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Tuesday, September 30, 2014

39 Steps - not at all what you'd think.

When asked about what sights we'd so far seen in Port Fairy, we thought our coverage quite comprehensive. We'd even walked out to the lighthouse during some vegetation clearing  with accompanying burning off. The little tower took on an spooky look with black smoke wafting around it. "Would we like to go up the lighthouse?" was the question posed. "You bet"!

 The Port Fairy lighthouse in a smokey haze.

I raced to find the Bloke who was doing his morning 'me time' drinking coffee and reading the paper at Rebecca's Cafe. Guess where we are going right now? Drink up quick, quick - places to go and see.

Off we trotted to Griffith Island at the mouth of the Moyne River as excited as a pair of kids. At the approach path to the lighthouse there were two family groups with pre-schoolers, their delight at being at the door of a lighthouse apparent from even 50m. Their associated photo-shoot seemed to take forever. We sat on the wall half way along the path patiently. We must have been looking pretty cool and disinterested because another group with young teenagers didn't even acknowledge at all or that we just might be waiting for 'our turn' and shot past us to indulge in a shameless round of 'selfies' at the lighthouse doorstep. Ha ha, little would they know that the oldies they'd so rudely queue-hopped had the key to the door!


The Bloke opening up.

 View to the first of 'the 39 steps' to the top.

Checking the plumbing.

This air vent was very much in operation with the wind whistling through.
It would have been essential ventilation in the days when the lamp was gas lit.

The old bulbs and lighting mechanism.

A closer look at the lens with 'workings' within.

 
"Fourth Order
Catadioptric Fixed and Flashing Light
With Short Elipses
Chance Brothers and Co
Glass Works near Birmingham 1858"

The old and the new

 The solar panel keeps this light lit now.

 
View back along the walkway.
The railings are long gone but we bet they were days when the lighthouse was tended daily that they were very much needed.
 
Going down

Couldn't read their faces but surprise comes to mind.

Well that's our version of 39 Steps.
Not the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock thriller, but interesting and fun just the same!

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