Day 29 – (05/31) Wanchese, NC (Day 2)

Weather – It was like much of the east coast today ... sunny, temperature in the high 80s, and humid.  We did have a nice ocean breeze.

We drove 164 miles without the trailer.  The route:  Outer Banks National Seashore (NC 12) from Nags Head to Ocracoke and return.  The road was excellent; traffic was light.  It went from Bodie Island to Pea Island to Hatteras Island.  The Herbert C. Bonner Bridge connected Bodie and Pea Islands.  A 40 minute ferry ride completed the link to Ocracoke Island.

The turn onto NC 12 south at the start of the trip revealed a dramatic and welcome change from what we saw yesterday when we turned north into Nags Head.  We immediately entered the Outer Banks National Seashore.  There were no businesses or services for miles.  The road was lined with sand dunes and brush.  The Atlantic Ocean was on the east and Pamlico Sound was on the west.  Very scenic.

Bodie Island Lighthouse & Light Keeper's home
(built in 1872, still has its 1st-order Fresnel lens)

Herbert C. Bonner Bridge
(connects Bodie & Pea Islands)

Dunes from Outer Banks National Seashore

Dunes like to sneak across the road

Rental homes like these line the route as we pass  through  the small communities
 of  Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, Hatteras and Ocracoke

Leaving Hatteras for Ocracoke

Gulls follow us and sweep low over the ferry

Our course avoids sandbars above and below the surface

U.S Coast Guard on patrol

The city of Ocracoke is located near the south end of the island.  It's about 13 miles from the ferry landing.  We had a delicious lunch at Howard's Pub.  Carol had a shrimp salad sandwich and Dick had a grilled tuna sandwich.  Both were exceptional.  Try Howard's Pub if you're in the area.

Arriving at Ocracoke
(The ferry landing is the only thing at the north end of the island)

Marina in city of Ocracoke

Ocracoke Lighthouse

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest brick lighthouse in North America.  It's 208 feet high.  We climbed to the top (equivalent to climbing a 12 story building).  Note:  We had to pay to make the climb.  What's wrong with this picture?

It sure seems like a long way up

Looking up the 248 stairs

View of keeper's house from the top

Looking north from the top

Southpoint from the top

The shoreline is the highlight of the area.

Atlantic Ocean shore - looking south

Atlantic Ocean shore - looking north

These were the only people on the beach

Except for this one (and the photographer)

Day 28 – (05/30) Wanchese, NC (Day 1)

Weather – It was sunny today.  The temperature was in the high 80s.  There was a light breeze.

View of the KOA pond as we left 

We drove 136 miles to Wanchese, NC.  The route: north on US 17 to Old Ford, northeast on NC 171 to US 64 at Jamesville, east on US 64 to Manteo, and south on NC 345 to The Refuge on Roanoke Island campground.

Travel

The drive was beautiful and serene.  The drive on US 17 from New Bern to Old Ford was part of the National Geographic Tidewater Scenic Drive (P 107).  The road was 2 lane and tree-lined.  It passed through fields, small towns and very little commercial development.

US 64 crossed the Alligator River and Croatan Sound as we approached Roanoke Island.

Crossing the Alligator River

Campground

The Refuge has many services and amenities.  We’ll park here for the next three days and explore the Outer Banks.

The Refuge - site #15

The pond, pavilion and nature walk

The pavilion offers seating for everyone

Nature walk

Sunset at  the campground

Sights

There is so much to see here.  We spent part of the afternoon looking around the area and making plans for the next few days.  

Stop 1:  Waterside Theatre to get tickets for The Lost Colony outdoor drama presentation on Wednesday evening.

Entrance to Waterside Theatre

Carol approaches the theatre

Stage for The Lost Colony drama

Stop 2:  Fort Raleigh National Historic Site

Remnant of Fort Raleigh

Virginia Dare was born near here on August 18, 1587
(she was the first child of English parents born in America)

Stop3:  Freedman’s Colony of Roanoke Island

We had a certain image of the classic "southern" tree.  You know ... covered with Spanish moss.  This one at the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site fits the image.

