St. Augustine Lighthouse - Climbing 219 stairs to the top!

I can count my phobias on my hands and feet, you might say I'm a bit... cautious. I've overcome a lot in my thirty-two years, but my (totally rational) fear of heights was not one of them. With my mother visiting from Ohio, my husband and I wanted to treat her to a few tourist attractions in our area. Now my mother has arthritis in her hip, so I assumed climbing a sizable lighthouse would be out of the question, but surprisingly.. not so! With camera in hand, I took as many off-balanced steps required to move my body onward and upward... like, really upward!

Theres a bit of history to be learned in the rooms off the main entrance of the lighthouse.. these giant oil casks were interesting looking. If you get the chance to visit, head to this room where you can attempt to lift a bucket of oil! Spoiler alert: it's heavier than it looks!

The view from the bottom isn't as scary as you'd think... I'm not a very fit person, but managed the 219 steps with mostly ease. My mother whom I mentioned earlier actually beat me to the top. I was really proud of her tenacity and eagerness to accomplish the climb.

I stopped at a few windows to get a feel for the winds strength at different heights. The higher I climbed, the wind gusts were really testing my grip on my phone. Taking these photos became extremely difficult and risky. I was sure my phone would meet some terrible fate before I had a chance to complete my journey! Its here you can see the keeper's house.

It was around this point that the wind started to pick up, as windows are left open to allow the breeze. This shot ended up being one of my favorites of the day despite the trouble I had steadying my hands. I'm sure it goes without saying, but as you rise up the lighthouse the walking path starts to feel rather tight, legs wobble and hands seem unsure. One of the key features of my fear of heights is jelly legs!.. who's with me?

I was happy to be on the ground and thanking my lucky stars my phone and these photos lived to show you the trip... Above you can see the light keeper's house in greater detail. The keeper's house had previously been destroyed and gutted by a vandals fire. Fortunately sixteen volunteers worked over the course of fifteen years to restore it to its former glory. and with that heart warming tidbit, I end todays post... I hope you've enjoyed it!

As always I appreciate you spending time with me today. I would also like to give a warm welcome to my new followers! I hope you have a fantastic rest of your day and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.

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St. Augustine Lighthouse information credit: http://bit.ly/1Nh29P3