We wanted to stop at PCC for some snack items for the trip and decided to go to the Green Lake location, which was right off the freeway.
We wandered around a bit and choose a couple of fancy cheeses and an assortment of olives. Our plan was to pick up a something from the salad bar for later, but it wasn't set up yet. No problem - we had plenty to see us through until dinner time.
We drove and drove, eventually needing a rest stop, but there were none to be found! We passed one on the other side of the freeway, but we couldn't get to it! What to do? We exited at Montesano, found a service station, waited in a long bathroom line, and were ready to hit the road again. Larry informed me that I would be driving the rest of the way, so I grabbed a Luna bar and hopped in the driver's seat.
We stopped at Cape Disappointment State Park, because Larry had read about the North Head Lighthouse there.
It was a beautiful, short hike to the lighthouse and we were so glad that we had made the side trip to see it.
The lighthouse keepers' residences were up on a hill. What a view to wake up to every morning.
North Head Lighthouse was built to provide an aide to navigation for ships approaching from the north. Those ships could not see Cape Disappointment lighthouse, two miles to the south, in time to safely enter the Columbia River channel.
Construction began on North Head lighthouse in 1897 and it was completed and lit on May 16, 1898. The lighthouse was constructed by George Langford, an early contractor and builder from Portland, Oregon. The tower was built 65 feet above the ground, designed large enough to hold the First-order Fresnel lens transferred from Cape Disappointment lighthouse.
At the same time the lighthouse was being constructed, construction workers built two oil houses just to the east of the lighthouse. A keeper’s residence, a duplex to house two assistant keepers, a barn, and outbuildings were also constructed at that time. All of the original buildings are still located on site.
Lighthouse keepers and their families had a remote and hard life. Keepers would traditionally work 8 hour shifts if there were three keepers. If one of the keepers left, the hours would become much longer. The light was lit from dusk to dawn with cleaning and polishing being done during the daylight hours. The cleaning and maintenance of the light and lens was the most important duty of the keepers.
The first head lighthouse keeper at North Head was Alex K. Pesonen. He was placed in charge of North Head lighthouse on May 16, 1898, the day the lighthouse was put into service.
Keeper Pesonen had at one time served on the lighthouse tender “Manzanita” and as an assistant keeper at Tillamook lighthouse. He lived at North Head for 26 years.
Pesonen's wife, Mary, is believed to have jumped to her death off a cliff near the lighthouse on June 9, 1923. A newspaper reported she woke before her husband that morning to take her usual short walk with the family dog, but she never returned. The keeper's little dog, which always accompanied Mary on her walks, came back and acted strangely. The dog led searchers to a spot where they found her coat on the edge of the cliff. Her body drifted in with the tide and was found in a cove just beyond the couple's garden, the newspaper reported.
During the time Pesonen was head keeper, he had a second assistant keeper by the name of Mabel E. Bretherton. She was the only female keeper assigned to North Head lighthouse. From 1905 until her resignation on October 31, 1907 she assisted in the care and operation of the light. Mabel Bretherton had also served at Cape Blanco lighthouse in Oregon prior to coming to North Head.
The lighthouse transitioned to full automation in 1961, and the two light keeper houses were converted to state park offices and park ranger housing
In 2000, the historic homes were converted to vacation rentals.
It was getting close to check-in time, so we headed down the road to Long Beach, but first we visited the beach.
We checked into room #14 at the Coastal Inn...
It was a very nice little room and it did indeed have a sparkling bathtub, just like Larry had read in the Yelp reviews...
Rachel had suggested that we take a getaway so that we could take a bath and sent us a gift card to help make that come true. Thank you, Rachel!!!
After checking out the room, we headed back to the beach!
It was a bit chilly, but we had warm coats and gloves.
We had asked the girl who checked us into the motel where to find good fish and chips - she didn't know about that, but told us which of the two Thai restaurants was best, so we picked up a to-go menu and called in an order when we got back to the motel. The woman said to give her twenty-five minutes, but when we got there to pick it up, she said, "No, you didn't place an order with us!" I was tempted to leave, but finally she said, "OK", and went back to begin cooking! Larry and I sat down at one of the tables and waited patiently. At last the food came, I paid, but no tip for her!!!
The restaurants Yelp review had mentioned generous portions - not! Larry and I each had one scallop, but the flavor was great and Duchess managed to get a couple of the shrimp, so she was a happy girl!
Larry filled the tub up and soon the room smelled delightfully of Dr. Teal's eucalyptus bath salts - wonderful stuff!
I got Rachel's box of lavender bath goodies out and he added a generous dollop of bubble bath. I even shared the delicious Ghirardelli Cabernet chocolate bar with him!
I poured myself a glass of wine, put in my earbuds, and listened to music while he soaked...
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