four of us), we stand outside. Stand outside in sun, rain and wind. We dress appropriately. On cold and wet days, I wear so many layers I can barely bend my knees or bend over. 

Hecta Head Lighthouse Nautilus looking up the stairwell

Now, as our time at Heceta Lighthouse comes to an end, there is a little bit of sadness leaving an area of such stunning beauty and leaving the other volunteers. Amongst those volunteering for the state, the volunteers form a community. A much needed community/family as we each travel across the USA, for the most part estranged from our families.

Even though we leave Heceta Lighthouse with heavy hearts, Rich and I joyously look forward to the end of May when we return to our usual summer camp at Natural Bridge Campground - the place that has become our Summer home.

Cheryl

Our Winter Camp

Winter Camp, Heceta Lighthouse

March 18, 2016

Heceta Head Lighthouse

We arrived at our winter camp on March 2^nd, which was a day later than planned. The day before, we were at Whalers Rest Thousand Trails campground. We were staying there for a few days, so we could be tourists for a while. When working, we find we do not get out to the sights. Though that may, at least in part, be because we have had such gorgeous sights at our work, so after work we just need to chill out.

Being a tourist takes energy!

But anyway, when we set to leave, we had a wind warning of 60 mpr winds, and we figured that driving even the short distance to the lighthouse might not be wise. I think the wind has been the most challenging weather-wise, as we had another big windstorm the other night. But so far, our trailer has always been in a well-protected spot, and so we have not faced the brunt of the storms. Which has been a great relief.

The site is gorgeous with incredible views - of particular note are the occasional whale spout and sealions barking to us. We are in sight of the Sea Lion Caves and there are at least a hundred sealions fishing, playing or basking on the water. The drive in either direction is filled with beauty. I had forgotten just how much, as it has been a long time since I last visited here.

We've been here for a couple of days now. Working at the lighthouse has been delightful. It took us a couple days to become "experts", and we now give short talks with confidence and knowledge. History here is interesting.

The lighthouse was opened in 1894. It had 3 keepers who lived on site with their families. One of their homes is still here and used as a bed-and-breakfast inn. Each day we learn new things as people ask questions we do not know answers to, or they offer us new information. Being early March, and mostly windy and rainy, we have mostly only had small groups, and we find them to be very appreciative for our tours.

The first day we did not dress quite warm enough. You spend a lot of time in the wind here, and we did not realize the amount of energy that took till we got home and just absolutely crashed. Since then, we have doubled (or even tripled) our layers, and we are smart enough now to get out of the wind when it really starts to blow.

Recently I have been able to appreciate more deeply the impact of roads and electricity. The road here was completed in 1932, and up til that time the community here was quite isolated. Trips to Florence were either by boat or by a long trip on a wagon on dirt tracks that often were impassible in the rain. It is amazing to me to imagine the process of anchoring off the bay and using boats to go through the surf to deliver materials and essentials to the lighthouse keepers. 

But then, suddenly after just a few years of hard road building, the keepers here were minutes away from Florence. What a change that must have been!

Prior to 1934 (which was the year when electricity arrived here), the lighthouse light was a kerosene lamp, which had to be tended to each night and shut down during the day. This required 3 people to manage - trimming the wick, hauling kerosene up to the lamp, keeping it all clean, and such. The arrival of electricity eventually eliminated one keeper job, and in 1963 the lighthouse became totally automatic. And, of course, after that the lighthouse keeper position was obsolete.

A short existence, but very interesting, chapter in the life of Oregon.