Day 35 - November 2, 2024

Moving day. We said goodbye to Williamsburg and arrived at Kitty Hawk, NC and the Atlantic Ocean. On the way we stopped for a bus tour of the world’s largest naval base in Norfolk, Virginia. It was quite interesting, but they did not allow any photos except cell phones and from a moving bus I didn’t get much. One shot of the U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower, nuclear powered aircraft carrier.

After the tour we took a little detour to Virginia Beach, took a few shots, had lunch, then came to Kitty Hawk.

Day 36 - November 3, 2024

Another quiet day today. I started with a short walk along a trail here at the resort. Marshy and overgrown, but quite pretty. Then we headed down to the beach (we chose the Atlantic Ocean side as we are on an island). There we saw enough sand to supply our home golf course about a gazillion times and some wind surfers. Looks like fun. That is if I was 40 years younger.

December 17, 1903. Another date with an event that would change the course of the history of the world forever. Orville & Wilbur Wright flew a heavier than air, powered aircraft. The first in history. They were bicycle mechanics that were obsessed with the idea of flight. Astonishingly, only 66 years later, Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. In fact, he took a small piece of fabric from “The Wright Flyer” to the moon and back. They did four flights that day, 120 ft, 175 feet, 200 feet and finally 852 feet. Not exactly intercontinental, but monumental in effect. The memorial is a very interesting place.

Next, we just drove south along the island looking for a good place for a sunset shot. We never did find that, but we found the Bodie Island Lighthouse. Apparently, all of the lighthouses on the Outer banks are closed to tourists for the season. Too bad. I was hoping to climb a few of them.

Day 37 - November 4, 2024

A couple visitors this morning. A Grackle (not my favourite bird, but pretty) and a Gecko. Then off to Hatteras. The road runs along the island bordered by huge sand dunes, and at times the road is on land that is only about 100 yards wide. The Atlantic Ocean is just a stones throw away on both sides. A couple of long bridges then a stop at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. The lighthouse is closed for a major renovation and has scaffolding from top to bottom. It is the tallest lighthouse on the eastern coast.

By now we are a couple hours drive from our timeshare and it’s getting late, so we turned back. I got a pretty good shot of a Great Blue Heron, then we stopped for a gorgeous sunset.

Day 38 - November 5, 2024

After getting a few shots around the resort, including a few turtles, we headed out and drove around Roanoke Island. This is where the first created a settlement, but it did not survive more than a few years. A trivia question that extremely few could answer: What was the name of the first English baby to be born in North America? Answer: Virginia Dare. The settlement ran into difficulty and sent for help, but when it arrived, the settlement was gone. There is now a National Park called Fort Raleigh (think Sir Walter Raleigh) where they tell the story of “the Lost Colony”.  So, the English went to Jamestown to create the first permanent settlement.

Then we were off to the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. This is a beautiful area with miles of roads (gravel) lined with swamp/river. Just a few of the critters that call this area home are Alligators (go figure), the endangered Red Wolf, Bobcat, Black Bear, numerous types of turtles, snakes and countless birds. We were unable to find much except for a couple turtles until late in the day when we finally found a young Alligator and then a large Black Bear.

Tomorrow, we hope to find the Wild Horses of the Outer Banks.

Day 39 - November 6, 2024

Today was the day we decided to take a jeep/truck tour to the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge looking for wild horses. Mission accomplished… and so much more. The day started with a walk along the boardwalk in the town of Duck (yes, that’s a real place). Lovely, but the star became an otter, hunting (successfully) for crab. Check out those teeth!

Then on to the tour which drives miles up the beach and around massive sand dunes and million-dollar homes. Speaking of homes, they are massive! Anyway, it was an enjoyable drive in the back of a 4X4 truck, we did see horses and some beautiful scenery and a WW II Coast Guard Station.

When the tour was over, we went to the Currituck Beach Lighthouse. It was open! So, I climbed the 220 steps to the top and got some shots from there. Then we watched the sunset from Corolla Park. Some of these shots today are gorgeous.

Day 40 - November 7, 2024

Today Verna said she wanted to take a day off and relax. I think she just wanted to get a break from me for a day 😊. Anyway, I went for a drive to see what I could find. I found some Air Force fighter jets, Coast Guard helicopters, ships and AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System).

I walked on a beach, found some sand crabs (lots and lots of sand), pelicans and waves. At Pea Island National Wildlife Preserve, I saw a rabbit, a “Blue Crab”, a medium to large turtle with a flat nose, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Pelicans, multitudes of other ducks and waterfowl and some songbirds.

When they built the new bridge from one island to another, they just cut off the old highway and left the end of it standing as a fishing pier. From there I saw a few Dolphins (I think, possibly Porpoises) and a very nice sunset with the new bridge in the foreground.

Then back to the resort to pick up Verna and head out for dinner.

Day 41 - November 8, 2024

Our last day on the Outer banks. We have gone from one end to the other… almost. We hadn’t taken the ferry (free!) from Hatteras to the island of Ocracoke. So, that’s what we did.

On the way to the ferry, we stopped at a candy store that is a chain. I can’t believe they can sell enough candy to keep a dozen stores on the island going. The first shot is of the unique floor. Then, off to the ferry.

Interestingly the ferry ride traverses only about 2.25 miles between the islands, but because the channel is so shallow, the ferry must sail out and around for a total of about 25 miles. A Coast Guard vessel that was not sparing the gas. A fishing boat showing off the catch. It was a relaxing, beautiful ride. Then we drove around the town a bit, stopped for a brief walk and then returned the way we came. We caught a lovely sunset on the sail home.