Craighill Keeper’s bLog

…Is by far better than a warm day at the office! Actually, the weather wasn’t too bad on Monday, thankfully. The day before Halloween had so many highlights, I don’t even know where to begin. Our fair lighthouse finally got its official visit from Cullen Chambers, the legend of Tybee Island and St. Augustine lighthouses. I happily re-acquainted with ‘lighthousemon’, a future famous author and already famous lighthouse restorer (Bird Rock Lighthouse in the Bahamas and Rose Island Lighthouse in Newport, RI). I twisted his arm to come down for the occasion, but it wasn’t too hard! I also got a tour of our neighbor to the south, Baltimore Harbor Light, and met some the “new kids on the block” - two of the new owners, Mark and Jane. What a hoot! They unintentionally even had the Baltimore Light decorated for Halloween with an innovative bird repellent (an innovation I plan to copy).

I had an easy time waking up at 5 AM in order to make the trek out to Annapolis by 7:15ish since daylight savings time kicked in the day before. I think excitement and nerves may have played a hand in my early awakening as well. I waited at the coffee shop near McNasby Oysters for Christopher (lighthousemon), wondering if I wouldn’t recognize him or vice versa since I arrived first and no one in the coffee shop looked like I remembered from a year and a half earlier. We had met at the lighthouse conference held in Newport, Rhode Island prior to being awarded the lighthouse (in fact, I was restraining myself for pestering the poor National Park Service woman to death about the status of our application during the conference). I had seen pictures of him with wild hair, nothing like the close-cropped head he sported at the conference, and a lot of hair could grow in that year and a half time! No worries, he saw me through the window as he walked toward the entrance and we both recognized each other immediately!

We made our way down to the dock where Henry and Cullen were already waiting, and Howard had the boat ready to go. Jane showed up shortly and we were off on our day’s adventure! First stop was Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse so Cullen could see the progress they’ve made. I was pleased to see my duct taping of the rusted out holes in the gutters was holding up after several months (and admit to being a bit surprised). I guess it’s true - duct tape fixes anything! They have also started implementing the spiderweb fishing line bird deterrent.

After photographing the pile of wood that had shifted (and lost some members) during the excessive tides from the wind, we piled back into Howard’s boat and headed north. I had never boated under the Bay Bridge before and love bridge architecture, so couldn’t wait to pass under it. I could have had the opportunity if I had done the Chesapeake Bay swim (although, I’m not sure how much architecture admiring I’d do while swimming 4.4 miles!), but I did the 1 mile swim instead which never passed under the bridge. First, however, we passed several ships anchored off the channel. Boy were those cool! I saw a tug go by pushing a barge full of dirt with seagulls atop each mound, enjoying the ride - a funny sight!

I’m learning that taking quality photos from a rocky rolly boat is an art form in and of itself!

To Be Continued…