What’s it like off shore as coronavirus spreads? NC man shares views from lighthouse
It’s almost impossible to see signs of the shore from 34 miles away.
As Richard Neal spends his time far off the coast of North Carolina, the sunrise and a glimmer from a distant lighthouse are the best ways to orient himself.
By day, Neal is working his regular 9 to 5 technology job — from out in the Atlantic.
Later, he fulfills duties as director of FPTower Inc, a nonprofit that aims to restore the former U.S. Coast Guard lighthouse off Bald Head Island. The structure called Frying Pan Tower gets its name from nearby shoals that are in the shape of the kitchen tool, according to the website Lighthousefriends.com.
Though his trip into virtual isolation coincides with the coronavirus outbreak on land, Neal says he wasn’t aiming to get away from the disease. He and a volunteer installed an educational camera so people can see the wildlife that abounds off shore.
Cameras on Frying Pan Tower
“The facility itself is in the unique place to be able to observe what’s going on way out of sight of land,” Neal said. “The benefit there is it’s a very natural environment for a huge variety of species.”
In 2018, the tower gained attention when video captured winds from Hurricane Florence battering its U.S. flag. With new cameras, Neal says people will be able to see underwater through Explore, a site dedicated to nature live cams.
“Our goal was to provide an avenue of enjoyment — a viewpoint — for all of the people that are stuck and can’t get out, for them to pull it up on their screens and kind of vicariously enjoy it with us,” Neal said Friday in a phone interview with McClatchy News.
Life on the ocean
Neal, who lives in Charlotte, bought the tower a decade ago, The News & Observer reported. Over years of weekend trips to the site, he says he learned the importance of communication.
Yes, there’s internet on the tower to help Neal to stay up to date on news and talk to other people.
“In many respects, I’ve had a chance to practice what everyone else in the world is going through — not being able to go out and just go visit your friends or sit down at a bar or restaurant or coffee house,” he said.
This trip is expected to last more than a week. Then, Neal and the volunteer will head out one of the few ways they can, by helicopter, he said.
Given the current circumstances, Neal says his nonprofit is “certainly not inviting large quantities of people” to the tower in the future.
