Light, Love, Hope

Today’s edition of the New England Road Trip – Part IV takes us to Cape Cod, which ended up being my favorite part of the trip!  We rode all the way to the tip of the island, seeing several lighthouses along the way, of course!

Cape Cod’s first lighthouse was none other than Highland Light.

The Highland Light Station is also known as Cape Cod Light, and is within Cape Cod National Seashore in North Truro.   This lighthouse was commissioned by George Washington, established in 1797, and is the 20th light station in the United States.

In the 1850s, Henry David Thoreau, known author and naturalist, visited this beautiful lighthouse.  He is quoted describing it as,”A neat building, in apple pie order.”  Then in 1864, Thoreau went on to write an essay for Atlantic Monthly.  In this essay, he told the history of the Highland Light.  I love how he described the power of the light:

“The keeper entertained us handsomely in his solitary little ocean house. He was a man of singular patience and intelligence, who, when our queries struck him, rang as clear as a bell in response. The light-house lamp a few feet distant shone full into my chamber, and made it bright as day, so I knew exactly how the Highland Light bore all that night, and I was in no danger of being wrecked… I thought as I lay there, half-awake and half-asleep, looking upward through the window at the lights above my head, how many sleepless eyes from far out on the ocean stream — mariners of all nations spinning their yarns through the various watches of the night — were directed toward my couch.”

Next up was the lighthouse you might recall from the Cape Cod potato chip bag in the grocery stores.  If I am going to eat chips, this is my “go to” brand, especially the salt and vinegar!   I could eat them until my mouth is raw!  Ha!

My youngest daughter was surprised to learn that this lighthouse really existed.  Some times you see pictures of things someone has envisioned and created into a colorful masterpiece, a work of art, but isn’t actually a “real” site you can visit.  Not so here!

The Nauset Lighthouse is the most well known and most photographed lighthouse on Cape Cod.  It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Nauset Lighthouse was painted red and white in the 1940s as a daytime indicator. Then, in 1981, the Fresnel lens was replaced by two rotating aero beacons, changing the signal from three white flashes to one red and one white flash, with five second intervals between them.  Due to erosion, the lighthouse was moved and now sits across the road from its original location.  Someone lives in the lighthouse keeper’s house today, so we were respectful and only stayed a few moments to enjoy the lighthouse.  (The grounds are open for foot traffic, picture taking, etc.)

There’s so much more I could share with you, but alas, I will refrain as this travel segment has already gone into four parts.  Instead of sharing more of our journey, I will, instead, encourage you to take your own road trip!  You will marvel at the beautiful landscape New England has to offer!   Take time off work to explore, make memories, and live!!

As we continue the New England Road Trip – Part III, we explore Nubble Light on a brisk day in Maine.  The wind was fierce while we were exploring the different areas, and it was no different as we climbed out of our rental car and stepped out on the rocks to get a closer look at this beauty.

It would have been awesome to explore this area by boat, but alas, due to the cold Winters in New England, boat cruises do not start up until the end of April.  We were a few weeks too early!

The lighthouse keeper’s house and the lighthouse itself look smaller due to the distance we were away from it on the rocks.  I secretly wished there was a zip line that would take us from the rocks I was kneeling on straight to the lighthouse grounds.

Just this week, as my co-worker looked at the lighthouse decor on and around my desk, he asked why I like lighthouses so much.  My reply was that I like to think of what it must have been like back in the days when the ships were lost at sea, being tossed around by the waves, fearful of the storms in the dark.  I can only imagine the relief that washed over them as they spotted the beacon in the night shining brightly for them, ushering them to safety.  My mind often thinks of how Jesus is our lighthouse also.  There is safety and security found within The Light that shines so bright for all the world to see, if we would only come ashore as He beckons us.

As our New England Road Trip story continues, we leave Salem, Massachusetts, and head to Portland, Maine!   I was especially excited about this part of the trip due to the many lighthouses I would see in that area.  I remember years ago seeing a beautiful picture of a lighthouse sitting up high on a hill, almost as if it was sitting on the edge of a cliff.  When I realized it was within driving and/or flying distance, I vowed “one day” to visit.  On this trip, I was able to mark that lighthouse off the list, as we visited the Portland Head Lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth, Maine!

It was a cold morning in Maine, chilling us to the bone, as we dashed from the hotel to our awaiting metallic blue Toyota Corolla rental car.  Oh, how we wish we had heated seats in this thing!  We settled into the car with camera in hand ready for our adventure, only it wasn’t calling for rain when we last checked.  Reaching for my phone, I swiped over to Weather Underground only to find the forecast changed to now 100% chance of rain.  As I made this announcement to my family, a big *splat* of rain hit the windshield.

*splat*   *splat*

… and then …

All of a sudden, it started pouring down rain!  Oh no!!  We didn’t know it was going to be like this, but we only had a few days on this trip.  We weren’t going to let rain interfere with our good time.  Searching the car, we found a few items for makeshift head wraps to fight against the brutal wind.   Once we arrived at our destination, I could not get out of the car fast enough, even in the rain that was now hitting me in the face.  I made my way to awe over the majestic lighthouse that stood before me.

I walked around trying to get “the” right angle to showcase the lighthouse.  Before realizing the cold, dreary day would dash my dreams, I envisioned capturing this lighthouse surrounded by glorious sunlight glistening off the blue waters licking at the rocks beneath it.   In my mind, I envisioned the sun surrounding it as if an angel in Heaven had a spotlight upon this great lighthouse.  Ah, but I had to settle for a dreary picture instead.  Whatever works, right?  But … the fact is I was there in Maine standing before this lighthouse in all of its wonder and beauty.  Truth be told, I could have stayed out there longer and would have if it wasn’t for the bitter cold ripping right through me when the wind would blow.   We endured as much as we could stand before retreating to our rental car.  We drove along the path and saw the ruins of a mansion to our right.

This was none other than the Goddard Mansion, which was made out of granite back in 1858.  Mr. Goddard was a local businessman who briefly served as a volunteer army colonel at the beginning of the Civil War in 1861.  The mansion was later acquired by the army in 1900 and was used as the non-commissioned officers and sergeant’s quarters.  We found it very interesting, but sadly, the fence prevented us from getting an even closer look at it.  The grounds leading up to the Portland Head Light is known as Fort Williams.

Stay tuned … there is more to come!