Yesterday was overcast and a bit blustery. The wind carried a stray raindrop here and there.

Donna was busy working on her book. I rode the scooter into Crescent City and toured the area. There’s a large park on the south end of town on the bay. The coastal road going north from there is a mix of private residences and public beach access.

West of the park, at the foot of A street is the Battery Point Lighthouse. This is an active lighthouse, first commissioned in 1856. It’s also an active residence with a lighthouse keeper. They offer tours and there were many people there. The parking lot was full. I didn’t take the tour. I wonder how the lighthouse keeper can go about daily life with people touring the place.

Battery Point Lighthouse

The lighthouse can only be accessed by foot during low tide. Wave action can cover the 200 foot path to the lighthouse at any time! The lighthouse is open for tours April through September, Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm (tides permitting).

Moving north on the coastal road, I turned out at a beach access point. I found a sign there describing the St. George Lighthouse. The sign had an  arrow pointing to a rock on the horizon where the lighthouse is located. It’s six miles out to sea on Dragon Rocks. It marks the western edge of St. George reef.

Arrow points to Dragon Rocks and St George Lighthouse six miles offshore

Construction began in 1882 and it took 10 years to complete. It was the least desirable assignment of all the lighthouses on the west coast. The lighthouse keepers would be out on the rock for a three-month stint followed by two months off with their families in Crescent City. The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1975.

I stopped at several access points as I rode northward. The rocky beach became sandy. Near St. George Point there were surfers riding the shore break. I imagine it must have been cold, even with wetsuits.

After I returned, Donna and I hiked the woods around the campground. At the east end of the property, we heard a band practicing in a small house on the edge of the woods. I didn’t recognize the songs. They were jamming in what I would call Seattle grunge style.

We decided to extend our stay here until tomorrow. I’ll watch the NFL action on TV and hang out today.