The Lighthouse Hunters Photography

In 2019 we didn't get to go on our vacation together like we planned. Life isn't fair, and my life will never be the same. In the summer I was encouraged to go away with our friends and experience the adventure a different way. There was a person missing and it was obvious. In four states we drove 1,460 miles plus 122 miles with the two rental cars to equal 1,582 miles. We motored 118 miles on our friend's boat plus 78 miles on the island ferries to equal 196 miles. We saw 66 repeat lighthouses and 23 fake or skeleton lights. I haven't been visiting lighthouses in this area in several years. It was great to get back on their boat and see the lighthouses from the water. I'm still at the same number photographed 1,616 lighthouses in North America. To read more about this year's adventures please click on the year. 2019
In 2018 we went on three vacations. In the spring we were on our first trip with USLHS for the Gulf Coast tour. A bus drove us 1,424 miles in 4 states, we were motored 53 miles on boats, and saw 12 new lights. We enjoyed seeing some of the Louisiana Delta lights by helicopter. The summer was the convention and four fun days with our friends. We drove 2,077 miles, motored 128 miles on our friend’s boat, saw 3 new lights and dozens more. In the fall we flew to Florida to finally finish off the several off shore lights. We drove 1,696 miles, motored 94 miles on several boats, saw 12 new lights and many repeats. We even chartered a plane for 3 hours from Key West to Cape Florida. We’ve now photographed 1,616 lighthouses in North America. To read more about this year's adventures please click on the year. 2018
In 2017 on the Great American Total Solar Eclipse day we began our 19 day vacation. We traveled the coast of Nova Scotia improving our lighthouse shots from 17 years ago. We were disappointed that our IN friend’s car broke and they couldn’t join us. We all hoped to see the distant off shore lighthouses up close with their boat. Sometimes we got our car into difficult situations searching for closer views and even broke down. We saw a rainbow near Cranberry Island and a thin dark blue waterspout. We loved the local Digby clams and ate at the Baddeck Lobster Suppers. We climbed some lights, had great weather, and took 2,900 shots on our awesome trip. We saw 18 new lights and 105 repeats. We've now photographed 1,589 lighthouses. To read more about this year's adventures please click on the year. 2017
In 2016, three plus years after Hurricane Sandy we raised our rental house higher up. The construction seemed endless. Vacation was a nine hour lighthouse cruise from Bar Harbor, ME to Grand Manan, NB. Then we drove through New Brunswick and a small section of Nova Scotia. Then a ferry to Prince Edward Island improving our shots and slept in a lighthouse. Then met up with friends from IN and MI in Souris, PEI. We all took the 3 am ferry to Madeleine Island, QC for three days of adventure. We took two boat trips to the far off shore islands. Our next trip was again with our IN friends along the St. Lawrence River in Quebec. We were on their boat ten times getting close to many off shore lighthouses. We've now photographed 1,571 lighthouses. To read more about this year's adventures please click on the year. 2016
In 2015 it took months to landscape our yard with saltwater friendly ornamental grasses. For vacation we drove through Nova Scotia and fixed our alternator trouble before taking another ferry to Newfoundland. After the rainy beginning and then tire trouble we had a great time. Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada has beautiful landscapes and awesome lighthouses. We met up with our friends from Florida and Indiana at some lighthouses. We were on several car ferries and a few private boat charters. We had full 18 hour days and loved it all. Our next trip was along the St. Lawrence River in Quebec similar to last year. We saw many day markers with our friends. We couldn't use their boat this year due to issues. We've now photographed 1,542 lighthouses. To read more about this year's adventures please click on the year. 2015
In early 2014, about one and a half years after Hurricane Sandy we raised our home higher up. It took several months of construction to make our home safer from future flood waters. Finally we took well deserved vacation to Quebec, Canada. Four times our new friends took us out on their 17 foot boat for some of those off-shore lights. Who knew the St. Lawrence River tides were similar to the Bay of Fundy tides? The tour to the beautiful Brandy Pot lighthouse was a highlight for all of us. Awesome to share part of our trip with dedicated lighthouse hunters like us. Once alone again we finally drove to the striped Pointe des Monts light. Then after eleven years we finally returned to the Gaspe Peninsula. We've now photographed 1,378 lighthouses. To read more about this year's adventures please click on the year. 2014
