posted 06-02-2001 08:10 PM            

We decided to combine the two interests. The coney Island Lighthouse was an obvious choice as it was on the way and it's just now being released. I added Fire Island to the list since I missed getting out there for the LI Chapter's Meeting. I added Stepping Stones to round out the list as it was not too far from Westbury.

We did not get as early a start as I thought we would. We had no trouble getting to Coney Island. I modified Bob's great directions to come from the NJ area. I flashed my Lighthouse museum card and namedropped and the gate went up and we were on our way.

Drove on down to the Lighthouse and took a good look at it and got some nice pictures. I did not see any sign of anyone at home, but there were plenty of the neighbors about. I opted to not open the gate and go in as i was not sure if anyone would call the Police on me. they patroll the area regularly.

It's a gated community. One of the most unusual one's I've seen. It's full of mostly ordinary houses, at least the part i was in. the vast majority were in very good shape, but some were in disrepair. I think it's in a transition phase.

The Lighthouse has seen better days. It needs a paint job, but other than that it looks in great shape. you can see the Red lens inside the Lantern room, but there is a Red Aerobeacon outside also.

We left there and started on our way to Fire Island. The traffic was horrendous. I was forcd to skip it and go on my way to Westbury.

I decided on the way that I'd still try for the Stepping Stones Lighthouse. It's out in the Long Island Sound just off the Northern side of the Throgg's Neck Bridge at the western end of Long Island in Nassau Co (King's Point/ Great Neck area).

We got off I495 at Exit 33 took Lakeville Rd towards Lake success, NY. At Rt 25 the road changes names to South Middle Neck than Middle Neck Rd. you wend your way thru Great Neck and out to the Kings Point area. You turn left on Steamboat Rd and continue for about 2 miles to King's Point Rd. Turn Right. Go a short way and turn left on Sunset Rd. Here you have two options- 1. If you happen to live in Nassau Co and have your county Park Card you can go into Stepping Stones Park and park your car and walk down to the Marina where I believe you can get the best view of the Lighthouse.

I say believe, because as I'm not a resident of Nassau co and the "Guard" at the booth said "Lighthouse, what Lighthouse?" the Lightouse Society membership trick would not work.
Option 2 is to continue down sunset Rd and as it turns to the left slow down and look between the houses and trees along the way. you will get a view of the Lighthouse. It's reminiscent of Rose Island, RI but smaller.

I did mange to get a couiple of distant shots from the road here. I also got someone to shut their curtains- I guess they thought I was taking a picture of their living room.

I was very tempted to go on private property, but I resisted. You don't get a very good view of the Lighthouse. I'd say winter is a better time to view it- less trees in the way.

There is also one other place i found to get a dramatic, if long distance view of the lighthouse. If you stay on King's Point Rd past Sunset for about 4 more streets you'll come to Lighthouse Rd. You get very nice view of the Stepping Stones Lighthouse going down the hill on Lighthouse Rd. the road ends in a circle so it's easy to get back out.

The houses around here are more the type you would expect to find in a gated community, but it is not, although there are quite a few individual houses with gates on their driveway entrances. Very nice area.

Not a bad day. 2 out of 3 ain't bad. I was hoping for all 3 and also for a little closer view of Stepping Stones, but i've been further away from some others in the past.

Next trip i'm going to try for Sand's Point, Cold spring Harbor and maybe Fire Island again. That won't be soon, as I've decide I don't like driving around on Long Island.

The toipper of the day was after the concert I decided to take I-495 to I-278 to Staten island to NJ. The rain was coming down in buckets and the traffic was still crazy and the LIE is under major reconstruction. We missed the turnoff and ended up going thru the Queens midtown and Lincoln Tunnels.

It was an adventure.

posted 06-02-2001 09:59 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by wheland:
The rain was coming down in buckets and the traffic was still crazy and the LIE is under major reconstruction. We missed the turnoff and ended up going thru the Queens midtown and Lincoln Tunnels.

---

Guess they need some kind of a light to mark the exit?!?

Thanks for sharing your mini-adventure with us. Hope you also enjoyed the concerts. And, yes I do remember both Poco and America.

Dave

posted 06-03-2001 12:16 AM            

Your knowing who Poco is tell's me your no spring chicken anymore. Then again there are lot's of people my age who say "Poco? What's a Poco?" when I mention them.

That's the only other list I participate in on the Web. The good Feeling To Know site has good people on it- just like those on this site. I won't go on a site where people can't express their ideas and opinions without being berated or "flamed " for it.

