Any of you from the Bay region has probably at one time or another has run across Mike Richard's lighthouse cruise tours from Tilgman Island, MD. Here's the latest pics in order.

I apologize ahead of time, I'm not sure what your limits are on here for how many picture I can post per thread so I'm just going to do one picture per post as not to get flamed. (My photo board limits me to two images per post, and another board it's three!!!)

The first light we hit was Bloody Point Bar, which is slightly off kilter by 2 degrees from an ice flow. The water was pretty calm from the island to our first light.

We had a half hour to kill while we steamed up to Annapolis to hit Thomas Point Shoal, which is the only screw pile light to still be standing in the bay. It looked pretty rough since last I saw her, but luckily the Chesapeake Chapter of the USLHS (I'm a member of) has her.

A few moments later we arrived at Sandy Point Shoal, a caisson light near the Bay Bridge. I feared the DNR Marine Police busting me for taking a picture of the bridge so I didn't. Waters still calm.

The next light up, Baltimore Harbor Light is painted in reverse of Sandy Point. It took was looking rather shabby as well. I'd hate to have lived in that kind a light in winter.

Craghill Range Light, Lower Rear. I hate these lights, because I can't remember which in which for the life of me if it wasn't for my lighthouse book in front of me at the moment.

EDIT: There use to be a house built in to the base of this light but it was removed by USCG when it was automated.

Next Craghill Range Light we hit was the Upper Front Light. Such a strange looking light. I can't see anyone having lived in it.

Craghill Upper Rear Range Light. Another odd looking light.

The last Craghill Light, Lower Front which looks more like a typical Bay light.

Next we went to Poole's Island, but couldn't get too close to it because of the unexploded ordinance.

Last stop, Sharp's Island Light, damaged by ice in the 70's this light is off kilter by 15 degrees. Rather than upright the light, USCG just reangled the light by 15 degrees so it was even.

Well, that's it, that's the trip.

Some of these pix may be down for a few minutes. I am going to resize them all and repost to Photobucket. I forgot when I upped them that each image was around 200kb and are quite large, causing a slow load time, so I will resize to help your load times and to cut back my bandwidth so these things don't go all red X on me in a day!

Aaron,

Here's my first reply as the Cruise Director of this Forum- gnerally to keep the load time down for those with dial up the amount of pictures allowed in a post is 8.

Usually most people keep it between 5-7 to be on the safe side.

Here's the link with the info on uploading your pictures to the Forums if you chose to do that-

http://www.lighthousekeepers.com/forums/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=8;t=000275


Nice photos. I wish I had been able to do the whole trip instead of just the 3 Lighthouses I saw. Do you have any photos of Sharp's Island Light that show it with the water level and the Lighthouse tipped?

Dennis

Thanks for sharing, Too...

Looks like the Tide was heading 'downhill' while you were at Sharp's Island.

Aaron...that looks like a fun boat trip for the day. We saw some of those lights when we were in Baltimore for the last HL Reunion. I would like to see some of those we missed. Thanks for sharing your photos.

All new lights for me. Will have to make a point to take the trip when I visit my cousins in Gaithersburg area. Nice pix!

I know, I'm one of those on dial up. When I made the in ital posts, I forgot to resize, each image was about 200kb each, so I had to resize so each image was smaller in size. I wasn't sure what the post limit was but I wasn't that far over.

I have a few with the light sloped, but everyone has seen that angle, so I went for something different like changing the horizontal gravitation pull of the earth by 15 degrees

There's still the entire southern Bay I need to hit. If anyone knows of a good tour that hits those, I'd love to hear about them. Also need to hit two in Bmore, Lazzero Point and Fort Carrol, but I need a boat to get them. Anyone ever up in my neck of the woods let me know, I'm always up for a day out at the lights

Nice shots, Aaron...I'd love to do that trip one day. It looks like a good list multiplier. Like Sharp's Island especially...creative!

Are you going for the 40+3? If you've done this cruise + the challenge, and a few scattered lights in VA and DE, you're halfway there! The ones that'll kill you it seems are all the offshore ones.

Again, nice shots!

Anyone else want to lean when they scroll past the last picture of Sharps with the tower straight and the water at a serious angle?

Aaron, could you post some info on cap't mike for those who might want take that trip some day

Mark...on the bottom of page 17 in the August/September issue of Lighthouse Digest there is a faily large ad for going out in the Chesapeake with Capt. Mike Richards. For those that don't subscribe, you can call 800-690-5080 or go to www.chesapeakelights.com.

Captain Mike has phone numbers and email listed on this page, Mark..

Tilghman Island, Maryland

I have also been on this Chesepeake Bay cruise with Cap't Mike Richards. I give it two thumbs up. It's a great trip with a comfortable boat. He gives plenty of time to take pictures and from all angles. I definitly recommend it.
Great pics Aaron.

Ken

Thanks for posting the link. The trip I took was actually the third time I had made reservations, the first time it got canceled due to lack of participants, the second time thanks to Isabel. It really was a nice tour.

Tilghman Island's new web site looks great compared to the site a few months ago.

I really want to hit the southern lights next but need a boat for that. I had heard once that there was a tour operator out of Wenona, but have yet to find him. Then again if he's out on Wenona, he'd be lucky to have phone or power yet alone internet. :p

ok, ok, I get the picture, I'll reset the earth. :p Sharp's Island

Thanks, Aaron.

We like our lighthouses as they come as well as as we wish they were.

You know if there was a rope hanging from that post it would look like a GIANT fish was pulling the Lighthouse off kilter.

Dennis

This post brings back great memories for me. Years ago, I stayed at the B&B that Mike and his wife owned...seems like to me it was hit hard by a hurricane in the last few year..and he took me on what was perhaps the maiden voyage of this trip. Seeing his ads in the Digest made me hope that others were enjoying his jaunts to the Chesapeake Lights. Thanks for the memories.
Derith

Great pictures Aaron! Thanks for sharing lights from the Bay area. Some day, I would like to get down there and make that trip out to see those lights.

Bert

Thanks, Aaron.

Is the light inside crooked at a counterangle from the lighthouse? You said they "reangled the light"...is that what you meant? Looked interesting.

That's exactly what was done.

Aaron, thanks for sharing your images of these lights. I hope to get close to them someday.

Ron
(CT Keeper)

Once I hit the southern Bay lights next year, I want to really see the lights up in LI, and Maine. Papa needs his lobster roll fix

Aaron - great pics thanks for sharing. Be sure to let us know when you'll be up this way to see the LI and Maine lights!

shirin