About Me

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After retirement, for two summers I worked as a tour guide at the Umpqua River Lighthouse in Oregon. This opportunity enabled me to learn more about that lighthouse than any of the others I've seen. Although I have personally visited and photographed over 300 lighthouses in the United States and three Provinces in Canada, the Umpqua River Lighthouse has special meaning for me. That Lighthouse inspired me to write two fictional books with the characters working, living, and enduring the challenges of lighthouse keeping. All pictures posted in this blog were taken by myself, unless noted otherwise.

Book Info.

I hope you will find time to enjoy my books. Preview the book covers below at the right side of page.

Book #1: "The Wickie and the Umpqua Lighthouse." Detail: "The Wickie and the Umpqua Lighthouse" is an 1860's story about the lighthouse keepers and their families at the Umpqua River Lighthouse. It will stir your emotions and warm your heart. Discover the challenges they met but never expected, and their determination to maintain navigational aid to mariners on the Oregon coast. (Wickie is a nickname used by the early lighthouse keepers at the Umpqua River Lighthouse in OR.)

Book #2: "Spirit of The Lighthouse" is a sequel to The Wickie. Detail: Jesse Fayette, assistant keeper at the Umpqua River Lighthouse, finds himself alone to operate and maintain an Oregon lighthouse after the accidental death of his head keeper. After notifying the Lighthouse Board and requesting help, he is surprised but must deal with an acquaintance, Red Saunders, who believes the lighthouse is haunted.

Book #3: "Unexpected Moments" has a different theme than those of Book #1 and #2. Detail: Dan and Megan, as well as their old friends Jim and Anna, experience unexpected moments of hardships and tragedies in Arizona and California. Will they survive these unexpected moments and find any hope for their futures?

All of my books are available on Amazon.

29 September 2011

Alaska - The Rockwell Lighthouse

The Rockwell Lighthouse is located by the harbor entrance to Sitka Alaska. *[It was built in 1984 and is a privately owned bed and breakfast.] My wife and I saw this lighthouse in 2009 from a cruise ship tender as we were being shuttled from the ship to the city of Sitka. The wind was blowing and the water very choppy which made it hard to hold the camera still, thus resulting in the blurry picture.  The *denotes info within the [  ] was obtained via the internet.

Canada - Burntcoat Head Lighthouse

This is a replica of the original Burntcoat Head Lighthouse built in 1859. It is located at Burntcoat Head Nova Scotia, Canada. The original lighthouse was established to guide shipping vessels into Cobequid Bay. That first lighthouse was eventually cut off from the mainland by the 50 foot Bay of Fundy tides which wore away the narrow neck of land connecting it to the shore. The second tower was built in 1913, but by 1972 the light was discontinued and the tower burned. In 1994 the East Hants Tourism Association obtained "plans" to the second light and within a few months a replica was constructed. This replica contains an interpretive center featuring the history of the lighthouse and the geology of the surrounding area. At the time of my visit in 2001, this was an inactive light.

22 September 2011

Canada - Peggy's Cove Lighthouse

The Peggy's Cove Lighthouse is located at Peggy Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada. The first lighthouse was built here in 1868 and was a large house with a light on top. It was the home for the keeper and his family. It was also used as a radio station during World War II by the Royal Canadian Navy.
Building of this present lighthouse was completed in 1915 and it has an octagonal tower with lantern room. This lighthouse was manned until 1958 when it was then fully automated. At the time of my visit in 2001, the light was still active.
Since 1975 the village post office has been operating on the lower level during the summer months. It is the only Canadian Post Office located in a lighthouse. The village was given its own "cancellation stamp" which is a replica of the lighthouse. Like other tourist who traveled there to view the lighthouse, I had to send a card from this very unique post office/lighthouse. The space inside would only accommodate about four customers at a time. As you can see by the picture, especially if you enlarge it, there is a line of people waiting to get in.

Canada - Walton Lighthouse

This lighthouse is located at Walton, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was built in 1873. The sequence for the light flashing was driven by a clock mechanism that the keeper had to wind each night. There were nine keepers that tended this lighthouse for the nine decades it was staffed. In the early 1970's the light was discontinued, and when I visited it in 2001, it was the only original lighthouse that remained in Hants County. Although an inactive light, the beautiful white tower was open to the public during the summer. In 1992 this lighthouse was declared a Heritage Property.
The view from this lighthouse encompasses the Minas Basin, which is the upper part of the Bay of Fundy. The tides of the Minas Basin are the highest in the world with a range from 40 to 50 feet.

15 September 2011

Canada - Indian Harbor Lighthouse

The Indian Harbor Lighthouse is located on Paddy's Head Island off shore of Indian Harbor, Nova Scotia, Canada. The light was originally built in 1901. At the time of my visit in 2001, this was an active light.

Canada - Cape Negro Island Lighthouse

The Cape Negro Island Lighthouse is located on said island off shore from Baccaro, Nova Scotia, Canada. The original lighthouse was built in 1872. The above lighthouse is located a great distance from Baccaro Point from where I took the picture. Therefore I used a 500mm lens with a 2X coupler which resulted in the light blue circle in the picture. My apology for the imperfection. At the time of my visit in 2001, this was an active lighthouse.

08 September 2011

Canada - Baccaro Point Lighthouse

The Baccaro Point Lighthouse is located on the east side of Barrington Bay at Baccaro, Nova Scotia, Canada. The original lighthouse was built in 1850 and included a dwelling for the keeper and his family. At the time of my visit in 2001, the lighthouse pictured was an active light.

Canada - Wood's Harbor Lighthouse

The Wood's Harbor Lighthouse is located in the harbor of the same name at Nova Scotia, Canada. The lighthouse sets on a large ledge and the light is now solar power. The original lighthouse was built here in 1900. At the time of my visit in 2001, this was an active lighthouse and maintained by the Coast Guard.

01 September 2011

Canada - Pubnico Lighthouse

The first Pubnico Lighthouse was built in 1853 at East Pubnico Harbor. The one pictured above, also located there, was built in 1984. East Pubnico Harbor is located near Pubnico, Nova Scotia, Canada. This was an inactive light at the time of my visit in 2001.

Canada - Western Head Lighthouse

The Western Head Lighthouse is located near Liverpool, Nova Scotia, Canada.  It was built in 1962 which made it one of the newest lighthouses in Nova Scotia. At the time of my visit in 2001 this was an active lighthouse. I was a great distance from this lighthouse, around the shore of Brooklyn, and was unable to get closer. Although I used a 500mm lens with a 2X coupler, this picture does not show any detail of the lighthouse's octagonal tower.