24-25 June - Twin Lights Lighthouse in Highlands, Seafood Dinner; CMSgt Dan Mitchell's House

24 June
Ventured back to Highlands NJ area today to visit the Navesink Twin Lights lighthouse.

The lighthouse building is so large we could not get a good picture of the entire structure from the ground that would really tell the tale. Here is one taken years ago. Photo credits: Unknown - http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/WEBLIGHTHOUSES/navesink.JPG

This is a non-operational lighthouse that overlooks Sandy Hook Bay NJ.  We visited Sandy Hook and a lighthouse there a few days ago.  The original lighthouse was built on 1828 and was replaced in 1862 with two (twin) lighthouses.  One flashed and one was fixed.  The north tower was shut off in 1898 and the other one was electrified in 1949 and then operated until 1952.  As with most of the lighthouses we have visited, they are for the most part obsolete due to technology and have been turned over to the States to manage.

Another interesting fact was that in 1899 Marconi demonstrated his wireless telegraph for the first time right here.  Also, during WWII this was a radar site, with a very large radar antenna watching the East Coast for invaders.

This one is really unique because there are two of them but they are non-identical.

We climbed one of them, the other is closed since it has the lens and mechanism removed and on display in the generator building.

Doreen climbing the circular stairway.  I think she counted about 60+ steps, not bad compared to others..

The south tower without a lens.

Beautiful old stone construction.

A view from the top of the north lighthouse, with Sandy Hook Point in the background.

Sandy Hook Bay.

The generator building where electricity was produced for the lamp after one of the lighthouses was electrified.

The Fresnel lens from the south lighthouse on display in the generator building

The original brass mechanism that rotated the lens.

The system that produced the light prior to it being electrified.

The gravity-powered  mechanism that rotated the lens.  A weight was attached to the end of the cable.  The lighthouse keeper manually wound the cable with a crank.  Between this and toting the 5 gallon buckets of oil up to the top of the lighthouse, the keeper's job was not an easy one.  

The Fresnel lens focuses the light.  Amazing French invention.

Spermaceti Cove Lifeboat.  There were eight of these along the Jersey coast, stationed right on the beach because they were so heavy.  They used a throwing line cannon to shoot a line and then the lifeboat was hooked to this line.

From the north lighthouse, with the south lighthouse in view behind us.

After the lighthouse we went down to Sandy Hook bay and had some seafood and cold beverages.  Doreen's was basically a "(cod) fish and chips" and I ordered a sampler platter with cod, clam strips and shrimp.  Looking forward to more seafood as we head north and east on this trip.

25 June
One of the nicest parts of traveling across country in the RV is seeing friends and relatives.  Having served over 42 years in the Air Force and Air National Guard, we have friends from coast to coast.  Today we drove to Egg Harbor Township which is in southern New Jersey to visit a military friend.  Chief Master Sergeant Dan Mitchell, his wife Courtney and their children Raquel and Charlee.  Dan is the Air National Guard First Sergeant Functional Manager so he is in-touch with every ANG unit out there.  We worked together closely when I served as the Iowa State Command Chief, since one of my responsibilities was to oversee the State's First Sergeants.  We had fun catching up on what's happening in the ANG world.

Nana with Raquel and Charlee

Gotta love the haircut.

Doreen, Courtney and Charlee.

 One of the challenges of military life is being separated from our families.  Dan was a security forces defender by trade, and is on this four year special assignment at the Air National Guard Readiness Center which is on Andrews Air Force Base MD, not far from Washington DC.  He comes home on weekends to see his family, so his weekends are very precious.  We are very appreciative of their time this weekend so we could see him and his family!!

Dan gave Doreen and I one of his coins.  Very nice!

After lunch we headed back to the campgrounds and relaxed for the evening.  Tomorrow we will head to the beach and to visit Sea Girt Lighthouse.