When we got to the lighthouse, the rest of the group paddled to the end of the spit while I got out to meet Doris who had come
down to the water to greet me. Anthony remained at the lighthouse so as to stay on top of the sprinkler system. Amazingly, the
lighthouse, which sits at the end of a salt water spit, has access to an artesian well so the lighthouse keepers are kept busy
maintaining the grass in a state of high green.
down to the water to greet me. Anthony remained at the lighthouse so as to stay on top of the sprinkler system. Amazingly, the
lighthouse, which sits at the end of a salt water spit, has access to an artesian well so the lighthouse keepers are kept busy
maintaining the grass in a state of high green.
| Rain Shadow Kayakers paddle to the New Dungeness Lighthouse October 5, 2009 |
Eight kayakers met at Cline Spit this morning to paddle to the New Dungeness Lighthouse. Absent was Jackie who is still
recovering from her surgery exactly one week ago.
Amazingly, Jackie did make it out to the Friday paddle last Friday, four days after her gall bladder and appendix removal. Sitting in
the back of the canoe, I let Jackie do most of the paddling on this four mile paddle so as to expedite her recovery.
recovering from her surgery exactly one week ago.
Amazingly, Jackie did make it out to the Friday paddle last Friday, four days after her gall bladder and appendix removal. Sitting in
the back of the canoe, I let Jackie do most of the paddling on this four mile paddle so as to expedite her recovery.
While the others paddled around the end of the spit, Doris escorted me to the top of the lighthouse.
New Dungeness lighthouse was first lit in 1857 and was the second lighthouse established in the Washington territory. The tower
stood at 100 feet painted black on the top half and white on the lower section.
Over time, the tower developed structural cracks from the artillery at nearby forts. In 1927, the cracks in the tower were so severe
that the lighthouse inspector feared that the tower would topple so the tower was lowered to its current height of 67 feet.
By 1994, the Dungeness Lighthouse was one of the few lighthouses in the United States to have a full-time keeper. In March of
1994 the Coast Guard boarded up all the windows at the station and left. Within months, the United States Lighthouse Society
started the New Dungeness chapter and were able to secure a lease from the Coast Guard. Over the years, the society has
grown and developed the station into a premier get-away. Through weekly rentals, grants and fund raising, the station has been
completely restored.
Today, the lighthouse is manned weekly by society members like Doris, Anthony, Bob and Jan who pay a fee to stay at the light
house. Most people who come to the lighthouse hike 5 1/2 mile on the worlds longest sand-spit to reach the station. Society
members are usually happy to see new hikers and kayakers and are more than happy to give a tour of the station all the way to
the lantern room.
New Dungeness lighthouse was first lit in 1857 and was the second lighthouse established in the Washington territory. The tower
stood at 100 feet painted black on the top half and white on the lower section.
Over time, the tower developed structural cracks from the artillery at nearby forts. In 1927, the cracks in the tower were so severe
that the lighthouse inspector feared that the tower would topple so the tower was lowered to its current height of 67 feet.
By 1994, the Dungeness Lighthouse was one of the few lighthouses in the United States to have a full-time keeper. In March of
1994 the Coast Guard boarded up all the windows at the station and left. Within months, the United States Lighthouse Society
started the New Dungeness chapter and were able to secure a lease from the Coast Guard. Over the years, the society has
grown and developed the station into a premier get-away. Through weekly rentals, grants and fund raising, the station has been
completely restored.
Today, the lighthouse is manned weekly by society members like Doris, Anthony, Bob and Jan who pay a fee to stay at the light
house. Most people who come to the lighthouse hike 5 1/2 mile on the worlds longest sand-spit to reach the station. Society
members are usually happy to see new hikers and kayakers and are more than happy to give a tour of the station all the way to
the lantern room.
Below is the view today looking back 5 miles to the begging of the spit.
When the lighthouse was built in the 1850s, it was built at the end of the spit. Since that time, the spit has grown another 1/2 mile
as seen in this picture I took today..
as seen in this picture I took today..
From the top of the lighthouse, I tooked down at Anthony (left) and his sister sitting at a picnic table with Bob admiring their green
lawn.
lawn.
Bob's duties included taking tours to the top of the lighthouse, cleaning the visitor bathroom, and making sure that the container
ships did not come too close to the lighthouse.
ships did not come too close to the lighthouse.
After the rest of the group arrived and ate their picnic lunch, Doris invited
us inside the keeper's house for a delicious crab dip, coffee, and chocolate
cake. The rules of the lighthouse prohibit visitors to the inside of the
lighthouse except to recruit new lighthouse keepers. Inside, Doris gave us
a hard sell on the wonders of being a lighthouse keeper. If you are
interested in being a lighthouse keeper, go to this web site.
How to be a lighthouse keeper.
us inside the keeper's house for a delicious crab dip, coffee, and chocolate
cake. The rules of the lighthouse prohibit visitors to the inside of the
lighthouse except to recruit new lighthouse keepers. Inside, Doris gave us
a hard sell on the wonders of being a lighthouse keeper. If you are
interested in being a lighthouse keeper, go to this web site.
How to be a lighthouse keeper.
The lighthouse keeper's house was
built in 1904.
built in 1904.
Everyone enjoyed the free snacks and coffee.
When the free food ran out, the group bade our hosts a fond farewell.
Anyone who knows of another free food place to paddle should contact Felix with this information.
Bob, Jan, and Doris accompanied us to the kayaks and waved goodbye while Anthony remained at the lighthouse to relocate the
sprinkler.
sprinkler.