19 Days, 49 lighthouses, 2 lightships, 20 climbed, 1 Earthquake, Blue Angels, OH MY!

Another Pixie directed adventure in SoCal, and Washington!

I can't wait to hear this story and to see those pics, Bob!

Bob

Here's the preview teaser!

Day 1 - SF 430am 4.2 earthquake - sounded like 'horses running through my room'

3 Days lodging on the Queen Mary in Long Beach

Lunch with the youHoo ladies who live next to Skunk Bay lighthouse.

Venice Beach Experience - Panhandler for pot

Maryann's ice cream in Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz lighthouse a surfing museum

Big Sur Lodge - cabin in the forest

Blue Angels over Seattle

Hoodads with Bill - best hamburger ever!

You've had 7 minutes--where's the pics!!

Sandy

Don't Forget...

The James House

the special order pudding

and the Gustogirls

I HAVE to hear this one...sounds like another REAL adventure.

Especially intriguing are the Venice Beach, pudding and earthquake specimens.

BTW, how was Queen Mary? Did you have the rooms with the original wood paneling?

more more more PLEASE ... I am getting sooooooo curious !!!
It sounds GRREATTT

You've got my attention !!! Sorta

Wednesday, July 18 - the Adventure begins.
MaryAnn and I are picked up by the crew(Derith, Eric, Ken, and Jamie) at Oakland Airport, and head to our hotel, the Radison, in San Francisco. After checking in we head for our boat trip to Alcatraz but not before stopping for lunch at Houston's. After lunch, we cross the street for our cruise out to Alcatraz to meet a NPS Ranger for a private tour. The views in SF Harbor are great as is the approach to the Island. We're met at the dock by our guide who take us up the hill through nonvisitor stairways to the lighthouse. We go through gardens and are told all the facts about the people who worked and stayed here. The lighthouse was opened for us and we climbed to the very top and beyond. After our climb, we are given access to the restricted dungeons, and get to see the fortress from underneath. Pretty amazing!

Alcatraz LH


Alcatraz LH



On Top of the Top of LH


LH View of SF

Lucky lady ... no worries.

And all that access to Alcatraz is brilliant! WE are envious !!!! Can't wait for more of the story ... and some pictures!

Thursday July 19th
We get an early wake-up call from a 4.2 earthquake rumbling through our room like a heard of horses! MaryAnn sleeps through the event. A few other members of our crew are also unaware. Breakfast on the run this morning (but we find the California Cafe for some great omelots, and Erics's pancakes) as we are to meet the Coasties at Point Bonita at 8am. The two Coasties are on time and open the door through the tunnel out to Point Bonita. We head through the tunnel, then the cliff path to the wooden bridge. Across the bridge, were now at the light. They try the first door but it doesn't open but a second door unlocks and we're up the stairs to the tower. What a view!
Next stop is Point Reyes and we're worried about the Marine Layer (FOG) in the area. We arrive and it's sunny. We climb the hill and then prepare to go down the 310 steps to the lighthouse. Great views on the way down the concrete step path. Another great view, and a climb back up those 310 steps. As we reach the top, the marine layer swoops in and the lighthouse diappears below. As we get back to the parking lot we relay this information to a bus group who are about to become quite disappointed.
We double back the way we came and stop a 'Ben & Jerrys' for an ice cream lunch.

mmmmmmm 'Ben & Jerrys'

Bob, I really like the one of Alcatraz that you took below looking up over the rocks and flowers. Looking forward to more of this story.

Bob...I have to agree with Ruthie...I realy like the first shot of Alcatraz with the flowers.

Bob...I have to agree with Ruthie and Lorie too... the bright contrasr of the flowers and the sky really make it a gorgeous shot!

Aerial Photos

Cape Disappointment WA


Cape Disappointment WA



Destruction Island WA


Cape Flattery WA


New Dungeness WA


New Dungeness



Tillamook OR


North Head WA

OOOOOOOOOOOOooh they are great shots I want to fly. Jen took me on a 4 seater in Michigan. I was scared in the begining when the pilot said "have to take the plane back to have the plane looked at" as he started to go something kicked in and he said here we go. It took a while but I relaxed and now need to buy a boat and a plane. Keep pposting those great pictures.

I'm drooling and I'm not old enough to be doing that!!

Can you plug in some IDs? How long was the plane flight? DETAILS, dammit. . . .DETAILS please!!

Sandy

Great pics !!!

More detail please!!! You have my attension !!!

Be careful, Bob...it seems like you'll have a mob of fiery torch-carrying Wackos at your door if you don't divulge more soon.

On another note, I love the little patch of grass in the middle of nowhere that New Dungeness sits upon.

