Oct 2008

Continued our drive to Myrtle Beach, SC. The road took us in and out of small town, near the beach at times and across many bridges. Arriving in MB, we set up the coach and explored somewhat. Myrtle Beach is a tourist town and this weekend was for the BIKERS. There must have been several thousand for the weekend. We will have the coach serviced on Monday.

Leaving Hatteras today we took the free ferry to Ocracoke. Then drove to the other end of the island and boarded the ferry to Cedar Island. This is also a small ferry and requires reservations. After a 2+30 minute ride we deboarded on Cedar Island. Then drove the small back roads heading towards Swansboro for the night.
We passed Camp Lejune, one of the main training bases for the US Marines.

Today we got on the free ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke. This ferry carries about 20 cars, totally open with the Captains helm on a column in the center. It is a 17 mile, 40 minute trip to the Ocracoke island. Ocracoke is famous for once being the home of Black Beard, the pirate, slain here in 1878. It is also famous for being named #1 beach in America. Another unique site on the island is the British cemetary. A British frigate, patroling the East Coast of the US was hit and sunk by a German submarine in 1942. The remains of those sailors found were buried here. The island is 14 miles long and the only developement is at the southern end at Silver Lake Harbor. There are lots of rental units, large houses, restuarants and shops.

Tour day of the area. The entire Outer Banks is a tourist area. The summers are busy with people using their vacation time to visit the 'shore'. Once fall and winter set in, there are very few people driving the roads or walking the streets. Fishing is one of the primary attractions. Bait can be caught at the various streams or inlets and then used for surf casting. Swimming is not so popular because fo the constant rip tides and no life guard stations.
There is always a breeze, sometimes a wind, blowing along the coast keep you cool. And since the Atlantic current is coming up from the Florida area, the water temperature is currently 72 degrees.

One of the prime attractions on the lower part of the area, in the town of Buxton, is the Hatteras Lighthouse.
This is the tallest brick lighthouse in the US. To reach the top of the 208 foot structure you have to climb 168 circular steps. Once at the top you have a commanding view of the area. In 1999 this lighthouse was moved from it original location. The area around the lighthouse was eroding and the future was in doubt. It was moved some 1800' inland and re-established as a working light house.

On the road again, this time to the OBX. OBX is the bumper sticker for the Outer Banks of North Carolina. This is really nothing but sand spit that has been developed. The most famous site on the OBX is Kitty Hawk. Here the Wright brothers flew the first powered aircraft. It was quite a story of how they attained their achievment. At the time they flew there was not a tree or a house on the entire spit. The sand blew and drifted all the time. Now to stablize the area trees and grass were planted. Once the roots take hold, then building started and now you should see it. Large houses that appear to be 3 stories. However that is not totally true. The first floor is usually enclosed with lattice but only storage or garages are there. The real living area is on the second and third floor. This is to allow for surges of water from storms to pass under and not damage the home. We are currently in Hatteras Village, southern most poing on the spit.

Catch up day. As we are preparing to leave the Virginia Beach area and travel down the Outer banks of North and South Carolina we needed supplies. So shopping was the order of the day. Also, since the season is approaching, we found an outlet for a FLU SHOT. This will keep us in good health for the rest of the trip. The weather in Norfolk area has been rainy with thunderstorms, not pleasing the dog.