| below to view a full-sized shot of us on some of our trips. | |
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August 11, 2007 - When you’re a lighthouse lover, you know you need to be prepared for anything when it comes to visiting them. Bad weather, errant plans, out of the way locales are just a few examples of the obstacles we face when pursuing our passion of visiting the lights. Most of us face these obstacles with a smile and just refuse to take no for an answer... |
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July 27, 2007 - Picture It…..Friday, July 27th, O-Dark-Hundred, about a dozen members already at the BWI Long Term Parking Lot A anxiously awaiting the arrival of their motor coach that will take them to the Lake Erie Region, the Chapter’s first lighthouse tour to this area. This trip, announced a year in advance, has been a long time coming. As 7:00 AM approaches the numbers increase and the “Barney Mobile” is pulling into the parking lot. Can it be? Yes, it’s Juan, our ever faithful bus driver at the wheel... |
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June 23, 2007 - They came from the North; as far as Maine, and from the South, all the way from Florida, and also the Midwest; Ohio and Illinois, and Helios (Greek god of the sun) shone upon us. We could not have asked for any more perfect weather for our first lighthouse adventures in 2007; temperatures in the low 80's, with relatively low humidity... |
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August 25, 2006 - For the first time, the Chapter held a “triple play” of cruises of the lower Bay. What started as a one day only trip morphed into a full weekend of cruises due to the overwhelming response. We took the Jennifer-Ann out of Solomon’s and proceeded to cruise the bay enjoying fine weather, fine food, good times and good company... |
| Photo not available | On Sunday, July 23, 2006, fifty-six people gathered in Lewes, Delaware and boarded the Thelma Dale IV with Captain Dale at the helm and his first mate Tug (a chocolate Labrador retriever) inspecting the boat. Many of us were amazed to watch Tug going up and down the steps. On this particular Chapter trip, we had some old faces and many new ones, as well as lighthouse enthusiast bringing along their families so that they could share with them their love of lighthouses. It was typical lighthouse weather, overcast and dreary and wet, but everybody was looking forward to spending a day on the water... |
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A Our trip to Maine got off to a good start on Saturday, June 24th, thanks to the ‘on-time-man-ship’ of all involved and the help of the Liebrecht sisters. After a second pick-up at Audobon Park, NJ and in spite of the usual traffic headaches, we still managed to reach the Holiday Inn Express in Saco, Maine in time for dinner and some much needed ‘sack’ time, especially for those who left from BWI Airport... |
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A cruise on the Chesapeake Bay in May? Was this a good decision? As Robert and I headed across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge recently and we looked at the haze over the bay, the answer is definitely, YES. We could not have asked for a better day to cruise on the Bay, and view and photograph lighthouses. Twenty-eight lighthouse enthusiasts met at the Deep Creek Restaurant and Marina... |
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As my husband Robert and I were driving to Southport, NC Thursday evening, April 27th in the rain, my mind was focused on the weather forecast that this system was going to move out during the night and we were to have dry days and sun for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I was praying that the weatherman was right for a change. AND, he was, except for the wind, as I will digress later. |
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On Saturday, August 20, 36 Chapter members and guests boarded the fishing boat Brooks Hooks from the docks at Harrison's Country Inn and Sport Fishing Center, on Tilghman Island for an up close and, as it turned out, speedy visit to five water-based lighthouses on the (upper) middle portion of the Chesapeake Bay. After loading the boat with box lunches, several coolers filled with soda and water, many door prizes, a couple of Harbour Lights and a sample of the Chapter's store, we were underway at 9 AM. |
| Photo not available | July 16th was a typical July day in the Hampton Roads area, hot, hazy and humid. Twenty-three eager participants (our lighthouse lovers are always early; real, real early) were anxiously waiting for the bus to arrive in the Greenbrier area of Chesapeake, Virginia. Once aboard, we were off, almost on time (the bus was a few minutes late), to our first destination, the National Aids to Navigation Museum at the USCG Training Center in Yorktown, Virginia. |
