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.

26 February 2015

A North Carolina Beauty - Oak Island Lighthouse

Located on Oak Island, NC, this lighthouse, built in 1958, stands 169-feet tall. At the time of my visit here, it was the Coast Guard's newest reinforced concrete tower. The silo-style tower was erected by using a Swedish-developed "moving slip form." Concrete was poured in the form, and after the concrete dried the form was moved up to complete the middle section, and then later the third section. The color's were integrated into the concrete before it was poured. The top third black, middle third white, and the bottom third gray. These sections of the tower will never have to be painted. The foundation of the lighthouse is 70-feet down and sits on bedrock. The lighthouse is designed to sway 3-inches at the top in a 100+ MPH wind. The lantern room/gallery was set on top of the tower by use of a helicopter. The beacon in the lantern room is the second strongest light in the world, and has a range of  24-miles. Its light produces such a powerful heat that repairman must wear protective clothing when working in the lantern room. This lighthouse has 134-steps to that level but has no spiral staircase.

At the time of my visit here in 2000, the light was active, but the lighthouse not open to the public. However, photos could be taken from the outside. With permission, I was privileged to enter the lighthouse and go up as far as the first landing.

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