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We had the honor of attending (pronounced “SWIC”) is to “Infiltrate the special graduation of our Navy SEALs on daring clandestine grandson SN Kevin Bosse at Navy missions.” Upon graduation, Kevin Base Coronado, San Diego, CA was assigned to Fort Bragg, NC, for 9 on May 19, 2011. The six months months of intensive medical training. of intensive training included His duties will be as a medic on the many miles of running, ocean boat. When that is complete, he will swimming, and classroom basic be reassigned to Navy Base Coro- skills. The training course began nado. with 80 trainees, but only 25 As an added treat, we got to see graduated. Upon being pinned, New Point Loma and Old Point Loma Kevin received the rank of SB3. Lighthouses as any Bosse vacation The primary duty of SWCC certainly includes lighthouses!
P Av Ay vqh Gvtuur T u i Gr Fr ir My parents invited us down to notice that they did not have a picture their new house in Florida for Christ- of Race Point and the owner asked me mas. I immediately began the research to bring it to him the next time I was to find out which lighthouses were near in Florida. their house! The Boca Grande Light- The closest ones are Boca houses are about 45 minutes from Grande Front and Rear Range Lights their house. We decided to do those and Sanibel Island Lighthouse. We the next morning. We bypassed the decided to make a day trip out of it and rear range light and went to Boca do Sanibel Island first (left). I also Grande Front Range first (bottom). found out that there was a quilt shop on This too was decorated for Christmas! Sanibel Island. We found the quilt We took our pictures and did some shop and made a quick stop there and shopping in the gift shop, made a do- continued on to the lighthouse to take nation, and proceeded to the skeleton some pictures of the skeleton tower tower Rear Range Light (right). It is that was decorated for the holidays. in desperate need of repair. The Boca We then had a great lunch at the Light- Grande group is trying to gain owner- house Café. The interior is covered ship so they can begin the process of with customer-donated framed pictures bringing the rear range back to its for- of lighthouses from everywhere! I did mer beauty.
2012 Highs and Lows Story and photos by Bill Kent The year 2012 dawned with build up the carbs before resuming our passed away suddenly. His sunny many changes and challenges facing teeth chattering visit to the other sites disposition and positive outlook not only our group but also the nation on the trip. will be missed by all who had the as a whole. Both faced elections for We continued our trek to Fort pleasure of knowing Kevin. leadership positions although the mag- Foster, which gave us our closest view The nitude of one was nowhere as divisive week of as the other. May 19-20 In spite of that, our first trip of saw NELL the year, LHHC&Y brought NELL to visiting Portsmouth, NH. With no snow on the Nantucket ground, but a below freezing wind Island, moving us along we visited the Ports- scene of a mouth Harbor Lighthouse. The light- previous house is located on the grounds of an NELL ex- active USCG base and is part of Fort cursion sev- Constitution, a NH State Park. The of Whaleback Light, which currently eral years lighthouse was opened for us by volun- cannot be visited. The location also of- ago that is still remembered for teers of the Friends of Portsmouth Har- fered us a view of the old and decrepit what didn't happen, it was hoped bor Lighthouse. They braved the cold Wood Island Lifesaving Station. There that this time would be different. It with the approximately 30 hardy is an association that hopes to restore was. The trip started with a bus NELL members who took advantage the former station but logistics and tour of San- of an otherwise clear day. The light- money remain large hurtles to over- katy Light- house was a recipient of a NELL grant, come. Also included in the trip was house, Brant which helped restore the oil house in Fort McClary, an 1800's era block- Light as 2004. house and earthworks which protected well as a set the river and its environs. of Range As this concluded the outside Lights pri- activities of our LHHC&Y, it was time vately to repair back to the Holiday Inn at the owned. We Portsmouth Traffic Circle for the HC visited some portion. While we were warming up local sights and enjoying a hot beverage we had a of historical presentation from our parent organiza- significance as well as a tour of the tion, ALF, of all the rehabilitation pro- island. Due to the small size of the jects they have completed or are in the island and tight streets the group of From the lighthouse we drove process of being completed. They took 80 members was split into 3 sepa- into downtown Portsmouth and visited questions from the floor and the night rate buses heading in different di- the John Paul Jones House. The house ended with the promise of more activi- rections. All buses rendezvoused was used by America's Revolutionary ties tomorrow. back at the Nantucket Inn before War hero while he was awaiting the The next morning, Sunday, embarking on the most ambitious construction of a fighting vessel. The promised the same weather as the day portion of the trip. house is usually closed in the winter before except colder. On tap for today