I've been collecting seashells for as long as I can remember. From east to west, coast to coast, and shore to shore, I always find a treasure to keep, and adore.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Seashore Sunday

Let's travel out west again, this time to my favorite Lighthouse so far.
North Head Lighthouse, in Ilwaco, Washington was my 1st Lighthouse!

I fell in love with lighthouses on my first visit here, in 1999. The construction of this maritime marvel was built in 1896, and was lit for the first time in 1898.

There are only 69 steps to reach the top of the tower, but unfortunately, the tower was closed to tours earlier this year. It was only $1 per person! I had to go up every time we went! I have some incredible views from the top of this lighthouse, but also unfortunately, can't locate them at this time. I was so sad when I heard you couldn't go inside anymore.... but you can still rent the lightkeepers cottage for an overnight stay!

 This is the view looking over the edge of the cliff. The waves crash, surge, and spray up over these rocks making an incredible scene below. Don't bend over too far!
On the other side, this is what you see! Cape Disappointment is just around those trees, and I have a perfect shot of it....in my huge waterproof picture box....
The lighthouse sits 130 feet above the Pacific Ocean below.

This is one of the windiest places in the United States, with winds clocked up to 150 mph! They say maybe it was the howling winds that drove one keepers wife "over the edge". She committed suicide in 1923...by jumping from the cliffs, to the rocky and cold Pacific below.

Since Cape Disappointment Lighthouse is only 2 miles away, North Head needed a distinctive light to tell the two apart. The North Head light is a steady white light, and Cape Disappointment is a red and white flashing light. 

All along the Pacific you will find fishing ports.
This is the Ilwaco marina.

We also passed by several packing houses, and I would have loved to have gotten into these oyster shell piles!
Just a couple of bucket fulls would make me as happy as a clam! Oh, the things I could make with these! I do have a few that we found on the beach. Some are in my wreath, some around my pond, and a couple on the fish net. My favorite ways to eat oysters are steamed, Rockefeller, and of course...RAW!

A trip to a lighthouse just wouldn't be the same without some good local seafood!

Have a Stupendous Seashore Sunday!
May your shores never be too distant...

Love,
Del

10 comments:

Rachel said...

Thank you so much for sharing such amazing photos. Lighthouses are my favorite things, I love seeing new ones. And that is a really neat story about the keeper's wife, it's fun to hear old stories like that! I hope you rent out the room some time, that would be so cool!

-rachel w k
rwkrafts.blogspot.com

My Life Under the Bus said...

This looks amazing I am so sad we didn't get to the ocean this summer but such is life. All that howling wind and desolation might make me a bit crazy too!

Tootie said...

What beautiful views. :) I love lighthouses.

I also think your necklace, the scallop with the lavender pearls is very pretty!

Hope you are having a nice holiday weekend.

Sheryl Hastings said...

What beautiful pictures. Too bad you can't go up anymore. What a great view it would be. I hope you find the pics someday.

From your fellow lighthouse addict...

Linda E. Pruitt said...

Thanks for the tour. We recently went to Uquina Head Lighthouse near Newport Oregon. Great trip!

Kaybe said...

I love oysters too. I used to work in a raw bar as a shucker (way back in the day) I had saved some really big oyster shells to use in crafts. There is nothing I like better than getting a bushel. I like throwing them on the grill till they just pop open & dip them in a little garlic butter. Yummy!

Cheryl K said...

Oh, I wish I could get into that pile of oyster shells, too!

Kim@Snug Harbor said...

I've never been up inside a light house but I'd sure love to do that some day. Especially the one on Sanibel Island. As for oysters - no thank you - that's the one kind of seafood that I do not care for.

Melissa at bubbyandbean.com said...

That lighthouse is SO beautiful! I haven't been to the ocean at all this year (except for Mexico in January), and it's my favorite place. Thanks for sharing. :)

xo,
melissa

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Another beautiful lighthouse! I wish we were traveling this Fall! I would love to visit that part of the country! Enjoy your week! We're watching this next storm before we decide when to come back down! ♥

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