My almost sunrise road trip to Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse
      POST 4: (04/19/2021) Name of the site: Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse Date and Time of Visit: April 19, 2021. 06:30 (6:30am) Facts about the Lighthouse: Long before the lighthouse existed, the breakwater stood. But the breakwater wasn’t always there, it was actually completed the first time in 1899. But after more intense storms ripped through the area, it was decided that the breakwater needed to be taller to help protect the town and harbor on the other side of the breakwater. During this heightening period is when they also added the base for a lighthouse to be built. It is interesting to note that the reason the lighthouse was built wasn’t due to navigational issues or low waters in the area, it was actually because the breakwater was now in the way of vessels entering and exiting the neighboring harbor. RB Lighthouse was finished in 1902 and has been in service ever since its completion. Reaching 25ft, the beacon flashes a white light every 5 seconds and can be seen almost 20 nautical miles away. It is also equipped with a foghorn that can blast every 15 seconds. RB Light was fully automated in 1965, meaning that there is no longer a need for a lightkeeper. Although it is interesting to mention that even though it is fully automated, you can become a pseudo lightkeeper by logging onto the ‘Friends of Rockland Harbor Lights’ website and clicking the live camera link. Today, the light is an active registered aid to navigation maintained by the US Coast Guard. But the rest of the lighthouse is owned by the city of Rockland and is leased out to the American Lighthouse Foundation. During the summer months, Friends of Rockland Harbor also offer tours of the lighthouse including on the top by the lens! My Visit: This time I tried something new and really enjoyed myself! I tried a vlog-style way of recording my trip instead of just pictures of the location. It was pretty fun to try, but I am not sure if it is something that I will continue to try either to get better at or maybe even try a different way altogether. I woke up around 4:15 to get to the breakwater light this time, and I think it was really worth it. (Although I managed to miss sunrise by about 20 mins, and my GPS telling me that I had arrived at the lighthouse in the middle of an intersection smack-dab in the middle of a residential area…) I had never been here before. I did talk to my Father before going and he did send me some pictures. But for me, it was all brand new. The nearly two-mile walk out and back on the breakwater was surprisingly easy despite my ability to tell when I am halfway or not, and the weather was decent as well (although as soon as I reached my end destination the wind picked up and I decided that it was time to leave. I think the only annoying, not really bad thing that occurred on this trip was the horrible drive on RT 1 that I took. It was the fastest route but was just the worst to drive. Pictures Included: 1) Video “Sunrise(ish) at Rockland Breakwater 2) The Lighthouse 3) The House 4) Plaque on the Light 5) Flag Pole dedication rock 6) Lighthouse picture from my Dad’s collection 7) The house also from my Dad’s collection. Sources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlYXckJahHo&t=8s https://www.rocklandharborlights.org/history/ http://www.lighthousefoundation.org/lighthouses/rockland-breakwater-light/