POINT CABRILLO LIGHTHOUSE
Caspar, California
I had to get up very early to get to Point Cabrillo by 7:30 in the morning. From the San Jose area, it took about 3 hours to drive up Hwy 101 to Willits, Ca and cut over to Hwy 1 on Hwy 20. Turn south on Hwy 1 and Caspar is just a quick jaunt down the road. I waited until two park employees came up and let me in. There is a parking lot at the top and you gotta walk down hill to the lighthouse. Good views from the road while walking. Telephoto lens for this part. It was under restoration and fenced off, but you can go down to it and get some great close-ups. It reminds me of an old school house.
It was the lumber industry that requested this lighthouse to serve the ships coming to Mendocino City's harbor. Point Cabrillo was completed in 1909 and first lit the sky with its 3rd order Fresnel lens, a white flash every 10 seconds. The building with the light tower is the fog signal building and head two steam whistles horns coming out of the roof at the other end. It is a very beautiful location and was quite popular with the Lighthouse Service employees. They could have gardens and livestock as well as close access to local communities for school and church. I ended up spending the whole morning there, taking all sorts of pictures. A variety of lenses would be appropriate for this place. I hope the next time I go back, they have finished the restoration and removed the clutter around the lighthouse.
Here's how I saw it:
OF THE MOUNTAINS
John B Caddell
Copyright 2001