The last lighthouse on our but was graciously opened for NELL was a walking tour through historic trip this day was Great Point. Lo- by one of the volunteers. This self- downtown Portsmouth. An intrepid cated on a spit of land 12 miles generated tour lasted about an hour be- group numbering no more than 10 from the Nantucket Inn, the trek fore we crossed the Piscataqua River members completed the informative required the assistance of NELL Bridge into the state of Maine. tour within 2 hours and bid adieu to members. The last 3 miles to the Before we continued our jour- another successful LHHC&Y. lighthouse required 4 wheel drive ney the group needed to replenish at a The next month brought trag- vehicles to get over the sand dunes. local eating establishment, Captain's edy to our close knit group. Kevin Sul- Located in the Coskata-Coatue and Patty's. This allowed people to livan, our Communication Director, Wildlife Refuge, which is managed by the Trus- house in the US, Boston light guides panse of ocean. After an hour or so tees of Reser- ships into an active commercial har- on the island the trip back to Bos- vations, access bor. This trip our group assembled at ton Harbor was uneventful. would be re- Hyatt Place in Braintree to make the The afternoon saw what stricted only trip by car and train to the harbor was left of the group walking to the by the weather where our boat Tea Party Museum. The group was or time. awaited. Bos- considerably smaller as the lure of Based on the ton Light is shopping in Boston and Quincy number of part of the Na- Market drew off the least adventur- members 10 tional Parks ous of our crowd. The museum was jeeps were system so our an interactive reenactment of the requisitioned guides were events leading up to the Tea Party for the afternoon. Taking 4 members experienced including replicas of the original plus the driver the expedition was ac- Park Rangers. tea ships. complished with positive memories The boat could At the conclusion of the by all. The toughest part was inflating only take 45 day we all made our way back to and deflating the jeep tires after each people per trip the hotel for our meeting. We trip out to the lighthouse. All mem- so two boats elected a new Mr. Nell-Ron bers had a trip to remember and the were needed. Bandock. We discussed the results ghosts of Hurricane NELL 2005 were The morning boat was all NELL of the raffle and instituted a change finally exorcised. That night we had a members while the afternoon boat in leadership as Tom Kenworthy catered dinner at the Inn, conducted took the rest of our members plus retired as President after service of our meeting and prepared for more people from the public. While one over 4 years. Thanks, Tom, for a adventures on the next day, Sunday. group was going to the lighthouse the job well done. The Vice President- It was at the meeting that we learned other group had the opportunity to Bill Kent became President. Greg of the loss of another NELL member, visit the Boston Tea Party Museum. Fitzgerald became First VP and Ken Miller. The day was cold, blustery Lynne Kerber became 2nd VP. Sunday morning continued and foggy. There was a good possibil- Again this year NELL gave our string of good luck and we were ity that weather conditions might can- out grants totaling close to able to visit the Nantucket Whaling cel "the best laid plans of mice and $15,000.00 to the Nantucket Light- Museum located in the downtown men." However, the boat captain said ship, Thatcher Island and Race area. Again NELL was able to get a full speed ahead and we landed after a Point. Thanks to our members’ location to open early and host our direct route to the island. As we ar- generosity and the results of our group. We had a small turnout this rived, the lighthouse keeper, Sally raffle we were able to replenish our morning due to ferry conflicts and Snowman, preservation fund. NELL has given travel plans, but to those who made was there to over $150,000.00 to preservation the visit, it was well worth it. The greet us in efforts. Much of our monies have museum had a film on the Sankaty period garb. gone to lighthouses affiliated with Lighthouse move away from the cliff. She talked ALF. The museum has an extensive exhibit about the We can look forward to a on the whaling industry and the early history of the new and exciting year with some inhabitants of the island. The mu- lighthouse, new blood and ideas as we con- seum is located near the ferry termi- answered all tinue our mission of preserving nal so after seeing our fill, it was off questions, lighthouses. Every year more light- to the ferry and back to the mainland. and posed houses become endangered and Arriving in Hyannis ended a success- for pictures. monies from other sources run dry ful Spring outing. All members (federal, state and local govern- The Fall trip brought us back had a chance ments). I am proud of our members to the HUB. One of our first trips as to climb the lighthouse using a very and our mission and hope to con- NELL was a visit to Boston Light. effective system of colored bracelets. tinue the fine work we have accom- Back when our club was considerably There were several members of the plished over the years. smaller our group of about 20 took a Coast Guard Auxiliary who were Merry Christmas, Happy trip out to Little Brewster Island. available to describe