It took us nine months to rebuild our home and lives after Hurricane Sandy hit us on October 29, 2012. In the summer of 2013 we drove up to Ontario to see Gravenhurst Narrows and Cecebe Lake. Then we headed west to Grand Portage, MN and boarded a boat to Isle Royale, MI. Our experience to see our four final MI lights would have been better if it wasn't for the fog. At least it cleared up enough to finally see Rock of Ages, Rock Harbor, Passage Island and Menagerie Island. In the fall we headed south to see four new lights in DE, MD, VA, SC. This was part of the trip we planned to do last fall but had to cancel. We had great weather for these lighthouses and for the charter boat to the Georgetown light. We've now photographed 1,284 lighthouses. To read more about this year's adventures please click on the year. 2013
In early Spring 2012 we went to Upper NY to get on a 5 hour charter with a friend seeing Galloo Island, Main Duck Island, Pigeon Island and East Charity Shoal. We also rented a boat for an Ontario range light. For our summer vacation we and 3 friends chartered several unique boats in Ontario. We saw almost all of the off-shore lighthouses in Canada's Lake Superior. We were very lucky because we had calm seas and great weather except for a day with fog. It was great to share the adventure and the cost with them. Once back on our own we chartered a boat to the 14 Mile Point light. Unfortunately on October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy slammed our town with 7 feet of water. We had to rebuild half our home. We've photographed 1,273 lighthouses. To read more about this year's adventures please click on the year. 2012
For two Spring weekends in 2011 we were on two boat trips. One with NELL in Upper NY seeing 7 repeats and 2 new lighthouses and one with the NJLHS for repeat Delaware Bay lights. Then we returned to the Great Lakes and Canada's Georgian Bay to get on 15 boats in 17 days seeing 29 new lights. Four of those days were with the GLLKA group on the Keweenaw Star. Next was a week in Maine getting on six boat trips for the rest of the far off-shore lighthouses. We were also in New Brunswick and Ontario, Canada for a day each before our single day cruise with GLLKA in Lake Erie. Then in early October we went on an ALF cruise finally seeing Tarpaulin Cove bringing us to 1,251 photographed. To read more about this year's adventures please click on the year. 2011
Spring 2010 we were on 2 boat trips to complete Maryland. Then we went to the Great Lakes to get on 14 boats and one charter plane in 17 days. We had a fantastic time with GLLKA on the 4 day Keweenaw Star cruise. Only 1 of the 2 weeks in California were for us. We were on 5 boats and the boat to the Farallon Islands let us see a new light. We loved the private charter plane to photograph the hard to reach Point Conception lighthouse. What beautiful cliffs from the air! Late summer we took 8 days in Ohio, Upper New York, Vermont and Long Island getting on 5 boats. We saw 6 new lights bringing us to 1,208 photographed. To read more about this year's adventures please click on the year. 2010
For three snow covered days in early 2009 we braved the -11° wind chill in ME, NH, and MA. The blue sky and snow made a beautiful mini trip. After a long knee replacement recovery we decided to ventured out with a few day boat trips in New England. A few weeks in the summer were spent traveling, mostly by boats, around most of the Great Lake states. Then a scorching two day boat trip down in MD and VA. A return trip to the Great Lakes for several more boat trips and a four day cruise with GLLKA. What a great year for boating. We've now photographed 1,176 lighthouses. To read more about this year's adventures please click on the year. 2009
In the winter of 2008 we bought a Nikon D300 SLR camera with an 18-200 mm lens. In the spring we headed down south to get on more boat trips. We had a successful trip in VA, NC, SC, and GA. The summer we spent 2 great weeks in Ontario, Canada lighthouse hunting. Then we were vendors at the Mid-Coast Maine Lighthouse Challenge. Our fall trip was in New Brunswick, Canada. We also were vendors at the Maryland Lighthosue Challenge and New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge. We've now photographed 1,136 lighthouses. To read more about this year's adventures please click on the year. 2008
In the spring of 2007 we took a week long trip to revisit the south. We went to North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. We had fun! Then in the summer we were all over the northern east coast; NY, VT, NH, ME, Canada, DE, and VA. We rented a small plane for two hours while in Trenton, Maine so we could see 14 lighthouses from the air. It was very exciting because two of them were new ones for us. For the early fall we revisited MD, NY, CT, RI, MA, NH, and ME. We got on more boat trips that we weren't able to get on in the summer. Another great year for us!! To read more about this year's adventures please click on the year. 2007
In the spring of 2006 we had 2 days on Long Island, NY. We went to California and Oregon during the summer. We had to go to a Postal Union Conference in Las Vegas. No lighthouses there and boy was it hot!! We got to see the beautiful red rocks of the Valley of Fire and Red Rock Canyon. We even took a helicopter ride to see the west rim of the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, and the Las Vegas strip. For the fall we went back to New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. We got on 2 great boat trips too. To read more about this year's adventures please click on the year. 2006
