Beach Day

The weather report said that today was going to be sunny! When we woke up this morning it was a typical beach day, low clouds and no sun.  To make matters worse it, by the time Kathe and Jim finished their pancakes, it started to drizzle.  So the bicycle ride on the beach path was cancelled and they went to the Westport Maritime museum instead.  Leaving me home, again!

This museum's star attraction is the Fresnel lens from the Destruction Island Lighthouse.  This type of lens was invented by a French physicist, Augustine Fresnel in 1822.  A first order lens, it is 7'10' high and the inside diameter is 6'1" and it is visible for 25 miles.  It was installed in 1891 and illuminated by a kerosene lantern.  Since 1942 until it was deactivated in 2008 it was illuminated by a 1000 watt electric light  bulb.  The current value is estimated at 5 million dollars.


 
 


It was still raining after lunch so Kathe and Jim went wine tasting at the Westport winery.  No grapes are grown in this area of Washington, only cranberries, so all the grapes are brought here from the various wine growing regions of the state.  The wines were interesting, but the garden was really a treat.  Hope you like this sand sculpture.

When they came back from wine tasting the sun was out!  All three of us went for a long walk on the beach path in the State Park. 
Now that was FUN!