Sunrise over Twin Harbors State Park. Photo by Steve Weileman

I was finally able to break away this weekend and get outdoors; my day job has just been too demanding of late but its better then unemployment. I had envisioned a simple getaway with a bit of paddling and a bit of photography, but was pleasantly surprised when an old friend and partner called with an invite to do a bit of surfing in Westport. I had been considering Westport as early in the week the surf report was for mellow conditions, or at least for this time of the year mellow conditions, so when Ken (check out his The Last Wilderness) called I was eager to head west. Jason and I also had some unfinished business over at the Westport Maritime Museum, and although he wouldn’t be able to get away for our surf session he’d be catching up with me later in the weekend.

Apparently the mellow conditions forecast decided to head south and I’m happy to say Ken and I are getting wiser with age; we spent more time on the beach catching up with each other then getting hammered in the surf. Ken needed to get back home at the end of the day, but I pitched camp over at the Twin Harbors campground. Usually this time of year I would have been the only occupant in the campground but a short Pacific razor clam, (Siliqua patula) season had just been announced and I had a half dozen neighbors.

Westport Harbor at night. Photo by Steve Weileman

I ran into town to check on the winter hours for the museum and couldn’t shake the eerie feeling of having walked into a ghost town.  It was as if the lights had been left on but nobody was home. Not a soul was out the entire time I walked the harbor. Quite a contrast from the summer time crowds that flock here.

The next morning dawned clear and cold but the surf had calmed enough for me to get an good morning workout. I felt a bit rusty and had to work much harder then I’d normally would. I’ll have to make a point to get down more often, but around lunch I decided to pack it in as the surf fisherman started to show up in mass, just didn’t feel like finding myself hooked!

Jason showed up that afternoon and the next morning we made our way to our objective which was to film the Destruction Island First Order Fresnel Len which was removed from its tower in 1995 and now resides in its own building on the museum grounds. Earlier this year Jason and I had paddled out to the island and filmed the lighthouse as part of our coastal series. (see La Isla de los Delores) We were able to visit the empty lens room and wanted to see the lens as a way to come full circle.

Westport Maritime Museum viewed at night. Current home of the Destruction Island Fresnel len. Photo by Steve Weileman

French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel is credited with developing this lens arrangement which collects and concentrates the light greatly extending the range of lighthouses. They where developed in 6 sizes or orders which denotes the size and power of the lens. This particular lens was manufactured in Paris by Henri LePaute and Sons in 1888.  The five wicks providing its light source each burned two gallons of oil during every night of operation. The lens’s 1,176 prisms and 24 bull’s-eyes, held in place by brass frames weighing five to six tons, needed vigilant daily cleaning to remove nightly accumulations of soot. It wasn’t until WWII that electrically came to the island when the wicks where replaced by a 1000 watt bulb; one of which can be seen in the display case.

Standing if front of the lens you can’t help but admire the beauty of the glass. It’s the most exquisite chandelier I’ve ever seen. If you find yourself in Westport it certainly is worth a stop.

You can see a photo gallery of our Destruction Island trip here.