Saturday, we arose early and headed to Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow to see the Tarrytown Lighthouse (Note: no headless horseman spotted). This lighthouse is located in the shadows of the Tappanzee bridge (crossing this bridge was a challenge to say the least, but that's another story! ) The lighthouse is located in Kingsland Point Park. This is a lovely park, busy with soccer games, sunbathing, family picnics and a huge dog park where you can let your dog loose to play with other dogs. However, Lacy did not want any part of that, she found a 4 month old black cocker spaniel she liked outside the park and chose to play with him!
After leaving Tarrytown, we headed to Connecticut. Our intentions were to see 11 lighthouses in 4 hours, but I-95 N had a different opinion about how much time we would spend in Connecticut this day! OMGosh! I-95 is an anxiety attack waiting to happen! We did not have the Turtle behind us, so just to give you an idea as to how slow we traveled today, we got 16 miles to the gallon in the truck and came back to the Turtle with a little less than half a tank of gas! You get the picture....... However we did get to see six lighthouses.
The first lighthouse was Penfield Reef, located off shore several miles. To view it, we had to go to the end of Lighthouse Road in Fairfield Beach. Lighthouse Road turned out to be a one lane alley between beach cottages. We walked a short distance to the beach to see the lighthouse. It is a really nice location with quaint beach cottages and beautiful flowering trees located on Long Island Sound.
Also from this point, we were able to view the Fayerweather Island (Black Rock Harbor) Lighthouse just across the harbor. The Penfield Reef Lighthouse was built in 1874 and is said to be haunted by the ghost of an old lighthouse keeper. The Fayerweather Island Lighthouse is 180 years old!
Penfield Reef Lighthouse
Fayerweather Island (Black Rock Harbor) Lighthouse
From Fairfield Beach we headed to Bridgeport, Connecticut to see the Tongue Point (Bridgeport Breakwater) Lighthouse. It is affectionately called the "Bug" because it is only 21' tall and painted black. It was first lit in 1895 and is still used as a navigational aid today. It was offered for transfer under the Lighthouse Preservation Act, but withdrawn due to security concerns because of its proximity to a power plant if in private hands. Upon leaving this lighthouse we came across what has to be the most bizarre house ever......we had to take a picture because it would be easier for us to show the picture than to try to explain it.........
Tongue Point "The Bug" Lighthouse
The Mannequin House
After gawking at the "Mannequin" house, we headed to Stratford, Conn. to see the Stratford Point Lighthouse. Now this lighthouse is one I could live in with no problem - if it were moved to warmer climate - like Lavaca Bay, Texas! Anyway, this lighthouse was established in 1822 and is still active today! A Coast Guard family lives in, and maintains the light station.
Stratford Point Lighthouse
Our next stop was in New Haven, Connecticut's Lighthouse Park. This is an amazing park located on the Long Island Sound. The Five Mile Lighthouse is located here, and the Southwest Ledge Lighthouse can be seen from the shore as well. The Southwest Ledge Lighthouse is located at the end of a one mile long breakwater on Southwest Ledge, and continues operating to this day! The Five Mile Point Lighthouse is actually in the park. It is named for the distance from where it sits to downtown New Haven, Conn. The lighthouse was completed in 1847 and was deactivated with the lighting of the Southwest Ledge Lighthouse, January 1, 1877. In spite of that, and the forces of nature, it still stands tall today!
Southwest Ledge Lighthouse
Five Mile Point Lighthouse
With the exception of the horrible traffic, we had a very nice, but long day. Got back to the Turtle and called it a very early night!
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