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.

18 July 2013

North Carolina - Oak Island Lighthouse

This lighthouse is located on Oak Island, NC. It was built in 1958 and is the Coast Guard's newest reinforced concrete tower. It stands 169-feet high. This silo-style tower was erected by using a Swedish-developed "moving slip form." Concrete was poured and once that section dried, the form was moved up to complete the next section. Colors were integrated into the concrete. The top third of the tower black, the middle third white, and the bottom third gray. It never has to be painted. The lantern gallery was set in place using a helicopter.

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 plus wind.

The beacon in the tower is the second strongest light in the world, and has a range of 24-miles. The light produces such a powerful heat that repairmen must wear protective clothing when working in the beacon room. This lighthouse has 134-steps to the lantern room level and are not set in a spiral staircase.

At the time of my visit here in 2000, the lighthouse was not open to the public, however, photos could be taken from outside the compound.
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