Social Distancing – Since 1873…
That line delivered by Paul Moralee last weekend to me and a group of friends. We laughed a lot – and then thought – wait a minute …. It’s true!
With all of the chaos of the spring and beyond and weeks of talking corona… i took a couple trips on my time off to a place that is perfect for social distancing, relaxing, and disconnecting. We spent 2 weekends at the Porphyry Lighthouse – part of the Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior this incredible spot is located behind the sleeping giant. Actually, its the same distance from the back of the giant, as we are from the front. It’s about 50km away by water – and worth the trip.
Built in 1873 – the lighthouse and the island have a storied history. You can read more about it here, it’s fascinating. We discovered the island a few years ago and have been back many times – but last week was a little different. With all that has been going on – a real break from it all only comes from disconnecting and taking in the fresh air, incredible scenery and relaxing. With amazing black sand beaches, beautiful trails and lots to see – our small group of friends took it all in a couple times last week.
Paul Moralee is the lighthouse keeper with CLLS… him and his team of volunteers do an incredible job of keeping the lighthouse in amazing shape. They provide tours of the island, breaking down its history, unique and rare plant life, taking care of the boat house, sauna and docks (yes, there’s a sauna!). New volunteers live on the island each week – and there’s a guest house that you can also rent for your family for a week to experience it all with them. What the Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior have done with this site is truly remarkable. More people need to experience it.
We spent a couple of weekends relaxing, taking in the sites, relaxing on the black sand beach and even fishing for salmon in the area. (Only got a couple Lake Trout….THIS TIME!). Boaters and sailors from Silver Islet, Amethyst Harbour and Thunder Bay made visits throughout the week. We met some great people, all while keeping our distance and taking in the fresh air. It truly is a hidden gem in our region that more people need to experience. Hey, maybe we’ll take you out there this summer….
Along with many of our friends, we’re now proud members of the Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior…a small donation to keep this and other sites running is worth every penny. If you’re visiting the site – make a donation, show your appreciation for their work and keep these important pieces of our history intact.
Check out the website for more information, and follow the CLLS page on Facebook and Instagram. Then catch a ride out to see this amazing piece of history.
Visit the Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior website for more information and details about their amazing work!