Tag: Montauk Point

a thousand tides

waiting
keeping watch
searching
scanning horizons
i didn’t realize
that i was looking
for you all my life
waiting
for our
once upon a time
to begin
when i saw you
i ran to meet
you on the shore
of our journey
after all these years
i now know
i would choose to wait
and let a thousands tides
come and go
and let the lonely time
pass me by
if it meant
i could be near you
hear you say my name
yes i would
search for you
night and day
and
wait
this voyage called life
a perilous quest
under storms at night
and bright mornings of peace
living out vows
that we said
when we were kids
you’re still choosing to stay
beside me
i’m still choosing to stay
beside you
across all the wild wild seas
that are behind us
we found treasures
a guiding grace
that will lead us
a slower pace
that will ground us
a grateful space
that settles our minds
navigating
these later years
we get to wait
together
love
together
sitting here
with you
waiting here with you
remembering here
with you
we wait
for one day
the journey will end
until then
we get to wait
together
love
together
be
together
and in the waiting
practice staying
come what may
you’re still choosing to stay
beside me
i’m still choosing to stay
beside you
we
wait

the unexpected

This was taken near the end of my walk around the Montauk Point Lighthouse. Along the right edge of the image you can make out the “road” that was made when these giant boulders were laid along the shore to protect it from erosion.

What I didn’t expect to see at the end of my walk were these stone markers along the edge of the sea. Suddenly I felt like I was in some kind of sacred space where each of these represented a story or some kind of memorial.

I was alone in this field of small stone towers…

i don’t see any signs

Back to Long Island and Montauk Point Lighthouse for today’s post. On the north and south side of the lighthouse you can walk down to the shore, as you can see in the image above. When I turned to take this image I noticed the large rocks in front of the lighthouse featured a shelf – like a path – in between the two sloping sections of rock. I thought to myself, “I don’t see any signs… so…”

So, I started walking around the lighthouse. It was low tide, so I was grateful to stay dry while at the same time wondering what it would be like to walk around the lighthouse at high tide!

It was a short, but beautiful walk with the mighty Atlantic Ocean filling my view. Thanks for stopping by.

top of the light

At the end of the spiral staircase inside Montauk Lighthouse you step into a small chamber directly beneath the panels of glass (the lantern) that surround the guiding light that shines across the waters. A state park employee greeted my entrance into the chamber by informing me that I am not permitted to stand in the glass enclosed area above us. I can only take 4 or 5 steps and peer into the very top of the lighthouse. In the black and white image above you can see the small Fresnel lens (beneath the triangle plate) that currently sends light to signal ships and sailors. Compare that lens to this one! – https://rutakintome.com/2019/05/17/fresnel-art/

I was SO tempted to step into that lantern area, but, I chose to behave. The exit into the lantern wasn’t the only way out of the chamber. There was a small archway that faced north outside to a small space large enough for one person to stand and lookout. Here is what I saw:

Turning around and walking east across the chamber I was surprised to see this:

Just another day at the office. Thanks for stopping by.

finally your eyes

light window

I indicated in my previous post that I would post what I saw at the top, forgetting that I had a few images of the windows I passed as I wound my way up through the lighthouse. These two images are the same window with different “moods” and perspectives. Thanks for stopping by.

light stairs

It was a dizzying climb to the top of the lighthouse. The relatively small space and limited field of vision was disorienting, in a fun kind of way.

The Lighthouse was completed on November 5, 1796 and is the oldest Lighthouse in the State of New York and the 4th oldest Lighthouse in the United States. The Tower is 110′ 6″ tall and there are 137 iron steps to the top of the tower. Thanks for that Google.

If you would like to explore the story and history of the Montauk Lighthouse a bit more, this is a good place to start: https://montauklighthouse.com/info/lighthouse-history/ Next: what I found at the top.

fresnel art

I wonder if there are any still living who possess the creativity, artistry, and craftsmanship represented by these Fresnel lenses. They are truly magnificent!

Next post (I promise): we start climbing!

light at the end of the island

Here are some images of the Montauk Lighthouse at the end of the island. It was a beautiful day to explore in and around the lighthouse.

If you want to read more about this National Historic Landmark check out this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montauk_Point_Light

According to our friends at Wikipedia, the lighthouse was constructed in 1796. The building in front is a privately run museum.

Thanks for stopping by. Soon to come: interior images.

end of the island

This image, and the next more than a few posts, will be from my recent trip to Long Island, and time spent exploring the end of the island, known as, Montauk Point. This was taken as I walked around the perimeter of the lighthouse. More on that lighthouse soon. Thanks for stopping by.