the functions of New Year and Happy Holidays to Home to what is considered the old- the outbuilding and a sailing regatta all. Be safe and see you next year at est continually manned active light- added color to an otherwise gray ex- LHHC&Y on the Cape. Peru October 2012 Story and photos by Bill Kent As with any true lighthouse many steps we could take before we Sun Gate, the entrance to Machu aficionado, no vacation is taken with- had to stop and take a breath for a Picchu, by sunrise. As a famous out lighthouses as a possible side ex- minute or two. Well, we finally made poet once said, "The best laid cursion. Although it was not the main the top of the pass and our reward was schemes of mice and men, often focus of our trip this fall, we did in a cloud-covered view of not more go awry." By sunrise the cloud fact see two Peruvian lighthouses than 50 feet in all directions and a cover obscured the view we had sandwiched between a hike on the cool breeze that chilled us to the bone. Inca Trail. More about them later. So after a quick picture we started walked 4 days to experience. To For those of you who are ad- down the other side facing the same top it off the last endurance test venturous, healthy and love hiking, steps but this time heading down. we faced was approximately 100 this trail is for you. Constructed back Now instead of the altitude being a steps straight up which was in the 1500's, the trail connected vari- factor it was now the knees stepping known to the guides as the ous towns, shrines, and outposts of the down, what was quoted to us as, 3000 "Gringo-Killer." As we walked newly formed Inca Empire. The trail is steps. We did not count them due to down the last mile of the Inca 49 kilometers or 30 miles long and our exhaustion and our desire to get to Trail the sky started to clear, the usually takes 4 days. It starts at 8,500 the next campsite. sun came out and there before us feet altitude and goes as high as 13,800+ feet before starting down to lay the "Lost City of the Inca's." Machu Picchu. Along the way are sev- The culmination of the trip was a eral Inca ruins that are well preserved city that lay undisturbed for over and built on ledges that would be a 375 years until discovered in challenge to the current steel workers 1911 by an American, Hiram that build our skyscrapers: no safety Bingham III, a Yale professor. harnesses or nets to catch falling Pictures fail to capture the gran- workers. The Peruvian government deur of this city untouched by the regulates the number of people al- Spanish conquistadors, located in lowed on the trail daily to 500. This the middle of mountain peaks. A includes trekkers, guides and porters. Our group consisted of 2 couples: our- Day 3 started with an overcast true adventure! selves and a couple from Holland, 2 sky, but by this time as long as it did- guides, a cook, and 4 porters. n't rain we could handle anything. The On the first day Odette and I trek was still the same arduous adven- felt adventurous and decided to carry ture, but we were getting our pace our own gear to the first campsite. down and could see the light at the BIG MISTAKE! The altitude started end of the tunnel. We started to see to become a factor, and by the end of changes in the vegetation, as it turned the day, we were feeling our age, from dry and mountainous to wet and which must remain classified. At din- tropical. The trail still had numerous ner that night it was suggested by our ups and downs, but the altitude was guides that we hire a porter to carry getting lower and the knees were still our packs, sleeping bags and mats. At working, so on we plodded. This day that point money was no object so we was only a 6-mile walk. Also, by this Now, for the lighthouses. graciously accepted and prepared to time we started to crave a nice cold On the coast of Peru lies the capi- face the next day. drink. Remember you could not take a tal city of Lima. One of the dis- Day 2 broke clear and humid chance with untreated water so every- as we started the most strenuous part thing was boiled. Something ice cold tricts that make up the metropoli- of the trek. We were facing a climb to came to dominate our waking tan area of Lima is Miraflores. the highest point on the trail, known as thoughts and desires. Known as a "Faro" in Spanish the "Dead Woman's Pass" at 13,800+ feet. Day 4 started in the dark be- lighthouse called "La Marina" is At this point the trail became all steps cause we were up and ready to go by located on a cliff overlooking the and our progress was measured in how 3:30 am. The idea was to get to the Pacific Ocean. It is in a park that runs for about 2 miles along the coast L o c a t e d information is limited there as and was apparently built in 1900. At at one end of the well. the time we visited, the lighthouse was largest lake in The last structure we encoun- open and being repaired by members South America, tered was from a of the Peruvian navy. It still has a Lake Titicaca lies distance, as we on the border be- were returning to Fresnel lens that is showing signs of tween Peru and Puno from a trip wear. The view from the lantern room Bolivia. Often to an island in the extends for miles while the candle- called the highest lake. Seen on a power can be seen 25 nautical miles navigable lake in promontory that out to sea. the world, it is jutted out into the only logical that it lake the light was a non- would also contain a descript lighthouse or two. The white first lighthouse we saw tower. No was at the port of Puno. information was available Not a tall structure but but it was located in the strategically place in channel back to the har- the harbor, there is not bor. I will let the picture much information speak for itself. That, known on this light- friends and members is house. It is listed in the our story. lighthouses of Puru, but
