Dock on the bay
First off, I have to offer up a HUGE amount of appreciation and thanks to Henry from the Chesapeake Chapter of the US Lighthouse Society. I’d be flailing about lost at sea (pardon the bad pun) without him and his help and contacts. Henry arranged a trip out to Craighill over the summer, piloted by his friend and his gracious offering up of his boat (ours was still dead at the time), to take a few people out to assess the (lack of) docking situation at the lighthouse. We had a fun trip and I felt great being back in the lighthouse finally - in fact it was my first time in as the owner! They were all wonderful friendly people, the sort you feel comfortable around.
I have to say, Henry’s got the whole “get a picture with the lighthouse behind the crew” thing down pat! I am amassing a collection of photos posed in similar fashion!
Anyway, the group consisted of a marine engineer, a ship’s captain familiar with the currents and winds, the boat captain (and fantastic photographer), Henry, and myself. I was disappointed to realize the first time I’d get to use my new lighthouse key that there was in fact no lock on the door and someone had fastened it shut with loose fishing wire (in abundance around the light). I’ve since remedied that! I loved taking the group on a tour after we clumsily boarded the tiny platform. I video taped much of the dock brainstorming on the boat before we departed, circling the light as the sun set behind it for more ample photo opportunities.
We just received both the dock design and construction proposals. T (a board member and professional talented proposal writer) will get to work writing grant applications to cover some of the cost. In the meantime, I will begin planning a fundraiser to draw the other funds we’ll require. My hope is to have construction begin in the early spring so that next season promises easier access for construction materials and volunteers/contractors. I initially suffered mild sticker shock at the total cost, but I think it’s doable. I just have to put on my creative thinking cap.