I'm off to Montauk for a week. You'll have to be patient. The first plane trip was 45 minutes. Our second was 2 hours. I didn't id them so you could have some fun.
Bob


Blue Angels Over Seattle WA

Great photos and story. Looking forward to more, much more.

So, we have aerial shots of:

Cape Disappointment
Destruction Island
Cape Flattery
New Dungeness

And we have ground shots of:
Alcatraz
Blue Angels

So, what's the prize for identifying the most?

Sandy

P.S. I don't drink.

Thursday - July 19th

Point Bonita CA


Point Reyes CA



Yerba Buena CA


Lightship Relief CA


Oakland Harbor CA



East Brother CA

WOW!!!

Sandy

Great pics Bob !!!

Don't see many of East Brother.

Great shot of Point Bonita !!!

Bob, I like all your pictures but my favorite is Yerba Buena with bridge in the background.

Love the pictures and can't wait for more!
Thanks for sharing this great trip with us!

How in the world did you get to see Yerba I tried to find it 2x and could not find it.

Fran, don't you know that "The Pixie" (Derith) has connections...she can get you into just about any place. Must be her "Pixie Dust."

Friday - July 20th

Point Montaro CA


Pigeon Point CA



Santa Cruz CA


Walton Beach CA


Point Pinos CA

One word describes your pics, Bob, FABULOUS!

I especially love those aerial views.

Bob

What an awesome trip! Photos are most excellent!!!!

I am soooooo green with envy!! Your pics are just breathtaking.

Sandy

Oh!!!!!!! I would love to be considered Pixie Dust. That looked like a very special trip. Maybe next time.

Saturday - July 21th

Point Sur CA


Pierdra Blancas CA

Sunday - July 22nd

San Luis Obispo CA


Port Hueneme CA



Queen Mary, Long Beach CA

Monday - July 23rd

Old Point Loma CA


New Point Loma CA

WoW ... brilliant ... fabulous ... these pictures are fantastic Bob! Looks like you had a great time!
Thanks for "taking us along"

Great Trip. Loved your pictures.

More great pics, Bob !!!

Each one is better then the last.

Great pics Bob. What a fantastic trip you had. Way to go!!!!!

Wow! 19 days and 49 lighthouses. That's quite a trip. I've seen a few of those lighthouses, but many are new to me.

Who did you fly with to see the Destruction Island lighthouse? I would love to see that light.

Tammy, we flew with "Rite Brothers Aviation" located at Port Angeles. Their website...
http://www.ritebros.com/

We flew southwest from Port Angeles over Crescent Lake and down the south valley toward the coast to visit Destruction, then up the coast to Tatoosh Island. We then flew east along the Straits past Port Angeles, to our last fly over at New Dungeness. Then back to the airport. Maybe Bob can remember how long we were out, I always loose track of time when I'm flying as I am to busy looking out the windows at all the scenery. Not hard to do on the first part of this flight down the valley and toward the coast. We were actually below the top of the mountains for the first leg of the flight.

Tuesday/Wednesday - July 24rd & 25th

Point Fermin CA from the water


Los Angeles Harbor/ Angel's Gate CA


Point Vincente CA Under the "Big W"

This completes the Southern California part of the trip. I'll add the narrative next week before going on to Washington part.
Bob

Each picture is just beautiful! What a fantastic adventure!!! Looking forward to more...looks like the weather is cooperating with you also.

Once again, great pictures and thanks for sharing them. Out of curiosity, how many, if any, of the above pics did you take with your Lumix TZ3?

I've been expirimenting with mine and have had great results so far. The battery seems to last forever. I'm extremely pleased with it so far!

Bob

Bob, none of these were with the LumixTZ3. I did take some in Seattle where I didn't want to carry my camera bag, so I'll post them later. I wanted high quality on the LH photos so I went with my heavy duty lenses which I think paid off. If I have time in the future I'll try some side by sides which should be interesting.

Tammy, the flights were with experienced photo pilots which was Great! I've been with others. :rolleyes: The flight Eric described was 2 hours, the other one was 45 minutes.

Bob

Loved all the pictures good story.

Boy! Have you ever raised the bar for the rest of us!! Super trip. Marvelous photography. What an adventure!! Thanks for sharing.

Sandy

Great pictures and commentary! Some of us from the TBHLCC did the West Coast with the Pixie (Derith)
a few years ago.
This brought back many pleasant memories.

Great pictures. When are you coming to Florida?

I'd heard about Pixie's great adventures; these pictures prove how fantastic her trips are. That's one trip I'd love to take!!

Now THAT'S a lighthousing trip. I am jealous. Fantastic.

Bob, I just noticed you never posted most of the Washington state lights we visited.

Working on it EricLH!

Working on it Eric S?

LOL

Well I finally made it, in March of 2010.

Bringing to the top for Rick!