Nantucket Island May 6-8

I know that I'll be there with Esther and Bert says he's going.

Anybody else going to be there with their Wacko Badge on? I'd guess that Ron Foster and shirin Pagels will be there .

Dennis

And I'm bringing Sharon. Looking forward to the trip. I think Paul and Sue are coming also.

Bert

MaryAnn and I will be there! I hope the sun attends?
Bob

Bob,

I guess We get to see you two weekends in arow then- assumming you are going to be at the LI Lighthouse challenge functions.

Dennis

I'll be at LI Challenge (Dinner which I'm running on Friday, and Cedar Island Saturday and Sunday with Bill) but don't jinx yourself, Dennis, you know your track record with LI. LOL
Bob

Bob,

I was pretty sure you were going to be at the dinner since you seemed to be in charge.

I'm be at Cedar Island sometime on Sunday.We'll be getting an early start on Saturday from the Marriott. I haven't planned my complete plan of attack yet. Esther wants to get home fairly early on sunday as she has to pack her Avon order to deliver on monday.

I'm trying to ignore the NELL Curse and the Long Island Jinx.

Dennis

Any news from brave NELL members on how you made out this weekend on Nantucket with the major storms? I just checked the ferries this morning, and they're still not running.
Bob

Bob,

Esther and I chickened out. We went to Providence and then visited with her brother, Michael in the New London area.

We did stop at Avery Point on our way to Providence on Friday.

I'm glad we didn't go now- Esther was most concerned about getting stranded on Nantucket Sunday morning.

Dennis

Sharon and I went. We made it out OK as we went out on Thursday (Our Anniversary). The day was beautiful. Managed to get a few pictures from the fast ferry.

Point Gammon


This is one that can only be had by boat as no one is allowed out to the point. THey have a guard at the gate.

Great Point


Lng distance from the ferry.

And finally Brant Point as we pulled into the ferry terminal.



Bert

Friday was still a fairly nice day. We rented a car and toured the Island. It was somewaht overcast but still decent.

Brant Point on Friday.



Sankaty - Friday


The Old Range Lights. These have been moved about 1/2 mile and are on private property.



This is the 1856 Brant Point Light at the Coast Guard Station on Saturday.

I know Thursday/ Friday were a good days Bert but how was the rest of the weekend? They were reporting 60 mph winds and 2 inches of rain? You came home Sunday?
Bob

ps Happy Anniversary to Bert & Sharon, and thanks for you photos.

Ooops, you're still posting!

Saturday went downhill very fast. We got up to screeching winds and rain coming down in buckets.

Brant Point - Saturday from the bus.



We did make it out to Sankaty and the Life Saving Museum on Saturday. The Fresnel Lens from the 1857 Great Point LIght is displaated out front.



The roof of the lantern room is the original but the glass enclosure is a reproduction.

After we left Sankaty we stopped at a spot a 1/4 mile from the light where we could observe the ocean and surf. Just below the bluff we stood on there was a wreck that we were told occured on Wednesday. The boat was really taking a beating from the surf. BY Saturday the cabin was completely gone.

The HANNA SARAH



All and all it was a great trip. We didn't get off the Island until Monday. The ferry was so iffy that we decided to fly out. Tom Pregman (VP for NELL) explained it this way, " WE don't do trips, we do Adventures." How right he was.

Bert

That's it for pictures Bob. I have loads more. We didn't get out to Great Point, which was a great disappointment for us. A few very made it part ways out on Sunday morning but were unable to make it all the way due to the waves crashing over the trail to the light. As we prepared to leave Monday, a few more were going to try to make it. I hope they were able to get some pictures and will post them. I opted to wait for a nice warm summer day, when it's sunny and a lot safer.

Bert.

Thanks for taking us along, Bert. Glad you did get to see most of what you were scheduled to. I don't remember seeing a picture of Point Gammon before - kind of an interesting looking light.

I also really like the lens display they have made - looks very well done.

Hey Bert, great pics! You certainly did have quite an adventure!

I've been to Great Point four times. One time I took my dingy out there from the Harbor and that was quite a ride. The other times we went via 4-wheel drive. The trail or road over the sand can be challenging in places. With the wind and surf you describe on Sunday, I would say it would have been next to impossible to get out there. I would think the Rangers would have closed the road for safety purposes.

The last time I was there we made it all the way out but the wind was blowing so hard it turned out to be a brutal sand storm. It was just too uncomfortable to be outside the vehicle.

Nantucket's weather is not always the best, but they don't advertise that point. First of all, they call Nantucket "The Gray Lady" because of the amount of fog they encounter. If you have a vehicle there you can often avoid the fog by driving to another part of the island. Then whenever the east or northeast winds come calling, they really get pounded.

Where did you stay and dine while you were on the island?

Bob

We stayed at the Nantucket Inn which is right across from the airport. We did most of our eating, apart from what we had at the Inn, at AK Diamonds. THe food was excellent and the price was what most dining on Nantucket would have cost. Service at the Inn and the restaurant was excellent.

BobM, sure would like to see some of the pictures you took at Great Point.

Bert

I don't believe I've seen a photo of the 'range lights' before. Anybody have more information on that/those?

Looks like when they moved them, they didn't orient them correctly. The two 'windows' should be aligned over one another, shouldn't they?

John, Here is a little information that I got from "NEW ENGLAND LIGHTHOUSES - A VIRTUAL GUIDE."

The alignment is definitely out of wack. I didn't want to get closer as they are on private property.



You can see the present Rear Range light in the picture of the 1856 Light. It is in the background of the picture. The Front Range light is just 30 feet to the left of the telephone pole that is at the right side of the same picture.

Bert

Here is a picture of the 1856 Brant Point Light and the Front Range Light on the left of the picture.



Bert

Which lights are these? There are two - one lower on the left and one taller on the right. I figured these were the front (left) and rear (right) which should have their 'windows' aligned over one another.



The other wooden pyramid light with the enclosed circular stairs inside the 'pipe' near Old Brant Point is also new to me.

You mean the telephone pole that is at the LEFT side of the same picture, I presume. And so what would be "The Front Range light"? One of the two in the picture above? or the pyramidal wooden tower?

You're right John. Can't tell my right from my left. The two lights in the picture you posted are the Old Range Lights (CLIFF RANGE BEACONS) that were in service from 1838 to 1912 and were moved from their original site to the place in the picture. One on each side of the house and definitely not aligned in any way.

The Front Range Light (PRESENT) is the wooden pyramid style to the right of the 1856 tower in the last picture I posted.

The rear Range Light (PRESENT) is the one behind the 1856 BRANT POINT LIGHT in the second to last picture posted. Again this one is wooden pyramid style.

I think I have it all right this time.

Bert

I was able to locate an 1893 map of Nantucket which shows the previous location of the Cliff Beacons along with the location of the Brant Point Light.



The present location of these lights as seen in the picture is right about where the "g" is in "Washing Pond."

I hope this helps.

Here's another picture of the FRONT RANGE LIGHT at BRANT POINT, NANTUCKET.



The light is right up against the fence on a very narrow street.

Bert

Bert, I'll be nice and I won't ask if you picked up that map when it was new, in your younger days.

Sure, David, take it easy on Bert but let me have it anytime! :p

Great pictures Bert, thanks. Sorry you guys had such lousy weather. I can just imagine how it was after being with that crew in January! Especially the ones who tried to make it out to Great Point - kind of like trying to climb that church tower in Beverly!