| Trinidad, California
is a lovely, friendly community nestled high above a beautiful bay on the
northern California coast. A memorial lighthouse
stands on the south side of town. It is a touching tribute to lost
mariners. This diminutive lighthouse is a replica of the working
lighthouse that flashes its beam from a breathtakingly high rocky
cliff nearby.
"I began a trek to the top of that
cliff."
In my quest to research and paint all the active
lighthouses I could find, I began a trek to the top of that cliff.
Parking on a sandy lot far below, my husband and I packed cameras and equipment
and started up. (The road up is for Coast Guard personnel only and
off limits to tourist's vehicles.) As we hiked, I paused from time-to-time
to catch my breathe and to take in the magnificent views of the ocean,
boat harbor and the town of Trinidad far below. At the top
the road was gated and there was a "no admittance" sign that stopped us.
However, we could see the lighthouse and as it was a reasonably good angle,
we took a lot of shots for a future painting. The trees and shrubs,
however, obscured the complete tower, so we determined that from the cliffs
higher above we may have a better vantage point. We may even see
the town and harbor as a backdrop for the lighthouse. Finding a trail
that lead up higher, we trekked onward and upward.
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We came upon an old
cross dedicated to the original Spanish explorers, but no clear view of
the lighthouse. My husband, using logic (and a determined spirit
of adventure) decided that a descent through brush and trees would bring
him out right above the tower. So camera and film slung on his shoulder,
he set off. I stayed to admire the scenery and to go for help if
he failed to return. After what seemed like hours, he reappeared,
scratched and weary.
"I stayed to admire the scenery
and go for help if he failed to return"
He had run into brush so thick he couldn't get through. So as
we retraced our way down the cliff road, we made plans to find another
way to see the lighthouse on Trinidad Head. (Not long after this, we made
contact with the Coast Guard, and we were given a personal tour of the
lighthouse and fog signal on the grounds.)
"We were given a personal tour of
the lighthouse and fog signal"
In the meantime, my dear pioneering husband
broke out with a terrible rash of POISON OAK on his arms and legs
and elsewhere. He spent a miserable few days, but we have a story
to tell of our Trinidad Lighthouse trek.
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