| Photo not available | There’s something about lighthouse enthusiasts–nothing can daunt their love of lighthouses! We had to get up early and meet at the Christiana Mall parking lot and car pool since we did not have enough participants to charter the bus we expected to use. We were met with terrible wind that day but the sun kept creeping through and gave us hope that it would get warmer. |
| Photo not available | May 10, 2003 was the date of our first trip of the season - The Craighills. The weather proved to be very "iffy" as everyone boarded in good spirits. Due to the extreme fog and pending severe afternoon thunderstorms Captain Wallace Thomas decided to speed up and get to Sandy Point Lighthouse first and then make our way back to Baltimore via the Craighill Range Lights. Along the way a super commentary was provided for us by our special guest, Mr. Walt Mathers, the great grandson of the last keeper of one of the Craighill lights! |
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We embarked around 9 am, and our first stop was the Bloody Point Bar lighthouse. After circling for photos, we headed to Thomas Point Shoal, Sandy Point Shoal, and Baltimore Lights. We then headed across the Bay to Tolchester Beach for lunch. After lunch, we went north to Pooles Island; we circled the island, and then crossed the Bay again to view the four Craighill Channel Lights. After these lights we headed south to Sharps Island, our final lighthouse. |
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Members were given the option of not going on the cruise, but everyone decided to brave the rough seas. Coast Guardsman Steve Allenbach decided to ride along as well, and we were glad to have him aboard. |
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The Chesapeake Chapter US Lighthouse Society trip to visit and photograph Long Island Lighthouses took place from October 8-11, 1999. It was an exciting, fun filled 4 days for the 54 participants as we photographed 15 lighthouses and enjoyed the opportunity to get to know some of our fellow Chapter members a little better. |
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On October 30, 1998, The Chapter was privileged to be able to tour the Cape Charles lighthouse on Smith Island at the southern tip of Virginia's Eastern Shore. |
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The Piney Point Lighthouse was built in 1836 by John Donohoo. The tower is 35 feet tall, much the same as Concord Point and Cove Point. It stands about 14 miles up river from the Point Lookout light on the Potomac. We all enjoyed this trip very much ! Thanks Ruth ! |
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A very calm and foggy cruise to Chesapeake Light Tower, 18 miles out in the Atlantic off Virginia Beach. |
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This lighthouse was constructed in 1883 at Drum Point, MD, about 2.1 miles east of it’s present position. It was moved to the Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons, Maryland in March of 1975. Many of the Chapter Members had the opportunity to stay a night in the lighthouse in April, 1998 |
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A sunny day cruising by Hooper Island caisson lighthouse. |
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Is that photograph crooked? No...it's the lighthouse: Sharps Island lighthouse, which we cruised by on a skipjack in July 1997. |
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Perhaps the most photographed lighthouse in The Chesapeake Bay, The Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse is the last screwpile structure left on its original site in the bay. What a beautiful day it was ! |
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Captain Pete Brunk at the helm of his boat on our way back from docking at New Point Comfort lighthouse in June 1997. |
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Members on the deck of the "Rudy Thomas", passing by Thimble Shoals lighthouse. |
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Members stand in front of Ocracoke lighthouse, on North Carolina's Outer Banks in December 1995. |
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Members pose in front of Sea Girt lighthouse on our New Jersey tour in May 1997. |
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Members stand outside the lantern atop of Cape Hatteras lighthouse, December 1995. |
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Pete Brunk tells a sea story during a sunset cruise to Thomas Point lighthouse, reminiscing about our late President, Herb Entwistle. |
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Captain Farley educates youngster Amanda Irwin about dredging oysters during a skipjack cruise to Sharps Island lighthouse. |
| Watch for additional photos to be added soon... | |
| Learn more about these lighthouses.... Visit the Heritage Page for pictures, history, directions and maps ! | |
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