Robbins Reef Trip Report, December 16, 2021

Noble Crew: Nick Boyle, Tony Cucurullo, Erin Urban

Weather: Early sunset coming on, with sun and wind 40s

Access: Left Miller’s at 2:15 PM and returned at 4 PM on the Nicholas Miller captained by Dave Steckley.

Purpose of the trip: The purpose of the trip was to check conditions, move vulnerable objects and supplies upstairs, and bring back the generator and other equipment.

Note: Access was made impossible by the Coast Guard, who had removed our lock and substituted theirs for the third time in 10 years. Fortunately Tony spotted a small key on the promenade, and it worked. Obviously the Coast Guard lost the key we had supplied to them, substituted a new padlock, and did not inform us or give us a key. Had Tony not spotted it, we would have wasted Miller’s time and ours.

*The door settled under a tarp in the sitting room and some wire for rigging the painting platforms…*

Tasks accomplished: Tony and Nick rigged the generator and got it, with other heavy tools, down to the platform. Tony will store the generator at his shop. They moved the kitchen door, which Carmen Campo, Ken Johnson, and Leslie Petosa have been working on all year, to the second floor for safekeeping. Erin helped move other equipment and supplies to the equipment room. The place, as you can see, is spotless because of the ventilation system and the respectful lighthouse husbandry of the Noble Crew.

The Coast Guard had switched off the breaker to our fan, and Tony and Nick had to get it going again. We placed a sign on our panel box stating “Please (Tony’s word) do not turn off the ventilation system.” He and Nick checked the Watch Gallery and balcony, and the Light Gallery, where there was almost no soot, as we had cleaned the finial this summer.

Next steps: We will meet on a semi-monthly basis as weather permits and go out to check on the lighthouse and make more progress on the interior. We will secure the hardware for the kitchen door and perhaps be able to rehang it. We also need help with removing the linoleum glue from the floors.

We are set to start the exterior painting as soon as Spring arrives.