Jupiter – Florida, U.S.A. This weekend, I got stuck at the top of a nineteenth century lighthouse and saw the ocean crash beneath my feet.
It’s Memorial Day weekend in the United States, three days tailor-made for spontaneity and day-trips. On the spur of a moment, Jabu and I made the hour and a half drive north from Miami to Jupiter, Florida, and the Blowing Rock Preserve. I’d long wanted to check out the area’s uniquely rocky coastline and was long overdue for some sand between my toes.
Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse
My first stop, before crossing onto Jupiter Island, was the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, which is listed on the US National Register of Historic Places. Luckily I arrived just before the final tour of the lighthouse departed at 4:00 pm. The only way to view the lighthouse up close is by purchasing a $9 ticket, which includes admission to the adjacent museum, a guided tour of the grounds, and an opportunity to ascend the lighthouse’s spiral staircase.
After an introduction to the local history — which includes an overview of a prehistoric Native American midden found on the grounds — and a tour of the lighthouse keeper’s workshop, I wound my way up the lighthouse’s narrow metal staircase in a single file line. The climb is dizzying, but rather quick if you keep to it and resist the urge to rest on one of the four windowed landings. I made it to the top in under five minutes, and used my descent to pause at the four windows and snap photos.
Unfortunately, it was not so easy for others. One of our fellow travelers collapsed just one step away from the top of the lighthouse. With her blocking the tiny stairway and groaning in agony, our entire group was stuck atop the 108-foot structure for a good fifteen minutes awaiting paramedics. In the end, our fellow traveler was fine and I had a splendid extended visit with a beautiful historic landmark.
My next step, and the real reason for my visit, was Blowing Rocks Preserve, which I discovered upon arrival closes at 4:00 pm. It was 5:30 pm. Drat. I was late! I steered the car toward nearby Coral Cove Park, just to the south of Blowing Rock Preserve. I would walk up the coastline to the Preserve. Great thinking and worth every bit of the muscle soreness that follows long walks in the sand.
Dunes
While Blowing Rock Preserve boasts beautiful dunes and a variety of plants and animals native to Florida, it is known for its jagged limestone coastline. I am told that winter storms and extreme high tides are the best time to visit and observe just where these rocks get their name. As waves crash against the coastline, the craggy, porous rock formations cause geysers — shooting saltwater high into the air. The tide was relatively low when we visited, allowing us to scamper across the pock-mocked shore and to peer down through the rocky blowholes, the ocean gently lapping beneath.