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klip59
05-04-2011, 10:26 AM
Just thought I'd write a little different TR involving places outside the mountains.
Shirley and I spent Sunday May 1st chasing the start of a new list, Lighthouses. Some of these destinations require no hiking but others require nice walks along beaches, breakerwalls and sandbars. I'll just talk about the ones involved in hikes.
We started around 10am at a breakerwall at the site of the Pilgrims first landing in Provincetown, MA. Wind was gusting but the sun was out. Here there was a long wall of rock jutting out to a sandy reef. The wall looked to be around 1 mile long. Hoping over the rocks made us feel like we were on the rockiest of ADK trails. :rolleyes: At the end of the breaker, we headed south, exploring the sand dunes towards Longs Point Lighthouse. Sand was soft and difficult to walk on but we managed. Somewhere about a mile or so we arrived at the lighthouse. The lighthouse is unmanned, solar powered and isn't open to the general public except on special tour days. From here, we headed back north, over the sand dunes, past the breakerwall another 1/2 mile to the Wood End Lighthouse. same here, an unmanned, solar powered lighthouse. Then back to the breakerwall and the trip over the rocks. Wind was whipping up more and Shirley thought she would be blown off into the water. I assured her, she wouldn't (heck I wasn't going to be the one getting wet :D ). Rocks were wet as high tide had just past but nothing dangerous.
From here we headed to Race Point. We parked at the beach and started walking towards where we thought the lighthouse was. I had read it was a long walk down the soft beach. we went about 40 minutes, climbed a sand dune to get a better view and saw nothing, so we turned around and headed back. As we almost reached our car, we ran into another couple who were whale watching. They told us it was back in the same direction we had just come from, just a lot longer than we thought. So we headed back down and finally got there about an hour later. The walk down was pleasant as we saw the whales out in the ocean. Occasionally they would come out of the water and flop, as much as a whale can. Race Point Lighthouse had a keepers cabin that had people staying there. There is car access along a private dirt road.
The walk back was nice as the whales continued to play about a 1/2 mile from shore.
Our long weekend had us finding 8 lighthouses. The others were involved either small walks up beaches or just rides in the car.
Photo's : http://community.webshots.com/album/580144277WmfxnC?start=0

TFR
05-04-2011, 02:46 PM
Cool stuff!

There are several light houses along the Hudson as well. Some of them are open to the public.

Laurie and I volunteer at the Saugerties Light House. (http://www.saugertieslighthouse.com/logbook/) We almost always see Eagles, and a variety of water birds.

HAYDK
05-04-2011, 05:32 PM
Paul;
Sounds like you had a great time, 8 Lighthouses:) Walking in the loose sand is a great work out. If you go to the Saugerties Lighthouse, look up the tide charts before you go.:eek: Nancy and I checked the outside of it in February 2010. It is a very nice site. Looking forward to your pictures. Tom

klip59
05-04-2011, 05:48 PM
Tom (s), Thanks, gives us more to explore, new places and the outdoors. You are correct, walking in the sand is harder than you think. We also played 3 rounds of golf in the 4 days we were there. As well as a trip to the Truro Vineyards. Not quite my kind of brewery.
Weather was beautiful! Saugerties Light and Hudson Lighthouses are in our near future as are some around Lake Champlain and Lake Ontario. So many places to go! Reminder: check lottery ticket to see if I can retire! :D Need more vacation time.

HAYDK
05-04-2011, 06:14 PM
Nice pictures,liked the colors of the sunset. If and when you want to go to the Bluff point Lighthouse on Valcour Island on Lake Champlain, we have 4 kayaks. There are a network of trails on the island to explore. Sundays during the summer, they usually have the lighthouse open. Tom

Jay H
05-04-2011, 06:59 PM
Don't forget Esopus Meadows!!!! Nicer than the Saugerties and Hudson lighthouse. :-)... Why, I dunno but it's on it's own little island in a nice part of the hudson.. i.e. you can't just walk there..

Jay