Watching Properly in the Face of a November Gale
Sweeping in from the southeast with a sense of unrestrained dynamism, the gale of November 17, 2010 lashed the Maine coast with wind, rain and swells, but its impressive power once again failed to conquer the traditions of light and sound that faithfully oppose it.
As they have for more than two centuries, lighthouses, which serve as a line of defense for mariners against the trepidations and dangers of the tempest, stood strong against the turbulent elements of a well-known foe.
At the height of the storm, I paid one of these warriors of the sea – Owls Head Lighthouse, an early morning visit. The sentinel affords a front row seat to stormy theatre from its commanding position high above West Penobscot Bay, which is as alluring as the lighthouse itself.
With my face tucked-in close against my coat to hide from the rain’s unwanted sting, I took to the staircase that leads up to the stout tower; knowing that with each ascending step, I was also treading higher into the realm of the storm’s most forceful winds.
Southeast gusts of 45-knots, now at my back, pushed me along and turned my stride into a somewhat clumsy endeavor. On more than one occasion, I quickly reached for the stability of the railing to keep from stumbling during my 53-step march.
Stopping for a minute to scan the unsettled landscape once I reached the lighthouse, it became apparent that there were no boats or vessels plying the agitated bay. Presiding over the moment instead was the sound and feel of howling winds rushing by, which carried on its shoulders a heavy dose of fitful rain.
In nearby Owls Head Harbor, lobster boats were hunkered down at their moorings, though the wind’s velocity was certainly testing the strength of those moorings as boats bobbed about at the end of taut lines.
Peering through squinting eyes, I marveled at the roll of the swell pushing ever forward in soldier-like sets. The rhythmic surge was seemingly unsatisfied until it beat its fury against the indomitable, rocky coastline of Maine. How many times this ceaseless battle has occurred along the line where land meets sea is anyone’s guess.
Suddenly, the riveting sound of the light station’s foghorn, which was bellowing in faithful fashion throughout, stopped me in my tracks. At this point, I focused intently on its doleful drone, soaking up its audible warning that reverberated through the air and thinking to myself how our lightkeeping legacy still remains fundamentally in tact, even if the keepers themselves have faded into history.
The moment of reflection included an upward glance over my shoulder at the tower’s lantern where the warm glow of Owls Head’s fourth order Fresnel lens filled the cupola in voluminous fashion, as only a classical lens can do.
All the while the gale’s arsenal of elements was too powerful to ignore for very long as an unexpected wind gust buffeted my position with attention-grabbing force. I was immediately thrust back into the reality of the moment, which prompted me to seek a lee around the tower, but the effort was futile.
Not only was the wind all-encompassing around the base of the lighthouse, its sustained strength was relentless. Turning into the face of the wind, I could scarcely walk forward without summoning extra effort to combat the stubborn resistance filling the air.
It was then that I noticed the dramatic impact the wind was having on the rain. Rather than simply blowing the rain into a wild frenzy, the force of the wind was shattering the droplets into sheets of spray.
Before heading back down the stairs to the light station grounds, I quickly thought of the lightkeepers who once tended to the light and fog signal at Owls Head, and endured even greater storms than what I was experiencing on this day.
Though long gone, the names of keepers such as Joseph Maddocks, Charles Franklin Chester, Augustus Hamor, George Woodward, Archford Haskins and Douglas Larabee came to mind. I thought for a second how proud these keepers and others would be to see the same Fresnel lens, which they once polished and cared for, shining bright.
Automation may have removed the dedicated lightkeeper, but thanks to modern day U.S. Coast Guard aids to navigation technicians, lighthouses like Owls Head are still watching properly and continuing with the longstanding traditions associated with keeping a good light for the safety of the seafarer.
That’s when I was reminded that the basic purpose of a lighthouse, which is to guide mariners by light and sound depending on the station, remains unchanged. The human element at the lights is certainly a major loss to our lighthouse heritage, but to mariners tossed about in stormy seas who might not ever meet a lightkeeper, being able to see a light and hear a foghorn was the paramount hope.
On this day, automation or not, the seafarer could rely on the shining light and powerful fog signal of Owls Head Light Station. This was a thought that warmed my heart on an otherwise soggy and damp day.
At the bottom of the staircase, I walked over to the fog detector and stared briefly into its “eyes.” Its equipment was sampling atmospheric conditions as it should – a sort of mechanical keeper whose job is to activate the “voice” of the foghorn. All was well.
Turning to leave, I thought about this gale and how it was churning toward the Saint Lawrence River valley and Atlantic Canada. Weather reports stated that Quebec was to receive 6 to 10 inches of snow from the storm.
Ah, snow!
For now, visions of icy crystals transforming coastal Maine into a snow globe would have to wait, but soon enough the season’s annual return will be ushered in – no doubt on the heels of yet another gale that must be lurking just around the corner.
Bob:
Great writing – great shots. It is what we have come to expect from you.
Bob: I always enjoy your awesome pictures and your amazing way with words:):)
I have not climbed to the top of Grindle Point lighthouse in a gale for a few years now. I intend to do it in the next Nor’easter. Your writing is so beautiful that I felt I was on the outside of Owls Head light being lashed by the wind and rain with you! Thank you from the Islesboro light person!
Bob,
The Fresnel lenes were really things of beauty and not that many of them are still around. I especailly like the picture of the light with the dark gloom of the sotrm on the outside. That is a hard shot to get with the differance in light between the inside and outside. Good job of caputing the moment.
Thanks again for sharing your realistic and emotionfilled story and images Bob. Felt like I was alongside you during the entire ordeal.
Ron in CT
Hi. I am a local Maine artist. I was visiting this same lighthouse recently. A friend of mine told me about the ghost that supposedly cleans the brass door handles. The ghost also likes to unlock the door of the lighthouse! The ghost is supposed to be a deceased lighthouse keeper! I didn’t see any ghostly happenings while I visited. I might go there at night!
Great story as always. Keep up the good writings, Bob. Hope to see you this winter, perhaps before snow flies. Ernie D.
Great Pictures Bob& story Keep up Good Work I do enjoy them . See Ya In The Spring, I Hope At LongPoint NORM
Man, you writing is so realistic I had to let my sou’wester dry out after reading your piece! Great job and the pictures were awesome.
Bob, As I was reading your very visualizing words it made me think of all the times my father must have made the same trek up the rampway and stairs. The only difference would have been him having to go to the bell tower every four hours to wind the weight up again so the bell would warn mariners of rocky ledges. Ever so much better than the fog horn. My father was never at a loss for poetic words either. Loved it. Thanks. Marla
Your photos are awesome and make me homesick for Maine. I had three keepers in my family so they are very special to me. Thank you for your wonderful work. I keep looking for more.