Cape Blanco Light House

Aloha Everyone,

Cape Blanco Light House is the oldest standing lighthouse on Oregon Coast. Commissioned in 1870, this lighthouse helped shipping commerce generated by gold mining and the lumber industry. The lighthouse is located on a cliff top 245 feet above ocean.

Today it was so windy that I had to put my red jacket hood over my black felt hat to keep it from flying away. We were informed that when the wind velocity reaches 50 mph, they close the lighthouse to visitors.

Until it was automated in 1980, there were lighthouse keepers working around the clock. On clear days, the light can be seen 4 miles away. The entrance fee of $2 was waived with our Senior Pass. Yes, this was one of those occasions that pays to be a senior.  

We had to climb 3 sets of rounding staircases to reach the top.

 

Ed, a volunteer greeted us when we walked into the light house.  

 

Ed joined by Jack posed for me with an 100 gallon oil can, a relic from the days before switching to electricity.

Bob, also a volunteer with Bureau of Land Management greeted the visitors on the top landing where large light was mounted. Bob went into technical explanation but one of the interesting facts we learned was that it was President Abraham Lincoln who authorized the construction of this lighthouse.

We saw a sign Griff's Seafood. Who can resist when the restaurant is named after one of our friends. Griff's was located on the dock and we sat at a table next to a couple who said they were admiring Honu when we parked. Over our lunch, we had an enjoyable conversation. Lynn and Tom are from Davis, CA on a 10-days holiday. They have traveled in an RV years ago in Europe and we recounted and exchanged our travel experiences. Lynn and Tom and are thinking of getting something like Honu. We invited them for a look-around. We wish them well and hope their dream will be realized soon.

A sign painted on the road which said "Ocean View" with an arrow was sufficient to perk our curiosity. 

Unfortunately, the fog was so thick the ocean was not visible.

We saw these beautiful pink flowers blooming in front of a house. I have seen them before and at first I thought they were plastic flowers. No leaves, just pink flowers growing on thick stalks. I hope to find our the name and will write about it more in the future.

We are staying one more night at Cape Blanco State Park. The road to the park cuts through some farms that are advertising honey. We also saw sheep grazing in the afternoon sun.

I love the forest as our backyard. The camp manager told us that they have no bears but they occasionally are visited by a raccoon or skunk. Squirrels, chipmunks and lots of birds are keeping our company. I think we can do without the other small animals.

Aloha -- Cathi