The Leaning Lighthouse of Loreto

You are correct Skeet. Have no picture, but it is indeed a rare structure that would only pass muster in Mexico. It also has an exterior door halfway up the structure with no visible way to access it. Go figure !!
Could become a landmark indeed.

Here's a pic.

There have been some brisk north winds lately. Maybe in the summer, when the winds shift, it will lean the other way.

I'll keep my eye on it and post pics if there are any changes.

Quote:

Originally posted by Don Alley There have been some brisk north winds lately. Maybe in the summer, when the winds shift, it will lean the other way. I'll keep my eye on it and post pics if there are any changes.

Sounds like another retirement activity I can appreciate.

Diane

it's got to lean if you need to test gravity

Maybe that lighthouse is too full. That is where they keep the virgins. They are hoping for the wind to liberate them from their plight.

I think they got the idea from Bob and Susan. At least they occasionally let them out to mingle with the guests.

Yes Skeet that lighthouse leans but in TWO directions!

They started construction on the thing in July. It made it very easy for me because I would park under the giant yellow crane and prep the boats going out. Once all my boats were ready I would wait for the in town clients to walk over to the marina and have them "meet me under the giant crane".

They built it with forms and poured concrete into the forms once in place. They were semi circular and about a meter high and they would put them together to form the circle and then pour the concrete. When the tower was about 7 or 8 meters high it leaned to the North. It was hilarious and all the fishermen joked about it and yes we named it the "leaning tower of Loreto" and figured it would make a new tourist attraction and that we should market Loreto as the "Pisa" of North America. I did not take any photos during its construction as I had the busiest summer in our history and was just too busy to do it.

Once they made that door that is halfway or so up and yes with only a ladder to access it, then the forms were set incorrectly and to the error was directionally West. They kept on this erroneous setting and now the upper half tower is leaning (almost severely) to the West from the door up. So from the base to the door the lean is to the North and from that door to the top it leans West. This lean can best be seen from the beach at La Pinta hotel.

I had to make a weather cancellation in late July when the tower was about 3/4 complete and before that I never noticed that West lean. When I finished speaking with the clients I turned around to go back to the marina and WOW could I see that LEAN! I took a couple of photos of it before Norbert because if Norbert kept its predicted course I would have had a good before and after photos if ya know what I mean. If that tower were in place during Hurricane Marty it would have fallenl down. The next hurricane that affects us like Marty did or worse will take it down for sure.

Not being a lighthouse expert but being from New England, all the lighthouses I remember seeing are conical in shape where the base is wider than the top, kind of like that image of Playa Frambles lighthouse. This one is the same width throughout its 27 or so meters until you get to the top where there is a huge walk around observation deck around the light. I wonder who's gonna be brave enough to observe from up there and who is not claustrophobic enough to not freak out going up that spiral staircase to get to the deck.

I am not sure it it is finished but they moved the crane to the south side of the marina. This thing needs stairs to access that door and it is lacking a roof or top on the light to cover the crystal windows that protect the light.
I do have to say that its a hell of a landmark and can be seen from the water from very far away. I don't think its light is working yet I can see it from my house but no light but maybe it is directed to the East and blocked from other directions.

Yes, it is a new Tourist Attraction...

...and because of this post, yesterday, when I was in Loreto getting ready to fly back to Los Angeles, I made a special trip down to the Harbor to check it out before I took off. Wow!

Ok...

...here's the verticle shot.

A good plasterer and she's as good as new.

Well, not new but certainly better.


Or maybe they should just expand on that free viagra giveaway.

Hard to tell. Using one of the light poles, I straightened the image vertically. Assuming the light poles are plumb, the image is now vertical (plumb). Now the lighthouse doesn't look so bad.

Damn, now I'm fixating on this. I straightened Don's original image vertically, and drew a straight line just to the right of the lighthouse. Looks to me like the lighthouse is plumb.

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Bondy Damn, now I'm fixating on this. I straightened Don's original image vertically, and drew a straight line just to the right of the lighthouse. Looks to me like the lighthouse is plumb. It's like those "vortex" House of Mystery places they have in the states, where water appears to run uphill. It's an artfully crafted optical illusion that just looks like it's leaning!

Update:

North wind this afternoon. I think it's crooked.

[Edited on 11-16-2008 by Don Alley]

Hey Don,
Isn't it amazing how the platform managed to stay level.

Light house in Loreto

I love this site !

FINALLY....

Something worthy of lengthy discussion....

I can't wait til Jan... so we can all sit and stare at this new marvel !

Gotta just laugh and love it all !

djhahahaha

Strong wind sheer today

Don Alley - - Sharksbaja

with just a little paint, you won't notice the bend, and everyone will easily find the marina