Tag Archives: vacation

The last adventure of our NC Thanksgiving. Oh, aside from the predicted traffic adventure – another 10 hours of quality time in the sub-compact pumpkin. It IS a great car. And we FIT an amazing amount for it’s size– sort of the Weasley Honda.

So we headed out to Currituck Lighthouse. We went the wrong way at first and WHOOPS! ended up pretty close to KNITTING ADDICTION and all indulged mama in a quick stop. It had started showering anyway. I saw online that they were having a trunk show of Ellyn Cooper’s yarns and remembered really liking her color-genius when I stopped in last T.G. The yarn was lovely. We only stayed a few minutes because for the second year in a row– they have a big, nicely stocked shop– and are really just not all that friendly. I am always so disappointed in that kind of vibe. It’s YARN– which is AWESOME. And COME ON– no extra charge for the AWESOME remember?? I had the girls with me– who are extraordinarily acquainted with yarn shops and fiber etiquette– however there was an unwelcoming feeling as soon as we got in.

Nope.

YMMV– but I am fini.

SO… then we turned back around and got to the lighthouse with no raindrops. We were greeted by the most wonderful man who is the “keeper” representative. He has such a great look going on. All of us were smitten by his facial hair, I think Jimmy saw a vision of futures-possible in that guy.

Here are some things to know from their site

LIGHTHOUSE FACTS
Number of steps: 214
Height to focal plane of lens: 158 feet
Height to top of roof: 162 feet
Number of bricks: approximately one million
Thickness of wall at base: 5 feet 8 inches
Thickness of wall at parapet: 3 feet

Position: 34 miles south of the Cape Henry (Virginia) Lighthouse 32 1/2 miles north-northwest of Bodie Island Lighthouse

Coast Survey Chart: 36° 22’36″ N latitude, 75° 49’51″ W longitude. As it had reported in previous years, the U.S. Light-House Board in 1872 stated that ships, cargoes, and lives continued to be lost along the 40 miles of dark coastline that lay beyond the reaches of existing lighthouses. Southbound ships sailing closer to shore to avoid the Gulf Stream were especially in danger. In response, construction began on the Currituck Beach Lighthouse in 1873 with completion two years later.

The Currituck Beach Lighthouse is known as a first order lighthouse, which means it has the largest of seven Fresnel lens sizes. The original source of light was a U.S. mineral oil lamp consisting of five concentric wicks; the largest was 4 inches in diameter.

Before the advent of electricity, a mechanical means was required to rotate the huge lenses that made the light appear to flash. A system of weights suspended from a line powered a clockwork mechanism beneath the lantern–much like the workings of a grandfather clock. The keeper cranked the weights up by hand every two and a half hours.

Like the other lighthouses on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, this one still serves as an aid to navigation. The beacon comes on automatically every evening at dusk and ceases at dawn.

With a 20-second flash cycle (on for 3 seconds, off for 17 seconds), the light can be seen for 18 nautical miles. The distinctive sequence enables the lighthouse not only to warn mariners but also to help identify their locations.

The Currituck Beach Lighthouse was the last major brick lighthouse built on the Outer Banks.

Here are the glimpses:

Every 20 seconds you get this

214 stairs might not sounds like a lot… BUT. IT. IS. Really. 214 metal MESH steps. Which is not so much a problem going UP the 214 steps. You just don’t really look down when ascending stairs. So then you are WAY HIGH UP and have to look down to the see through steps whilst trying not to fall down 214 stairs on the descent. UGH. We all got a little freaked at the top.

There are tales of one of the past keepers wives haunting the place. I only saw this blur. Jim pointed out that even worse than feeling the effects of that much spindly height is trying to get your 5 year old to slow down and BE CAUTIOUS! While you are freaking out just a little.

When I got to the top, I peered out the really small door to the really small iron balcony encircling the top, and Rosie was gone! She was off to explore the perimeter. I, on the other hand, could not go further that my arm length. I could not let go of the door frame without feeling like I was going to just FLY OFF THE BALCONY. That’s a bad feeling if you need to know… Your wee one disappearing around the bend of a lighthouse balcony 150 or so feet off terra firma, while you have suddenly developed concrete crocs and an arm that has glued itself to the wall. Yeesh.

The camera was feeling a little shaky here.

You had to CLIMB before the keeper would grant you a photo op. I am glad we went up. It was beautiful.

Yep. Just what it looks like.

Our break was so nice. It has been a bittersweet re-entry this week. Being at the beach is so rejuvenating, body and soul. I am sure thankful for our time spent there. I have this feeling that life and time is speeding up.

I just hate that.

I am tryng to hold on to this…