I love lighthouses. No matter where I am in the world, they appeal to my sense of adventure. Beckoning to be explored. Stories to be told. They give off an air of mystery. I wonder what they have seen, perched high on their craggy lookouts. The lighthouses of British Columbia have provided a guiding light to many a mariner.
They make for wonderful photography subjects, no matter the weather. Sunshine or storm, giving you a different perspective each time. Intriguing to me, their history and the stories they hold within. Lighting a path through the night to keep ships away from danger. What have they seen? The perils and dangers of the sea – lives lost and lives saved. A beacon of hope and light in the darkness.
Then there are the lighthouse keepers. What must their lives have been like? A solitary, lonely life, in which they tended and cared for their lighthouse amid all weather. Pounded by violent windstorms, lost in a sea of fog, pelted by rain, or basking in a moment of sunshine. No matter the weather, they had a job to do.
It would take a certain type of person to want to do this job. Strong minded and able to deal with the loneliness and isolation. Happy with their own company and able to withstand the storm. Yet, there is still a part of me that thinks what an awesome job this would be. The beauty of these remote places. Strength of the ocean in its full glory. I would watch all day in awe.
The appeal of being away from the chaos and noise of city living would be a definite bonus. No traffic or crowds of people, just the beauty of your surrounds. Perhaps, just wishful thinking. Reality being, an extremely hard life and not for everyone. Forget about friends stopping in for a quick chat or drink. No grocery stores in sight. Supplies flown in for remote locations. I think we are all struggling enough with the isolation of Covid restrictions. This would be a whole other level.
There are stories of historical lighthouse keepers, being driven to madness or suicide from the isolation. They suffered from mercury and lead poisoning, fires in the lighthouses, the perils of rescues on their own, lack of sleep, and the wild weather. Thankfully, present-day keepers have a little more help. Automation has brought about changes.
British Columbia has a group of 54 lighthouse keepers working across 27 manned lighthouses. Keepers work in pairs to cover an entire day. There are approximately 40 surviving lighthouses along the coastline of British Columbia, stretching from the southern tip of Vancouver Island up to near the Alaska border. I admire the men and women that do this job. Do they love their job, is it what they always dreamed of doing? Only they can tell.
It is on my bucket list to stay in a lighthouse. There are many places around the world where you can do this. I have seen listings for the East Coast of Canada, United States, and the United Kingdom. The UK has a network of them overseen by the National Trust. I want to stay in a lighthouse in England or Ireland. Enjoy the amazing views, wake up to the sound of the waves, and take photos to my hearts content. An ocean lover and photographer’s dream.
I won’t forget about the Coast of British Columbia. There are many lighthouses to explore. I have only seen a small fraction of the 40. Not all are accessible. There is no shortage of adventure to be had on Vancouver Island!
Below is a map of the Lighthouses of British Columbia. You can click on the lighthouse symbols for more information on each. This map was compiled by Lighthouse Friends, and they have wonderful lighthouse information on their site.