We went on 3 totally different trips in 2005. We went to Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, Virginia, Alaska, British Columbia, The Yukon, Canada, Washington including the San Juan Islands, Oregon, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Wisconsin and Michigan. The Alaska/Washington trip was intense! We were on 10 jets, 5 float or wheel planes, 2 ferries, 2 boats, 2 skiffs and a kayak. Ah, a nice relaxing vacation! Ha, ha, ha. To read more about this year's adventures please click on the year. 2005
We went on 3 different trips in 2004. We went to Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, New York, Connecticut, Maine, Hawaii (5 islands), Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts including Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, New Hampshire, and Maine. Boy, getting the Nikon digital camera has made all the difference for me. I take 25-80 shots of each lighthouse now. The quality is just great! To read more about this year's adventures please click on the year. 2004
We went on 3 different trips in 2003. We went to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, British Columbia, Canada, Washington, Oregon, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec, Canada. This year we were really all over the North American map. We had a great time driving around and flying over to the west coast. We love the west coast and the fantastic scenery. We enjoy their rocky ocean views much more than our east coast ocean views. To read more about this year's adventures please click on the year. 2003
We went on 3 different trips in 2002. We went to Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, California, Oregon, and Ontario, Canada. We were all over the map this year. With each trip we are becoming more experienced. We still had so much to learn and we never knew how far we would come in the future. To read more about this year's adventures please click on the year. 2002
We went on 2 different trips in 2001. We went to New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. September 11, 2001 was a horrible day for the world. Days later began our vacation. During our fall trip our car broke while in lower Michigan and we had to rent the only vehicle available, a big van. It was amazing to see so many American flags flying while we drove across the states. We're very proud to be Americans! Weeks later my life was turned upside down again with the sudden passing of my loving and fun younger sister, Diana. To read more about this year's adventures please click on the year. 2001
We went on 2 different trips in 2000. We went to New Jersey (our home state), New York and Nova Scotia, Canada. The rocks at Peggy's Cove were just amazing and so fun to play on! Here at this Post Office you can purchase a postcard, write it out and send it from here. There's a Peggy's Cove logo that covers your stamp when it gets canceled. COOL! To read more about this year's adventures please click on the year. 2000
We went on 2 different trips in 1999. We went to Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts including Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. We enjoy traveling around our beautiful country seeing what each state has to offer. We visited as many as we could and got lost many times. We were still new at this. We know we will become more experienced and learn to plan better. To read more about this year's adventures please click on the year. 1999
We went on 2 different trips in 1998. We went to Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. These were our first trips in the United States looking for lighthouses. Even a year later we kept forgetting to take shots of ourselves in front of a lighthouse. To read more about this year's adventures please click on the year. 1998
In the fall of 1997 we went to New Brunswick, Canada for our first official lighthouse trip. Boy, we weren't as prepared as we should have been. We weren't even on-line yet. We got a real eye opener and learned from our mistakes. I don't think we took any pictures of us while at a lighthouse. If we did we would use an edge of a table or a boulder because we would forget the tripod in the car. Like I said, we were very inexperienced back then. We had a blast and know we will do this for years to come. To read more about this year's adventures please click on the year. 1997
For our 1996 vacation we went to Nova Scotia, Canada because we heard it was a beautiful place to visit. We saw around 20 lighthouses kind of by accident. We really enjoyed the lighthouses and hunting them out. This is when we realized lighthouses were cool. It was from then that we decided to have all of our vacations revolve around lighthouses and lightships. For years our vacations consisted of working around the house, camping and sailing. Much cheaper this way. To read more about this year's adventures please click on the year. 1996

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