DBLHKFA
Volunteers at
The 2008
Lighthouse Challenge
President Angelo, Tony Giletto, Rod Mulligan
And Bull Geilfuss. Frozen team of salesmen.
Other Lighthouse Outreach groups doing their thing.
Ludlum and
President Angelo, and Bull
Geilfuss at “Parade Rest”, Bill in his complete Keeper uniform.
In warmer times! Your Board
of Director’s in action on the “Boardwalk” in sunny Fortescue.
Onboard
The
Lightship
By DBLHKFA
Member
Fritz
Heipertz
Fritz received his orders
from the USCG in 1967. To work and live on the Lightship “
His first glimpse of the
dangerous work that became his daily routine unfolded as he approached the
lightship from the CG cutter that transported him to the “Delaware” He had to
climb aboard the “Jacobs Ladder” making sure he wasn’t crushed between the two
ships as he reached the safety of the lightship’s deck.
His initiation, as the ship
rolled and pitched during heavy weather was sea sickness and exhaustion along
with his 8 shipmates. The hourly tasks were completed every hour regardless.
Every 4 hours the weather observations had to be taken and logged.
Fritz was scheduled to work
two weeks on and one week off, unless the cutter could not make its weekly
trip. Winter storms created havoc. Storms made life extremely difficult. Huge
waves tossed the ship around and when the fog rolled in the fog horn alerted
ships of the dangers of the sea and the lightships position. The fog horn was
so loud the crew could fell the deep vibrations in their chests.
Life was hard on the
lightship but days of calm seas made it a surreal experience. Fifty foot whales
would surface, intrigued by the sound of the generators, dolphins would playfully
jump. Memories of clear night skies filled with millions of stars will always
find a place in my heart along with the Coast Guard.
(Fritz’s complete story and
pictures can be found at http://www.livinglbi.com/)
THANKS TO: Member Joanne
Bolton for supplying this article to the “Bay Run”
“Event Statistics”
From
the NJLHS regarding the 2008 Lighthouse Challenge
Participation: 27,901 Visitors- Average visitors/sites 2,146 24% increase over 2007
2,229
Starters 5% decrease over 2007
1,646
from NJ – 547 from 20 States & D.C.
9
from 3 countries…1,657 Finishers
163
Duel Challengers up 10% from 2007
81
Triple Challengers, up 25%