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Left: Boston Skyline Right: Members Ron Bandock, Norm Bosse and Frank Carbone outside Boston Light- house Bottom Left: sign at Boston Lighthoue Bottom Right: Boston Lighthouse at Little Brewster Island @hr Qv Gvtuur Byprr H6 i Br tr Qr p
One sunny autumn Saturday af- the delight of children finding a picturesque, but since it is a private ternoon, Mary and I were out exploring chest of pirate treasure on the residence, the grounds and house the North Shore and found ourselves in Gloucester shore. were closed to the public. Initially Gloucester Harbor, watching the waves Just as a note, the parking in 1832, a station was established lapping the shore by the famous Fisher- lot is maintained by the Ipswich and the current lighthouse tower men's Memorial called “The Man at the River Wildlife Sanctuary, Audu- was built out of brick in 1890 and Wheel.” An English sculptor, Leonard bon Society later the lights were automated in Craske, designed it. It was indeed a gor- ([email protected]) 1985. It uses a fourth order Fresnel geous day. As the gentle sunrays bathed and is free to members. There is a (1857), which flashes white every us, we noticed a lighthouse in the dis- $5.00 per car fee for non-members five seconds. The tower itself rises tance and stopped a passerby to see if from Memorial Day weekend to to a height of 36 feet. they knew how we could reach it. the Columbus Day weekend. Other buildings still stand- The local native told us that it It was late afternoon by ing on the same grounds are the was much too far away for just a walk, now, so we reluctantly turned our 1879 keeper's house, an 1894 oil and we'd need to drive to the light. He attention back to exploring the house, the 1947 garage, and the proceeded to tell us, with much hand ges- lighthouse and the long jetty that 1951 fog signal building. The du- turing, what we'd need to do. juts out into the harbor. plex keeper's house serves as hous- He told us that we will see a ing for Coast Guard families. One beach on the right and the main road will of the station’s more famous occu- turn to the left, continue to the right on pants was Winslow Homer. The Eastern Point Blvd. through the granite noted artist spent a year living at the pillars (ignoring the "Private - No Entry" light in 1880. sign), follow Eastern Point Blvd. to the Making our way back to the end and park in small parking lot next to shore, we captured photo after the breakwater. photo, as the setting sun continually These cryptic directions took us changed the reflection on the light- down to a private road past a stone wall, house. where we wandered through a windy Some sounds and lights path. Still not knowing where the light- We hopped along the caught our attention, and we saw a house was, we stopped at a local art mu- rocks, skipping over the resting wedding celebration taking place in seum where we asked for additional di- seagulls and past fishermen still the nearby Bass Rock Golf Club, a rections. The shoreline drive led us to an hoping for one last catch. At the beautiful house converted into a Audubon Society property, the Eastern end of the jetty was a small light, function facility next door to the Point Wildlife Sanctuary, and the light- where seagulls soared in circles light. With this backdrop, we turned house came into view. Before the light- overhead forming Venn diagrams, toward the sunset and watched as house, there was another surprise in gliding on the wind like kites in an the sun dipped lower and lower into store. azure sky. the horizon with ever-changing col- The grassy meadow in front of From the vantage of the ors. We stayed until the sun had the lighthouse was filled with literally jetty, we viewed the lighthouse as completely set, and we could see millions of Monarch butterflies, flutter- the sun started to make the first the skyline of Boston coming to life ing around goldenrod flowers, flitting part of its sunset dip. At the very in the distance. from one stem to another like an eight- edge of the rocky shore was a We made our way back een-year-old girl who can't settle on a group enjoying a huge sloop glid- down the private road and back into boyfriend. The spectacle was so breath- ing by. We took many pictures of the center of Gloucester, where all taking, that all thoughts of the lighthouse the lighthouse from the jetty. of the local restaurants and pubs were suddenly gone. We digitized the This was the Eastern Point were beckoning with food, laughter pictures of the ever-changing scene with Lighthouse. The lighthouse was and life. By now, all of the salt air Continued on page 8 8hr 8q 8hhy Hr 8h t hq u i 9 9prr This past Thanksgiving day more severe weather events, coupled highly valuable cargo, quietly slipped afternoon found us in route for a with unpredictable wave action, unreli- the bounds of the Cape Cod Canal