Cape Desperation

While still in San Jose, we were sure the trip to Washington and Olympic National Park would have to be postponed 'til next year.  We decided with some alterations we could still make the trip.  We crossed into Washington and made our first stop at the Cape of Disappointment.  The Northpoint Light House was the first point of interest.  We set up at the state park and headed out to the light house.

View on the path from the keepers' residences to the Northpoint Light

It was easy for me to imagine how difficult it must have been for the keepers of the light live day in and day out caring for the light in a harsh environment with few others in the near vicinity.  We walked the path from the light keepers' residences to the light house.  Visitors to the Northpoint Light are able to walk the circular stairs to the top of the light.  The view is astounding.  The volunteer who spoke with us talked about how the light use to take up the entire area we were in leaving very little room to "feed the fire."  This light required about five gallons a day or about 150 gallons a month.  Day in and day out, no matter how calm or unsettling the weather, the lighthouse keepers were on duty.  Being extremely fearful of heights, this was a tough tour for me.  It was difficult to listen, and I had a death grip on the railing around the stair area.  I could swear I could feel the structure moving - totally my imagination.  This is a light house over 100 years old and one that has sustained fierce storms on the edge of the pacific.  

The light was built to last and withstand any storm the Pacific could conjure

The Pacific coast is raw and rugged

We left this area feeling we had stepped back in time once more to imagine the life of those who kept this light - not unlike all the other light houses on both west and east coasts.  The life was lonely and  harsh fueled by the keeper's love of the sea and deep sense of responsibility for those lives on ships just off the rocks trying to enter the mouth of the Columbia River.