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The first day of May this Sunday finally felt like Spring. The wind was calm, and the sun was warm. A walk to the Fire Island Lighthouse was the perfect thing to do on this pretty day. As you enter Field 5 at Robert Moses State Park and step onto the wooden walkway that winds along the brush leading to the lighthouse, you leave your worries behind and stroll through this natural landscape where deer and fox roam. We didn't see any today, but you know they're nesting there.
The current lighthouse is a 180-foot stone tower that began operation in 1858 to replace the 74-foot tower originally built in 1826. The United States Coast Guard decommissioned the light in 1974. In 1982 the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society (FILPS) was formed to preserve the lighthouse. FILPS raised over $1.2 million to restore the tower and light. On May 25, 1986, the United States Coast Guard returned the Fire Island Lighthouse to an active aid to navigation. On February 22, 2006, the light became a private aid to navigation. It continues to be on the nautical charts but is operated and maintained by the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society and not the USCG. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 and a boundary increase for the national historic district occurred in 2010.
At 60 and beyond, walking in nature is one of the best things you can do. It's easy on the body and great for the heart and lungs. As a couple, it's time away from the daily stress of bills and other responsibilities and a way to bond while spending quiet time together. Along the winding pathways that go around the lighthouse leading to the bay, you can see the remanence of a whale that washed up near Ocean Beach on Fire Island in 2018. It almost looks like petrified wood. We walked back along the beach at low tide. This is a good time to hunt for shells and other sea-worthy treasures. I found a few heart rocks. There was a pair of ducks frolicking in a pool that had formed at the edge of the sand as a gas-powered parasail soared high above us. Some people brought blankets while others sat on their chairs and relaxed in the sun.
You never know what you'll see at Robert Moses. It's one of the most beautiful places on Long Island and accessible across two bridges over the Great South Bay. The lighthouse is a beacon for beach dwellers and adventurers alike. Whether you walk, sit, hike, or bike, you feel free at the beach where everything's alright.
Peace and Love,
Skylark
Please take a scroll through the pictures at the bottom of the article of some interesting sightings at the beach this Sunday.
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I am a columnist with Skylark Live Town News (SLTN) and write short, poetic articles about human interest, nature, general observations, inspiration, music, and daily life in and around Bay Shore. Please subscribe to my free newsletter that will be delivered directly to your email each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. To support the SLTN community, you can make a recurring monthly donation as a Friend ($5) or Advocate ($15). You can also advertise your business or event here. It's easy and convenient to do. I am also an advocate for people 60 and beyond. These years can be transformative, but they require focus, determination, and planning. I have a first Monday-of-the-month motivational vlog that is designed to inspire people to thrive as they age through knowledge and self-awareness. Please follow me on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Linkedin under my brand, Skylark Live. Thank you for your support.
