The cutest little lighthouse on the coast…
Well Paul is coming along. He may complain it’s at a sloth’s pace, but from my impartial viewpoint it’s been rather amazing. In the short space of only a few days he’s gone from not being able to move at all to practically full range of motion in his back, and from not walking at all to short spurts of waddling (our acupuncturist has aptly and rather humorously named it the Tim Conway shuffle ->; yes, he looks exactly LIKE THIS). Pretty miraculous for such a short time. His main issue is the stinging/burning pain of the sciatic nerve which makes it uncomfortable for him in just about any position…and a man in pain, as all you ladies know, is a painful man indeed. But we are hopeful and crossing all fingers, toes and 12 paws that this rapid healing pace continues. There’s certainly no doubt that without the acupuncture there’s no way he would have come so far so fast.
Me and my new wheels
In the meantime as yours truly takes care of everything in the RV (alas, a woman’s work is often thankless woe-be-me), I’ve managed to squeeze a few excursions around the area and most particularly to see the Coquille River Lighthouse which is a relaxing (and pretty) 3-mile bike ride from our campground. All this has been accomplished on my super-snazzy new Trek Navigator 2.0 bicycle which is by far the coolest, most comfortable and utmost groovy bike I have ever owned. With my über long legs and short upper body, combined with the fact that I love both road-biking and very moderate off-road biking, finding a bike that fits me comfortably has always been near impossible. So, when my old, rusty bike was stolen in San Diego a few months ago I decided, for the first time in my life, to go for a brand new one that felt good. This bike is a hybrid with the combo of a mountain-bike gears & wheels, but with a super-cushy seat and the upright riding feel & look of a beach cruiser and IT IS AWESOME! We had to order a special size (of course…me being so special and all), but it is definitely the most comfortable bike I have ever owned.
Gorgeous Bullards Beach. The lighthouse sits at the far end of this stretch of sand.
Which brings me neatly back to the lighthouse. This is the 4th lighthouse I’ve seen on the OR coast and I can honestly say it is the cutest of them all! It may not have the dramatic flare of Yaquina Head, or the artistic beauty of Haceta Head, but Coquille River Lighthouse is oh-so-super-cute-pretty. It is one of the smallest lighthouses on the Oregon coast and was also it’s last, constructed in 1895 and beaming its first light on Feb 29th, 1896. Originally built on a rocky islet it guided ships safely through the mouth of the Coquille River for 43 years before being extinguished and replaced by an automated beacon and fog horn.
Gorgeous Coquille River Lighthouse viewed from across the river
The unique thing about this lighthouse is its’ grand Victorian Italianate style and the elongated octagonal fog signal room attached to its’ 40-foot tower. A totally different look from any other lighthouses on the coast. It’s been lovingly restored and sits beautifully at the end of miles of gorgeous beach at Bullards Beach State Park. Free tours in season too!
Poor hubby has not yet been to visit this little beauty, but I’m hoping to cart him over there during the week. A worthy little trip for the cutest little view on the coast….and hopefully hubby will get to see it too.
Foxgloves are in full bloom on the beach at the moment
Seagulls by the seashore[/caption