Our classic southern tree

We then drove over Croatan Sound to the Outer Banks northern beaches.  We went north on NC 12 through Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills to Kitty Hawk in search of the Wright Brothers National Memorial and Jockey’s Ridge State Park.  This section of NC 12 has been developed for tourism; it offers no scenic appeal.  We’ll take a closer look at the memorial and park on Wednesday.

We returned to Manteo (the locals say "Man-ee-o") on Roanoke Island and had a fun dinner at Big Al’s Soda Fountain and Grill.  Al's is a 50s-style diner with all kinds of Coca-Cola memorabilia.

Day 27 – (05/29) New Bern, NC

Weather – This was a fun day.  We had a little rain shower here; a little sunshine there.  Some of the bugs got washed off.

We had a great breakfast with the Stone family (another masterpiece by Mike) and said our goodbyes.  They left for church and we left for another day of adventure.

Sunrise over Bay Tree Lake

Boat lift allows movement from one area to another

Stone's home

Trevor, Kylie and Caleb are ready for breakfast

Carol, Dick, Carol & Ed

We were interested in seeing Cape Fear and needed a place to camp for the night.  We discovered that most campgrounds were full (no surprise) for the holiday.  Carol found a vacancy at the New Bern KOA.  We took an interesting 179 mile route there (New Bern is northeast of Bay Tree Lake) by heading southeast toward Cape Fear.  The route:  north on NC 41 to NC 210, southeast on NC 210 to US 421, US 421 south through Wilmington to Carolina Beach.  The holiday traffic going south at that point was really backed up.  We gave up on Cape Fear and went north on US 421 to US 17 and then north on US 17 to New Bern.

The campground

We lucked out.  The space at the New Bern KOA was only available because someone had to leave early.  Otherwise, they would have been full.  It’s a nice campground beside the Neuse River with lots of amenities.  We’re grateful to be here.

KOA - Site 59

Sunset on Neuse River

KOA pool and playground

Did you know?

New Bern is the birthplace of Pepsi.  It was originally called "Brad's Drink".

Day 26 – (05/28) Harrels, NC

Weather – There were showers throughout the day.  Temperatures stayed in the mid-80s.

Dick’s cousin, Dan Firman, arrived from Ft. Myers this morning.  He's headed to Albany, NY for a new job as a consultant.  He drove all night, will rest today and continue the trip tonight.  We went to breakfast at Cracker Barrel with him, Uncle Daryl and Aunt Patricia.

Carol & Dan at breakfast

Dan is an artist.  Cowboy Billy is one of his paintings. 

We left family, the campground and Ft. Mill at 11:30am and drove 174 miles to Bay Tree Lake near Harrels, NC.  The route:  I-77 north to I-485, east on I-485 to US 74, then southeast on US 74 to Lumberton and north NC 41 to Bay Tree Lake.

Ed & Carol Stone live in a gated community at Bay Tree Lake.  Ed was Dick’s neighbor, best friend, fellow Scout and Best Man from the early years in Grandview.  We hadn’t seen each other in over 40 years. 

We arrived at the Stone’s on a holiday weekend.  Two of their sons and their families were there for the weekend.  They graciously received us like family.  They had a spot prepared for an RV; complete with 50amp electricity.  We talked for hours and had a wonderful dinner prepared by Mike (a trained chef).  Skye, Sara and Laura assisted the preparation as the parents watched proudly with a smile.

Chatting with Carol and Ed Stone after dinner

Laura, Skye, Carol & Ed Stone

Extending thanks to Mike & Sara Todd-Stone

Kylie, Trevor & Caleb are ready for dinner

Trevor, Caleb and Kylie were the best mannered youngsters we've ever met.  They were courteous, helpful and very well behaved.  In spite of all that, they appeared to be having a good time.  We were impressed!

Children & Grandchildren

Mike & Sara Todd-Stone

2 sons – Trevor (10), Caleb (8)

Skye & Laura Stone

1 daughter – Kylie (5), expecting

Jim & Theresa Todd (live in CT, weren’t there)

1 son - Joseph