2 July - Lighthouses and Lunch with Rob & Tammy Harban

2 July
Today we headed northbound to visit three lighthouses and have lunch with a friend and Air Guard comrade Rob Harban and his wife Tammy.

First stop, Cape Arago Lighthouse south of Coos Bay OR.  We traveled through Sunset Bay State Park and arrived at what we thought was going to be a good viewing site, but it was a private access, closed to the public.  Drat!

So we continued on to the State Park Campgrounds and talked with the park ranger who directed us to an overview area where we can see the Cape Arago Lighthouse from a distance.  OK, better than nothing!

Doreen standing in front of the lighthouse LOL!

 The Cape Arago Lighthouse sits 100 ft above the ocean off of Gregory Point.  It was first lit in 1934, replacing older structures built in 1866 and 1908, neither withstanding the weather.  It is now owned by Indian tribes and not open to the public.

Zoomed in a bit!  Too bad we could not visit it.

Traveling back to Bandon OR, second stop was lunch!  We had been in touch with Rob and Tammy and agreed to meet them at Tony's Crab Shack at noon.

We arrived first and secured a table there.  Soon they arrived on their motorcycle, driving in from Myrtle Creek OR just off I-5.  Rob and I served together at the Des Moines Air Guard Base.  Rob was an F-16 Crew Chief, deploying all over the world.  He then went on in his career to become a First Sergeant, serving Airmen in the Medical Group and the Mission Support Group.  

I had known Rob, or Master Sergeant Harban for quite a few years but we were drawn closer when I was appointed Wing Command Chief for the 132d Fighter Wing.  The Wing Command Chief serves as the functional manager for the First Sergeants, so I was responsible for his tour of duty as First Sergeant.  We worked very closely together during some very challenging times.  Rob and I both retired from the Air Guard in the past few years.  Rob and Tammy moved to Myrtle Creek OR where he drives a semi.  Tammy works in the health care field.  They are also RV'ers and really enjoying it.

I have the highest respect for our First Sergeants and Rob was top notch!  I not only consider him a comrade but a good friend.  I was really glad we were able to connect up with him and Tammy while we were in Oregon.  Rob was gone when I retired but I finally was able to catch up with him and give him one of my retirement coins, thanking him for his service and his friendship.

Rob, Tammy, Doreen, Ed

On the dock near the restaurant

After lunch the Harban's headed east back to Myrtle Creek, and Doreen and I headed back north, across the Coquille river to the Coquille River Lighthouse.  This lighthouse was commissioned in 1896 to guide mariners across a dangerous bar.  It was decommissioned in 1939 following improvements in the river channel.  It has been restored and hosts visitors in it's 40 ft octagonal tower.  There is a visitor center at the base of the tower but the tower itself is closed to climbing.  

Not the most glamorous lighthouse we have visited, but at least it was accessible.

Doreen heading in for another stamp on her lighthouse passport.

Entrance to the lighthouse tower blocked off.

We continued south to the last lighthouse on the list for today, which was the Cape Blanco Lighthouse located nine miles north of Port Orford OR. It is perched on the western most point in Oregon but it is not necessarily the western most lighthouse because there are some that are located off shore.  It is located 256 ft above sea level and it is the oldest standing lighthouse on the Oregon coast.  It was commissioned in 1870 to aid shipping generated by gold mining and lumber industries.  It was automated in 1980 and remains functional today and is open to the public.  

Arriving we were greeted by a volunteer who directed us to the gift shop where we paid our $2 each to climb the lighthouse.  We were the last ones to be allowed to climb for the day.  We then proceeded to the lighthouse structure.  The base of the lighthouse hosted oil storage and a work area adjacent to the tower access.  There was a volunteer there as well who would give us history information and answer questions, in addition to controlling the groups of four allowed to climb at a time, since there is only so much room at the top.

People waiting to climb

Educational displays in the oil room.

Various items from the days of using oil powered light

100 gallon oil storage containers

Our host in the oil room

 After a bit of a wait we were allowed to climb the 67 steps to the top and go nose to nose with the Fresnel lens!

Lighthouses use circular stairways to get to the top.

Looking in to the Fresnel lens to the main halogen lamp.  You can also see the backup lamp which is unlit.

The lens was built in Paris France, shipped here and assembled.

We could not go outside, but the view through the windows was awesome!

Deer grazing below.

Looking north along the shore

The site also hosts a communications relay facility, taking advantage of the height.  

The communications building, visitor center and entrance road visible from the top.

So, great day but glad to be back at the RV.  Grilled a couple really thick pork chops for dinner.  Tomorrow we head south to Crescent City to see the Battery Point Lighthouse and St George Reef Lighthouse and hopefully catch some redwood tree viewing on the way down.  We will also visit the grocery store and restock before we head north to Silverton OR, our next destination.