I've been a Poconut much longer than I've been a Wacko.

I do wish there had been a Light to follow.

I did enjoy Poco, but I left after meeting up with some list mates between the shows. I had to go to work this morning (Sat 6-2).

posted 06-03-2001 12:18 AM            

When I got back to the car I told my wife about it and told her to keep an eye out for the Cop's . I thought maybe the people thought I was a pervert or some type of criminal.

I stayed on public property at all times, but this area was like a gated community without the gates. I think the cheap digs were about $750,000. Nice houses, very nice houses.

posted 06-03-2001 10:54 AM            

The most galling part is that I should have known about the construction. I'm the one people call to find out about that kind of thing.

I'm working as a Travel Counselor at AAA. I never did get around to checking out the construction on my route. I did not originally intend to use the LIE. I routed myself on the Northern but decided when I left the Westbury Music Fair to take I-495.

The computer program at work and on Mapquest routes you the way I actually ended up going. It's a mindless program that takes the shortest way using major highways. I had no intention of going that way. I could see the exit , but I was in the left lane and had no safe way to get over in time. I had a couple of exits before the tunnel, but with the weather I did not want to be roaming around trying to find my way back on the LIE in the other direction. It was just another part of the fun driving experience of the day. I gave myself almost 8 hours to go to 3 Lighthouses and get dinner before the show. I barely made it to 2 and dinner before the show. I guess I should have given myself 10 hours.

I plan on going back to LI, but not right away and not on a Friday afternoon.

Dennis

posted 06-03-2001 09:17 PM            

I'm not sure how well they are going to come out. I don't have a great zoom on my camera and the distance was fairly great.

I'm sure they won't rival the ones that I've seen on your site. I probably got some nice shots of Coney Island, though.

I'll try and find something to take a picture of soon. I'll be at Sandy Hook this coming Sunday. So anybody who wants to be greeted by my wife, Esther, and given a tour of Sandy Hook by mne come on out this coming Sunday (6-10).

My deepest sympathies to you and anyone else that has to deal with those LI roads every day. I'd go crazy.

Dennis

Dennis

posted 06-04-2001 11:02 AM            

Nice house you have there. Apparently your daughter knows nothing about it.

As to Poco? they are a musical group that has been around since 1969. It was formed by two members of the Buffalo Springfield- Richie Furay and Jim Messina joined by Rusty Young, Randy Meisner and George Grantham.

I've been a Poconut (sort of like a Harbour Lights Wacko) since 1970. Seen them in concert about 20 times over the years. Country Rock best describes their sound. In fact Randy Meisner left and joined the Eagles and was replaced by Timothy b Schmit who later replaced Randy Meisner in the Eagles. I sense a pattern here.

I have decided that definitely a Friday afternoon is not the time to drive East on Long Island unless you have plenty of time. I left home at 12:30 for an 8 PM show and was almost late for it

Had a good time though. As you said 2 out of 3 ain't bad. I've had worse results in Lighthousing.

posted 06-04-2001 04:46 PM            

I knew that , but I figured I'd be ahead of it at 1-2 PM. I had to do it that day as that was when the show was.

I actually intended to leave earlier, but my wife had to go into work for part of the day.

I went to the area I did because my computer program Street Atlas showed them to be the furthest out towards the light.

Thw museum is listed on the map, but not the College. The museum is not on the shoreline, at least not on the map.

I'm looking into your daughter's suggestion about the 1 By Land 3 By Sea Tour.

Some of Poco's songs- Call It Love, Heart Of The Night, Legend, Good Feeling To Know, C'Mon. I'm not surprised you don't know the name. I'm sure you listened to some of their songs way back in the olden days.

They never quite percolated to the top of the heap. Jim Messina got the most attention after he left to join Kenny Loggins.

I'm a music nut like alot of us are lighthouse nuts.

posted 06-04-2001 11:24 PM            

Seriously, though, thanks for the tip. I also contacted the Lighthouse Safari's and am contemplsting my next foray into the wilds of Long Island.

I mentioned this to my wife and she laughed because I said more than once on Friday that I was not returning to Long Island for a Long, long time.

posted 06-05-2001 07:16 PM            

She pointed out that trying to come back home on a sunday would probably be worse than going out on a Friday (if that's possible).

I'll probably go on a dinner cruise on Sep 17. It's a Monday I'm off and I might even take a Vacation Day on that tuesday and try and get to Cold Spring Harbor and Fire Island. I'll have all day.