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Point Arena, California
All Photos © Tim N. Touchton
Each photograph
is available as an 8x10 for a cost of $ 12.00
plus $2.00 shipping. Check or money order only please.
I took this photograph on June 22, 2001 along with Point Bonita and Fort
Point
Lighthouses. We got here just as the sun set and I just did have time to take
this
photograph. The digital video came out better because it can film well in
poor lighting.
The lighthouse was closed, due to the time of day we were there, so I had
to take the
photograph from behind the fence. The coastal beauty along this area is awe
inspiring.
Shear cliffs, holes through the rocky "islands" and outcroppings
in the water and birds
everywhere. I really needed an extra day for the coastal area of California
north of San
Francisco. Here is the story behind, why we were late and boy do I feel stupid.
We left the Golden Gate Bridge and Fort Point in hopes of getting to Point
Bonita
Lighthouse, Point Reyes Lighthouse, Point Arena and Point Cabrillo Lighthouses
in
the same day. Boy was I dreaming. We also had to get to Eureka, and hopefully
Crescent
City by nightfall. I knew this would never happen, but I did try. We drove
on Hwy 101 instead
of up Hwy 1 (the coastal highway) in hopes of making better time. However,
101 was very
congested and I now think that driving up Hwy 1 instead would have at least
taken us to two
of the lighthouses before nightfall. We finally got to my exit off 101 to
head west. I took 128
to Boonville and then was to head farther west to Point Arena and the lighthouse
there. I
thought I was on 253 west (it did go east), but instead there was no 253 west,
it instead
was Mountain View Drive, YES Mountain View Drive! It took forever to
get to Hwy 1
and off Mountain View Drive. This road scared me, I mean really scared me.
My son had
had a blast on this road (of course he wasn't driving). It was like driving
on a bowl of
spaghetti noodles, winding all over with switchbacks everywhere and the road
being a
single lane for most of the way. There were 180's, 270's, etc. constantly.
It had no shoulder
and no way to turn around. Basically you were stuck on this road and at it's
mercy. We are
driving through the mountains with drop offs inches away from the van going
straight down.
We did see a few signs along the way that read, "Road Narrows".
The understatement of
the century. Richard would comment from time to time, "wow, that goes
straight down"!
The trees were within touching distance from the van. We finally made it to
Hwy 1, about 70 minutes behind schedule. The lighthouse is easy to see off
Hwy 1.
Take Lighthouse Road off Hwy 1 in Point Arena.
Specifics about the Point Arena Lighthouse:
It was established in 1870.
It is in Point Arena, off Hwy 1.
It received some damage during the San Francisco earthquake of 1906.
Original tower height: 100 feet.
Tower height after it's rebuilding in 1906: 115 feet.
Lighthouse tours are offered and there is a museum.
Call 707-882-2777 for more information or write to:
PO Box 11, Point Arena, CA 95468
Open from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. May 30 through Labor Day,
and 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. the rest of the year.
Please click on the following link:
The
Point Arena Lighthouse and Museum
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