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Friday 28 July 2017

Through the window

On a recent beautiful summer day at the Souris lighthouse, there was an idyllic view of the Northumberland Strait and the fishing boats.




One can imagine it is not always so however. In days gone by, what was it like during the worst storms, looking out the window as you tended the light while the tower shook and the wind howled? Sometimes a wall of white was all that was visible.


The keeper’s house, now relocated, was through this door. 




It stood, with the light itself, on Knight Point at the entrance to the harbour at Souris in eastern Prince Edward Island. Today the light remains, automated, standing its lonely vigil whatever the weather. No problems with the weather this day however. 


The various floors of the building show an aspect of the work involved with tending the light. The old light was run by kerosene which was pumped up to the light.





Now, the lantern room at the top of the building holds the current light. It was a thrill to go out on the gallery




outside the room and take a photo of this light and the community below.




This is the only lighthouse where we have been able to go out on the gallery. We watched the boats and thought of earlier days, in the 1880s, when the light was new and mariners welcomed the guidance.


The ferry for the Îles de la Madeleine comes into the wharf at Souris,




taking visitors to and from the Québec island. There were numerous French speaking people visiting the lighthouse as they waited for the ferry to arrive from the island.


Later, as we proceeded along the southeast coast, we saw the ferry on her way into Souris. A visit to the Îles de la Madeleine may be in our future. After all, we are island people.





38 comments:

Anvilcloud said...

It's a nice lighthouse, and that does sound like a good trip for the future.

DJan said...

Thank you for the fascinating tour of the lighthouse. I too wonder what it was like to live there! :-)

Angela said...

Ohh how beautiful!!! I would love to visit there!!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

We spent a lovely afternoon in Souris when we were in PEI. I'd LOVE to go to the Iles de la Madeleine sometime too!

Joanne Noragon said...

The amount of work our parents, grandparents, put into each day with no thought of the difficulty is boggling.

Debbie said...

Idyllic was the perfect description for that view. What a gorgeous lighthouse!!

Tabor said...

This lighthouse does look familiar to me, but then again, they are rarely very different and I have seen a few.

Karen said...

How nice. I was there 2 years ago and the light in the lighthouse was taken off for repairs. The lighthouse looked really funny without it! I went in the gift shop and had a lovely chat with the woman working there.

http://bitstop-nfld.blogspot.ca/2015/09/points-east-coastal-drive-pei.html

Down by the sea said...

Wonderful to get a look inside this wonderful lighthouse! Sarah x

Elephant's Child said...

Beautiful. I suspect the lighthouse keeper's lives (and that of their families) was filled to the brim with beauty, danger, hard work and sometimes lonliness. Definitely not a job for everyone, but one which served a very real need.

Bill said...

I always have a fondness for lighthouses and this is a beautiful one. Thank you for the wonderful tour Marie.

ann @ studiohyde said...

It was lovely to visit via your blog, great photos :)

Marie Smith said...

Thank you Ann.

Marie Smith said...

I would like to see all of them here, Bill.

Marie Smith said...

There are some very isolated lighthouses in Newfoundland. It must have benn so lonely there, EC.

Marie Smith said...

It is a great one because you can go out on the gallery, ouside the light, Sarah.

Marie Smith said...

Love all the lighthouses, Karen! You captured them beautifully.

Marie Smith said...

So true, Tabor. I always look for what's different about each one.

Marie Smith said...

She's a beauty, Debbie. Hope you're feeling better soon.

Marie Smith said...

All that hard work was just the way of life for them. They just did it, Joanne.

Marie Smith said...

I hope to go in the near future, Debra.

Marie Smith said...

Getting outside the light was thrilling, Angela.

Marie Smith said...

Friends of my moher's family staffed a lighthouse with their family. Mom often stayed with them. Hard work!

Marie Smith said...

The island off this island would be a good island to visit, AC.

Rick (Ratty) said...

I've never seen a lighthouse myself. A tour of one would be very special. Your pictures are the next best thing.

Ginnie said...

You always give such a complete picture of the places you visit. It's a treat and thanks.

Marie Smith said...

Thanks Ratty. This lighthouse is a beauty.

Marie Smith said...

I love lighthouses, Ginnie. My imagination goes wild but I take in the details too.

HWIT BLOGG said...

Lovely, lovely pictures...
Warm hug from Titti

Marie Smith said...

Thanks for visiting, Titti.

Blogoratti said...

Beautiful view from the window and such a nice lighthouse and photos. Warm greetings!

Marie Smith said...

Warm greetings to you as well, B.

The Furry Gnome said...

Nice little lighthouse!

Marie Smith said...

It is ai gem, FG.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

I was hoping that you would go into that wonderful lighthouse from the moment you first showed it to us Marie. It's such a delightful shape and so well looked after, excellent view from above!

Marie Smith said...

This lighthouse is one of my favourites, PDP.

Mage said...

That's a beautiful lighthouse and so nicely kept too. Thank you so much for taking us along on this jaunt.

Marie Smith said...

It is a great lighthouse and well maintained, Mage.