There have been few experiences so far in our nomadic journey where we leave already having set an intention to return someday.
And yet – we have already signed up to return as hosts at Cape Blanco next year.
I’ve been giving a lot of thought as to why I felt so connected and so inspired by volunteering as an interpretive guide at Cape Blanco.
I enjoy sharing information with others to help bridge gaps between time, communities and understandings. That should come as no surprise – it’s why writing this blog brings me so much joy, on most days, too.
This lighthouse has seen a lot since it was first lit in 1870. The light is active, still providing, still guiding. It has endured time, change, progression. It has seen so much, and evolved to continue guiding so many.
It is a transition point between the rocky coastline and sea.
The longer we were there, every day, giving tours.. I touched more into the history, the technology and the meaning. I learned more. I dug deeper. I pondered different prisms of the past and how they light the future. And I incorporated new information into the story I imparted on others.
I stared every day into one of the most amazing prisms that reflects the earth upside down.
It shakes your entire world up to see the sea and ground above you and the sky beneath. Even if only for a moment as the lens rotates. How can you not be transformed by seeing the world so differently?
And then there’s the people who pass through this magical place. It’s far enough off the beaten path that you have to want to be coming to Cape Blanco. It’s a bucket list sort of item for many. Completing a list of lighthouse visits, part of an epic bike ride, a special vacation, a journey of disovery, reconnecting with family, starting a new life together to renewing of life commitments.
We got to share in these special moments.
And as visitors got to know us, we got to share our tale too – heck, there may be a couple more nomads hitting the road soon as a result. We get to be our own little beacon of light.
In our last couple of weeks we were short staffed – even with folks answering the call for last minute help and arriving onsite within mere hours of our blog post going up.
On each shift, it was just Chris and I instead of four staffing each stopping point. We didn’t want to adjust the tour program to shorten it to two stops, as suggested by our ranger.
Instead we each took turns guiding groups through the entire tour on our own… stringing together all the pieces we had learned over the month prior. Which meant we got a lot more stair climbing in.
In one tour, we got to touch on the tales of the people who lived there, the history of the cape, what it was like to keep the light lit in the early days, and the technical marvels of science that made this place possible.
I got to connect into so many aspects of myself – humanist, scientist, historian and storyteller.
My creative energy was revitalized by finding ways to share this harsh, wild and beautiful location in a way that is accessible to as many as possible.
I can’t contain myself, regardless of how many times I have told the story. A sincere thank you at the end of our tours was praise that we succeeded with our mission.
It is my purpose to be a bridge between technology, people and communities.
That’s why I feel so compelled to share. To write. To create. To guide. To connect.
Cape Blanco. You reconnected me to my purpose. This experience was been nothing less than transformative.
On Thursday afternoon we ended our last shift this season as being interpretive hosts. It was bittersweet.
And it’s a very rare thing we did upon leaving – we signed up again. You’re not done with us yet, Cape Blanco!
What’s Next?
We’ve started our repositioning to our next stop – Sacramento, where we’ll spend at least a couple weeks clearing out Chris’ storage unit. Don’t expect as many pretty pictures in the coming weeks, this isn’t going to be overly exciting.
After we’ve completed that chore, we’ll continue heading south then east towards Florida for the winter, with a stop in Austin along the way for Thanksgiving.
We just added a new sidebar widget on our blog that shows our current location & adventure, as well as our upcoming ‘plans’.
There’s even a link there to suggest a rendezvous, or make suggestions of things we should do. Check it out, and if our paths will be intersecting – invite us over!
Hi Cherie and Chris
We also live in Sacramento and I’m wondering how long you will be in Sac. Would love to connect with you for a drink or lunch or whatever. We bought our 33ft Alegro last February and have taken one 5-week trip to the Southwest. I’m working on a short term contract (IT project assessment)that ends in December so we’re starting to plan our next trip to the Northwest. I’m an avid blog reader of both you and Nina. We took a trailer and a motorcycle on the last trip but are thinking about towing my mini on the Northwest trip.
Anyhow…would love to connect with you both if you have the time and inclination while in Sac. Some new restaurants to experience in Sac now.
BTW, you and Nina inspired me to keep a blog on our last trip. If you’re interested it’s: http://rocknrollinblog.wordpress.com.
Happy Trails!
Rochelle
Hi Rochelle – we’ll be arriving in Sacramento later today, and currently have plans to be there for 2 weeks. Our primary mission is clearing out Chris’ 10×10 storage unit, but we will probably have time for quick breaks for lunch and stuff. I’ll drop you an e-mail directly with our contact info, and let’s see what might be possible!
Cherie and Chris – we’ve seen you on the “RV Dreams” forum. You mention Sacramento as you’re next stop. We’ll be in that area until the end of Oct before we head to AZ. We’re at Half Moon Bay (for the Pumpkin Festival) until Oct. 21 then headed to the Sacramento area. Let us know if you have any time to connect!! Dale and Ruth
Hey guys.. just e-mailed you directly with our details. Hope we can converge!
We are also headed for Austin for Thanksgiving (the whole month of November, actually). We’re headed there to meet our brand-new baby granddaughter!
I hope we get a chance to meet up with you guys while you are there. We’ll be staying at the Austin Lone Star Carefree RV Resort. Let us know where you’ll be and maybe we can work out a meet up.
— jc&bev
Hey guys.. just sent you an e-mail to follow-up. You’ll be nearby our location, so margaritas or something should definitely be do-able!
I’ve only had one chance to see part of the Oregon coast so far in 2006 when I went to a job interview in that area, traveling from FL for the interview. I obviously didn’t get the job. But I learned about why so much of the beautiful OR coast was set aside in the past as a result of the leadership in the state. Didn’t give in to developers. This is one reason why if I ever get to be a full timer, I’ll register in OR, or WA, as my permanent address
Oregon is a great state, for sure.. and we too appreciate that they kept the coastline public. Florida did that as well, all beaches are public.
Ughhhh. We are so jealous yet enlightened. Until we are underway as well, it will be bittersweet to follow your journey. Cedar Key sure sounds better than wintertime in WA. Thanks again for sharing. Rob & Jessica
You’ll be out here on the roads sooner than you know it 🙂 Looking forward to future rendezvouses.
Hi guys. Really like your posts from the lighthouse, sounds like a great place to visit. It would be interesting to know your overnight stops down to Sacramento that would be a great route. Have fun. Steve
Thanks Steve, our next travelogues post should be about our repositioning, including the stops we randomly made.
You’ve said it very well. THANKS for sharing. It’s not just Cape Blanco that draws the heart, but so much of Oregon. Wonderful history and future stories to be told. May you find your way safely back this way again in 2014.
Safe travels, always!
We were such homebodies and never ventured very far from Cape Blanco while we were there. We really do need to spend more time exploring the state.
I really enjoy reading about your adventures, trials & tribulations.
We are fulltimers too. Where are you headed to in Florida? We spend the winter in SW Forida. Ya never know….our paths may cross. Charlie
Hi Charlie.. nice to virtually meet you! All we know is.. January is Cedar Key 🙂
We loved Cape Blanco too – Deas said of all the places we visited on the OR coast, it was his favorite! On your way through FL, come visit us in Grayton Beach! You can park in our driveway, or if you prefer there’s a great state park very close by.
We’re so thrilled you guys stopped in and we got to spend some evenings together. We’ll for sure see you later this year, and maybe even tempt you down to Cedar Key with us? 🙂
Well what can I say, but I concur. Beautifully written, and wonderfully shared!
Nina
And the whole experience oh so much more wonderful to have shared a month of it with you guys! Can’t wait for next year.