Last Day at CAHA

Six months has gone by so quickly. A year ago I was pulling into Des Moines, Iowa. And now, I'm back in Texas, after finishing a great season with the National Park Service at Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina.

Here is an aerial view of where I have been living the past six months. Where those thin ribbons of sand meet and turn, where it looks like there may be land, a smidge of green, that's where I was. The entrance to my duty station.

The last day the lighthouse was open for climbing was Monday, Oct. 11. Our last day of work was Tuesday. Tuesday afternoon, all the seasonals and our supervisors had one final climb of the lighthouse. Looking over the edge, there was a goose, and something white you would recognize if you've ever been in my car.

Here I am at landing five. This is where I would spend most of my time while in the floater position while on duty in the lighthouse. My favorite view, besides the balcony, was from this landing.

View looking down to landings four and three. The landings are on alternating sides of the lighthouse.

Here's the crew from the summer. From back to front, left to right: Erika, Jen, Tim, Eileen, Debbie, Savannah, Jason, Zach, Keri, Michael, Alexander, Me, Chris, & Kevin.

And the group on the granite steps. There are nine. These count in your 257 steps to the top.

I headed to one of my favorite places and watched the sunset over Pamlico Sound one last time. Then I turned ever so slightly, and watched the lighthouse light-up one final time. My friend Troy joined me and then 'cooked' (DiGiorno pizza) dinner for me since I had no food.

Final sunset over the sound.

It was a great experience and I grew a lot. To be honest, I do not know how much I will miss the place, but I already miss the people.