Of all the times to be MIA, it had to be now, when my new book is just sprouting wings! Not to be a bore, (or a boar?) I have to insert excuse #3 here: still have a day job. Yep, it’s true; even glamorous, wildly successful authors such as myself do occasionally supplement their income with a wee bit of side work. That being said, I also took a vacation last month! You may have picked up on a few of my Charles Kuralt type Tweets while “on the road.”
High points (and pun slightly intended) were the lighthouses. Sigh. First, Point Cabrillo, just north of Mendocino, California. Darlingest little beacon. No tours (the tower was chained off) and the main floor is now a gift shop. DD and I romped around taking photos and complained because I’d left my wallet with DH, down the road.
Next was Battery Point in Crescent City. We stayed at (where else?) The Lighthouse Inn. Lovely people, and a lobbyful
The Glamorous, Success Author at Battery Point
of lighthouse pictures and artifacts. INCLUDING a huge wall mural of St. George Reef Lighthouse, which figures prominently in my new book, CAPE SEDUCTION! How hauntingly apropos. Staff was lovely. They agreed to display my rack cards!
Battery Point is a beautiful lighthouse, accessed only at low tide. DD and I took a tour. The docents were volunteers who get a month of lighthouse keeping at a time, and the waiting list is LONG. I passed out bookmarks and postcards to two very giddy lighthouse loving ladies.
Last was one of my favorites, Heceta Head Lighthouse in Yachats, Oregon. One of the most photographed beacons in the U.S. Another tour, lots of good info.
The Astonishing Heceta Head
Great gift shop (had my wallet this time!!) Could have stayed here all day. This lighthouse is on the cover of POINT SURRENDER. Heceta Head, by the way, is on tap for a major facelift next year. Needs it, badly.
Couldn’t see them all. Passed several up on the way, hopefully to be visited another time. I’ll be traveling back to my brother’s house in late August, at which time we’ll visit Point No Point Lighthouse. Can’t wait!
St. George Reef inside The Lighthouse Inn!
Evidence of decay. Still beautiful
I have little mini-meltdowns when the lighthouses are roped off. I will never forget the time, years ago, when we were in the panhandle, we hired a guy to take us shelling on an uninhabited island (no access except for boat) and there we saw another St. George Lighthouse – locked up and abandoned. It ended up falling down a couple years later in Hurricane Dennis and has been reassembled on the main island and available for walk-ups.
Don’t know why I went on that little detour. Anyway, I was going to ask if you were tempted to pay the $200pp and fly over to the St. George Reef Lighthouse. After reading your book, I did some looking around, and now that is what I want to do.
Then you and I shall go together! I’m not all that sure my significant other is too keen to get into one of those copters. I’m dying to do. I’ve been in touch with the St. George Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society about the book. They are nice people (of course!).
I have heard of St. George (Point?) in Florida. It comes up in searches for SGRL. It’s so sad when they fall into disrepair and no one cares. At least it was put back together.
I had to take a little creative license with my book. In reality, no one would land a boat there. Far too dangerous. It’s interesting to note, SGRLPS is under very strict scrutiny by government environmental impact watchers–landing a helicopter there is considered harassment of the many seals and sea lions that have taken over the rock. I read the details of their access grant. Very tough.