and family dinner at the Daniel Webster able tide forces and with strong two- during the afternoon transited Buz- Inn located in Sandwich, Massachu- way currents squeezed into this tight zards Bay and by early Friday morn- setts, however, this Thanksgiving geologic alcove, whirlpools can ing was well into Long Island Sound. afternoon proved more than the usual form and in addition, slippery rock Don had found a site where we could holiday experience with an added weed clings to the jetty at the water line, actually trace the vessel’s progress stop by the east end of the Cape Cod an accidental plunge into these waters is toward Port Elizabeth, New Jersey. In Canal. ill-advised. Years ago, a hometown all it was a 1500-mile voyage by sea. The tug, Atlantic Salvor, had neighbor was swept from this breakwa- An earlier release of our cargo had entered the canal and was passing by ter to his death. I, too, experienced a se- been delayed in Quebec due to a legal the Cape Cod Canal Breakwater rious episode years later when boating dispute thus creating a concern to ship Light. The flashing red beacon is af- with not so safety conscious friends on clear of the Saint Lawrence River be- fixed to the outer reaches of the rock these very waters. The red Cape Cod fore a hard winter freeze. jetty seeming as a diver poised on the Canal Breakwater Light stands as a sin- Dear reader, with the telling end of a springboard. gular and lonely reminder of danger to of our story, it is now mid-December. both the mariner and pedestrian alike. We visited the Cape Cod Canal Breakwater Light location recently to snap a few photos as my recovery from spinal surgery last July kept us from getting too close, this along with heeding previous exhortations regard- ing breakwater dangers. Further media accounts have indicated the tower’s smaller top seg- ments will be shipped by truck from Quebec to New York City during De- As we observed from the cember and that assembly on site Sandwich Mariner Basin, the Atlan- Our Thanksgiving dinner had should also be commencing during tic Salvor carefully pulled a barge unexpectedly become a mystery dinner December, 2012, one segment at a laden with heavy cargo. The open as we discussed the unknown cargo. time. The tower is said to be worth barge contained eight large fabri- “What was it?” Later that evening our $10,000,000 with the total structure cated metal structures secured in son, Don, researched on-line and the weighing about 750 tons. place and appeared to have features solution to this mystery was quickly re- Friends, this story continues. in common as units that stacked solved. We had unwittingly observed It remains to you to further research upon each other, much larger than a the passage of the base and mid sections our subject to better comprehend the kid’s building block and bigger than of the communication tower intended to remainder of this saga as it unfolds. a bread box, only more so, possess- be set atop 1 World Trade Center lo- Oh…that one could observe the place- ing seriously more dynamic architec- cated on Manhattan Island in New York ment of our tower segments first tural proportions. City. Allow a moment at this point The 458-foot antenna when as- hand. for digression to relate personal ob- sembled was tow-barged from a Saint servations about the canal’s eastern Lawrence River location in Quebec, end granite breakwater and including Canada, around and along the Canadian the related vicinity of Cape Cod Bay. Maritime region, through the Gulf of The east end breakwater is located Maine to Massachusetts Bay and on to within the Scusset Beach State Res- the Cape Cod Canal where we stumbled ervation in Sandwich and during across this bit of floating U.S. history in more tranquil days, the large quar- progress. Few observers were present ried stone block structure can be a as most of the local population focused beautiful place for visitors to fre- on Thanksgiving festivities. The Atlan- quent. Otherwise, beware during tic Salvor and tow-barge, along with its I@X @IBG6I9 GDBCUCPVT@ GPW@ST 6 8C6QU@S PA UC@ 6H@SD86I GDBCUCPVT@ APVI96UDPI !" ##
A Lighthouse Poem by Bob Ojamaa A sentinel of guiding light reaching out into the night standing high above the waves to starve the sea of what it craves
But for a light to guide those lost a tragedy could be the cost a sand bar or rocky shoal could easily take a deadly toll
Just how many seaward lives have come home to worried wives all saved by this beacon’s ray so they could sail another day
This picture of Faulkner’s Island Lighthouse won 3rd place in their 2012 photo contest & was taken by Lynne Kerber @hr Qv p had worked up a huge appetite, so we stopped at one of the restaurants that looked inter- esting. We popped into one bustling place called "The B Qvp r s 7 Gvtuur i 9t Tp Azorean" and the wait was over two hours, so we moved on. Since we were really hun- gry, we popped into a little sub shop along Route 133 in Ips- wich, appropriately called "Ipswich House of Pizza" to grab a quick Greek style pizza, a sub and some Gatorade. The girls in the kitchen were friendly and nice as we spoke to them of the soccer clubs of the world and current World Cup winners. I root for Man- chester United, while they fa- vor Bayern Munich. As the pizza was being cooked we reviewed the fun we had and plotted our next adventure. Maybe another lighthouse!