NJ Lighthouse Challenge- Mini Version

I decided that if I couldn't volunteer all day at a Lighthouse we could at least make a short trip to a couple of Lighthouses.

We drove down to Sea Girt to start and got some photos and got to meet a couple of people that I have traded e-mails and posts with over the years- Conrad who helped me to assist john with hios Bus tour of the NJ Lighthouses at the Baltimore Reunion and Greg "Seagirt" of the Forums.(He was the only forum Member I ran into today and we both had our Wacko Badges).

Here's a shot of the Sea Girt Lighthouse followed by a shot of "Sea Girt" (Sorry for the fuzziness- it looked great on the camera and I can't get it to sharpen)






I also got a shot of the Australian Fourth Order Lens that Sea Girt purchased on Ebay last year. The NJ Lighthouse society donated to the cause- our money was used to ship the Lens from Australia.



We left Sea Girt and drove on down to Sandy Hook. I got to talk to a number of people that I have not seen for awhile due to not being able to volunteer at Sandy Hook or get to the last two NJLHS Meetings.

Here's a phot of Sandy Hook. The Keeper's House in under restoration right now. I couldn't get any info on how much longer it would be. It looks like not too much work has been done yet. It will hopefully be finished over the winter and reopen next year in April.



We left there and drove over to Navesink (Twin Lights) and got to se some more old friends from the NJLHS- including Tom Laverty who is now a TV star. He was featured in a bit on the Jay Leno show last month by Kevin Smith ( a somewhat crackpot movie director from NJ who does Wierd Attraction tours on the show.)

The wierd part here was when he asked the tour guide how the Light in the Tower flashed it cut to Tom Laverty in the basement turning the power on and off. Sorry I don't have a picture of that.

I do have pictures of the South Tower, the North Tower and the First Order Clamshell Lens, though.










The Sun did not cooperate for most of the day- until we had started back home and then it came out and stayed out. Overall it wasn't too bad yesterday and today for this year's Challenge.

I didn't get too many figures but they had almost 2500 people yesterday (Saturday) at Navesink. Of course they usually have the hightest numbers every year as many people show up there not even knowing about the Challenge.


This completed our Mini NJ Lighthouse Challenge as I'm trying to be a good boy and listen to my doctors.

I wish I could have more fully participated and run into more Forum members- maybe next year.

I'm sure others will put some photos and stories from the other Lighthouses later tonight or tomorrow.


Dennis

Great photos, Dennis! Thanks for sharing them with us. Seems like the weather may not have cooperated, but you sure sound like it was a very pleasant day. Lighthousing is pleasant, no matter what the weather. Nice to hear that your getting out to the lights again.

Bert

I meant to mention this in my original post- I picked up a large supply of the latest version of the NJ Lighthouse Guide published by the State of NJ.

It's even more detailed than the previous version. I'll send out a copy to anyone who wants one. Just send along your mailing address to me at wheland@optonline.net.

Dennis

Great report, Dennis! Thank you for taking the time to write it and share the photos.

The best reports at the CF are the ones with photos and a story about what's going on with lighthouses around the nation.

Bob

Great report, Dennis. Glad to see you are 'out-and-about' these days after your health issues.

And wasn't it great you and Greg were both wearing those cool WACKO badges!!!

Dennis glad to see you getting back in shape for lighthousing in NJ.

I worked at East Point both days. The NJLHS people estimate was 1505 picked up their card for East Point. Of those we had 800+ climb the tower. Last year I belive the NJLHS total was 900 so you can see we had significant increase this year.

I do know that the NJLHS staff had 400 of the plastic boxes to hold cards and they were gone about 1:00 pm on Sat.

I had my wacko badge on but did not meet any other wacko that I know of.

All in all a very busy weekend.

Hank

Thanks for posting pics and the story of your lighthouse adventure. It is good to see you are out and about again.
Ruthie

Great photos!!! It was great to meet you, the first member of this forum I have. And I hope you got those NJ LH Guides from the big box next to the door at Sea Girt, because we were trying to get rid of 'em!!! :rolleyes:

It was especially interesting volunteering this year, my first time. The first day, I worked at the volunteer table on the porch, but on Sunday, Conrad (Who was in charge) needed help giving tours early in the day, as his volunteers were not there yet. So, I guided a few tours around the whole light, then, as other volunteers came and the crowds came, I moved up to the lantern room for a few hours. My lifelong dream, though if I have to say "The yellow building with the green roof is the Essex and Sussex Hotel in Spring Lake" one more time, I think I will go crazy. :rolleyes:

Yes I did get those NJ Lighthouse Guides at Sea Girt. The lady at the door wanted me to take the whole box!

You got the Baptism by fire on being a tour guide. giving tours on a challenge day is in itself a Challenge- I've done it at Sandy hook where we had 4-5 Tour Guides and gave a total of over 45 tours in one day. You start to go on autopilot and answer the questions before they finish asking them.

It was great to meet you also- even if I have met a few more forum members prior to you. sorry the photo is a bit fuzzy. I don't understand why- it looks great in the viewfinder of the camera.

Dennis

Gee, Seagirt, in the somewhat fuzzy photo that Dennis posted you look about 12. Are you really so young? They say the camera never lies......

Thanks for the pictures and report. Glad to see you were out and about if even for a bit Dennis.

Thanks, Shirin. You looked happy to be in NC in John's picture.

Are you going on the NJLHS Staten Island tour? I waited too long to send my money in, but I'm on the bus in April. They had enough people to fill 3 small buses and enought to fill one more that are pushed to the April tour.

Mombo- you're close. Greg "Sea Girt" is actually a bit older- he's 13. The future of Lighthouses is safe with people like him getting involved.

Dennis

Yes, Dennis, I'm Staten Island bound in November with the NJLHS. You know I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to see my favorite Staten Island light again. This time it will be nice to see the Prince's Bay light without having to climb the dirt hill!

Thanks for the pictures Dennis. I'm glad to see that you're able to get out and do a little lighthousing.

I hope each week gets a little better for you.

I'm doing OK. I'm hoping to be cleared to return to work when I see the Doctor on the 28th.

I'm slowly returning to normal- actually hopefully better than what normal used to be. I'm not quite up to john yet, but I did mange to lose over 20 pounds so far. hoping for 20 more by the time I'm done with rehab in January.

Dennis

Now that you've revealed all my secrets...

BTW....I was interviewed by Cablevision on Sat. for a 4-minute segment on the Challenge...when I find the scedule, I'll post it.

Dennis...thanks so much for the photos! Gave me a chance to share a little bit of the NJ Lighthouse Challenge this year even though I was at OBX.

Really glad to see you out & about!

Seagirt...how nice to place a face with your wonderful posts. Could you have been there last year? You look very familiar!

Judy

Judy-

Yes, I "Challenged" last year. Maybe we crossed paths, but I was not a member of any LH communities then...took me to 12/02 to discover this one...

Greg, it is really heartwarming to learn that we have another "young man" in our midst. When the forums were "young" Jakers was a member and I believe he was just about your age. He has since made lots of new friends from all over the country thanks to his continued participation. We all think the world of him and value his posts and his photos. Hope that more of us can get to meet you one of these days.

Hi Dennis,

Very nice photos and thanks for sharing them. Glad to hear that you're out and about.

Be Well, Dan

Dan,

Is there something in the water in Canton, MI that makes some people do stupid things- like going over Niagara Falls without a barrel?

Dennis

Looks like you don't really need a barrel if you've got a hard head.