...and a few more words from Jen

I admit it – before Rob, I had no interest in lighthouses. They existed and served a purpose for others, not me. They never caught my eye aesthetically either. That was, until our first summer trip together when Rob took me to his childhood vacation area in Ogunquit, Maine.

Before driving back home we stopped a few miles away to see the Nubble Lighthouse in Cape Neddick. It is the picture-perfect grand-daddy of lighthouses. Imagine the white-picketed love child of an idyllic farm house, mini-Victorian, and cozy suburban nest connected to a classic light-topped cone instead of a garage. Now, transplant that image to its own pile of rocks a few feet from a rocky shore and you’ll understand why I fell in love with lighthouses right there. I guess before that I just hadn’t seen the right one.

Which is how I felt about Rob too!

It was Rob’s idea to “hunt” lighthouses – a day trip based around traveling to and taking pictures of local lighthouses, but I was definitely on board! We plan a Saturday (weather-permitting, of course) around a section of coastline or a particular lighthouse, research how many are nearby, and print Google maps. Along the way we stumble upon many other places of interest too – shops, clam shacks, revolutionary war forts, the usual.

What about GPS, you ask? Surely you nerds are not so old-school and self-reliant as to find your own way? To which I say, first, damn straight, and second, GPS will not help you during such quirky and detailed treks. Lighthouses do not have street addresses and can be difficult to find. Rob’s lighthouse books and the “Definitive Lighthouse Sites” (at right) are indispensable. Some are on private or government property at the end of unmarked dead-ends, or hidden on the edge of quaint coastal cul-de-sacs.

For those that can only be seen by boat, there are more bay cruises than there are Dunkin Donuts in a square mile (well, almost).

Besides good weather and a full tank of gas, you need one person to drive (Rob) and one to navigate (me). You both must have patience and the ability to work together. If one of us misses a street or takes a wrong turn, it doesn’t matter – we just go back. Sure, we do our share of cursing other drivers, and Google maps done us wrong a few times, but as long as we’re still on dry land and conscious, we’ll get there. You have to enjoy the journey too.

In her book Assassination Vacation, Sarah Vowell compared her treks to various sites and items related to presidential assassination to medieval pilgrimages to see holy relics. Rob and I feel that way about lighthouses – we just have to see them! Granted, we don’t travel hundreds of mile on foot, and there’s no blessing for good health at the end. But these are relics, of coastal America’s hard-working past – when a simple flashing light could save an entire ships’ crew and a community’s existence.

Modern technology has mostly ended their usefulness. Highways, GPS and glowing cityscapes along the coasts have replaced burning fires, gas lamps, and electric lamps for navigation. But their beauty is undeniable and enduring, and Rob and I can’t get enough. We are so close to this region’s majestic yet humble monuments, and ever trip has been a memorable blast for us. We hope you enjoy reading about our adventures, and are inspired to start your own lighthouse hunt.

-Jen