A Detour To Tucson and Back Again

 I returned to Tucson on July 15 to help my brother and mom with decisons regarding my father whose health was failing. While I was there I was able to make one quick visit to see Kaila and her new little sister, Alessandra. Such darling little girls. I might end up calling our newest great granddaughter Allie, a homophone of Ollie, the name of our youngest grandson!

 Ten days old, not quite ready for prime time here!

After ten days my brother felt that the important decisions had been made so I returned to California. I can't believe that the first picture I took was of a Henry J we saw parked on one of the side streets!

On Saturday we drove to Brookings to get fuel and do a  little shopping. This herd of elk was quite content to make themselves at home in this field between some houses.

After work on Sunday, we were told about the great views from this lookout point just south of town. Breathtaking.

 Posing, looking north, on the platform built for the viewing.

 While we were there, Cary looked out

 to discover a mother whale and her calf swimming not that far off shore from us! I wish my camera could have zoomed in a little closer!

 I took eight or ten pictures, but you will have to take my word for it that these are whales. Several folks at the lighthouse told us they had seen whales, but this is not the season, so we just took it with a grain of salt. I hope these two are well out to sea by now.

This is the most fog I have seen covering the lighthouse as we approached Monday morning! I could not even see the light come on at all.

But just a few hours later made lots of difference. This was the view as we left.

The last group to come in for a tour was a Buick Club, men and women who were driving from all over the country (two from Wisconsin), some in classic cars without air conditioning. We did not stay for that part of the tour because the tide was coming in, but we took pictures in the parking lot and talked to some of the people who hadn't even gone over for the tour.

We have to say farewell to Battery Point Lighthouse for 2014. It has been fun working with Keith and Kathie Hammer. We were asked if we could stay another week because the August RVers were unable to make it, so there was some scrambling being done, but we have reservations and plans that take us into Oregon for August.

Catching Up, Sort Of...

 Thursday, apparently the tide still isn't all the way out as we make our way to work.

The keepers, Kathie and Keith, have been waiting to get across too; they ride the ATV to carry the groceries over so they can get them put away before we open up for the guests!

Another beautiful afternoon as we leave for the day.

Friday was our day off so we went to Brookings for yard sales, some antique and thrift stores, a visit to Fred Meyers and lunch at Pancho's ($4.95 the luncheon special, yummy too)! Not one single picture, sorry.

 Saturday the tide was still too high to go to work so we found a few more yard sales (found some nutcrackers, just right for cracking crab--yay), strolled the farmer's market where we found some yummy pastry which we took back to the trailer to have with coffee.

 Gray seems to be the main color in Crescent City when it is cloudy, so it was refreshing to see Easter lilies sparkling white in this subdivision hosting a community yard sale. The nearby community of Smith River proclaims itself the Easter Lily capital of the world. We often see workers out in the fields, depending on the time of year.

We found lots of goodies, some we needed and some we just liked!

Sunday morning we started work earlier than usual and could not believe we were the only vehicle in the parking lot--this is about 8:35.

Not only that, no one was on the beach or strolling around the island. Folks must be sleeping in. It is unusual to open for tours at 9, but it is more unusual not to see anyone out there, regardless.

 At 4:00 we met some folks in town at the Fisherman's Restaurant for a car club meeting! Cary bought a car club plaque from a woman he had been emailing. She invited us to the meeting where we listened to them discuss upcoming shows before going home so I could make phone calls.

 Only two of the members brought their cars. Nice ones.
I will be taking a week long break from the blog while I go back to Tucson to help with family stuff, hope to have more after that.

Two Hour Work Days...In Theory

Tuesday and Wednesday the lighthouse looked like this when we came down to work around 1:30 and 2:00. It had been chilly and damp (as I am sure you can tell) most of the day. But that didn't stop us from running some errands and visiting an antique shop.

The tide was not completely out, or even out enough for us to cross without walking on "the alligator," as we call the covering over the sewer pipe. There was one part just narrow enough that Cary came back to help me with my balance. I guess I should take up Yoga.

As I said in the title, our schedule called for us to work on Tuesday from 1-3, and Wednesday from 2-4. Dottie, the lady who makes up the schedule, does build in a cushion of time so we don't have to rush right out on the stroke of the last hour, but we still like to end on time...however, we also hate to turn away anyone who has patiently waited to take the tour, so both days we ran over a good 40 minutes. Thankfully, we did manage to walk across back to the parking lot without getting wet.

And look what a beautiful afternoon it turned out to be!

We're Back!

Although the morning started out quite foggy, we were very pleased to see the sun when we came down from the lighthouse after work today. 

It was clear enough, that if you knew where to look, you could see the St. George Reef Lighthouse. It is that teensy speck about 1/2 inch below the "g" in the word Lighthouse above.

At one of our stops during our errand running, Cary caught a picture of this Chevy--

And last, but not least, we got some yummy crab for supper, along with some great tasting corn on the cob and fresh fruit.

Our tours went very smoothly today, and they all have been fun. Today a guy came through who reminded me a lot of my Uncle Doug. We get good questions that prompt us to do some more research (something I love to do) and even if no one else ever asks us the same questions, we are prepared!

We Interrupt This Blog...

 Alessandra Dillon Birenbaum was born at 5:15 this morning (July 7)! Mom and baby are doing well. We hope Dad is too!

We can hardly wait to hold this beautiful little girl with the very long name!

Busy Day

Because we had to work today, we limited ourselves to just a few yard sales. This garage was really neat. It must have been an estate sale. The man told us his mom had been a switchboard operator downtown. Price: $100 or make an offer.

This vintage GE refrigerator would probably be ours right now if we were in Tucson and found it there. It was in wonderful condition and just the kind of thing we love.

  

Here is Cary going through his box of free goodies...

This is most of what he was able to salvage from it.

This is one of the things he threw away!

On the way to the lighthouse we passed this old car

backed up to get a picture and still made it to work on time.

And what a day at work! Over 130 people signed in (the pen disappeared at one point, so there were probably more); we should have closed at 1:30 but we were there till after 2:00. Thankfully we all got off before the tide came in. A very strange creature approached the lighthouse as we were leaving...

I am not sure what it was supposed to be, but he was quite happy to pose for a picture!

On the way home we stopped by the museum to turn in a report, pick up a pie for Keith and Kathie (the keepers) and discover half a pecan pie left that we were glad to take off their hands. A very good day.

Happy Independence Day!

Yesterday before leaving work, I snapped a picture from the kitchen window of the lighthouse--isn't the water gorgeous. According to Cary, one could see the St. George Reef Lighthouse from the tower but I didn't see from here.

Just another beautiful view from the pathway down from the lighthouse. I never want to take it for granted.

This morning we had every intention of staying for the parade after getting our pie and ice cream in front of the County Historical Museum, but decided it was a little chilly (and damp). So we went to Walmart for groceries, by way of a yard sale!

Nothing here though, but across the street was this interesting house...

And a couple of cars--

The guy may have been joking when he said he didn't get it cleaned up for the parade...

But obviously, this guy did. He may be the one who drives the grand marshal of the parade.

Ending the day with grilled bratwurst and chicken. Great day. The sun even came out from behind the clouds. I think we will watch the fireworks on tv.