When I took a look at my website numbers last week, it occurred to me that today's post would be my 500th since I started this blog a few years ago. When I first started, it was intended as a once in a while thing. It quickly grew to a five days a week publishing effort. I have met so many people on-line that I wouldn't have known otherwise, from fellow bloggers to faithful followers. I have thoroughly enjoyed posting my photos, as it allows me to revisit some great experiences, and hopefully gives a reader or two a place to add to their personal bucket list.
When I was deciding what image to select for the 500th, I wanted a subject that was near and dear to my heart, and lighthouses popped into my mind. I also wanted to convey a unique experience, thus the title of the post. One of my favorite lighthouses on the Pacific coast is the Yaquina Head Light in Oregon. You have to pay to get access to it, but it was well worth it. As I parked the car, we noticed that people seemed to be scurrying around rather quickly for no apparent reason. We soon found out quickly that there were just an amazing number of flies about, and they were landing on everyone. I walked past a man who was wearing a white teeshirt whose back was literally half-black, as a result of all of the flies on it. My wife and son joined the crowd in walking swiftly to the lighthouse and quickly back to the car. But you know us photographers. I took my time to get the shots that I wanted, although I was probably moving as quickly as I could. Thank God they were not the type of flies that you find in Maine that bite. If that were the case, I might not have come back alive.