RUN!!!

Our next stop was the Outer Banks and all I have to say is RUN!!! Literally for your life!!! The mosquitoes are so bad they’re likely to drive a person insane. In fact, the last time I’ve ever seen mosquitoes as bad as the Outer Banks, was when we lived in Alaska where it’s been said the state bird is the mosquito. Ok, the mosquitoes weren’t as large in the Outer Banks as Alaska but you get the picture. The little bugger’s will actually eat you alive if you allow them. Day or night, rain or shine, they were there always waiting for just the right moment to make their move. But let me back up a bit and I’ll get to the mosquitoes later.

We arrived Swan Quarter just in time to board the ferry to Ocracoke. Now when I say we arrived just in time, I literally mean, just in time. We drove up, paid the $45 cash payment (because it took too long to run the card) and they immediately loaded our truck and trailer. We settled in for the 2 hour and 25 minute ferry ride and decided to head to the top deck for better views. Since the ferry left at 5pm, that meant we were blessed with a beautiful sunset just as we entered Ocracoke.

Ocracoke is rich in sea lore. Blackbeard, the infamous pirate who plundered the Carolina coast in the early 1700’s, was beheaded fighting his last battle just off Ocracoke at Teach’s Hole. Legend has it that his vast treasure may still be buried somewhere around the island so needless to say, you’ll find pirate paraphernalia and pirate booty just about every where you look.

 

Since starting this trip, we’ve gotten in the bad habit of sleeping in which means by the time we shower, shave, eat breakfast and whatever else, we don’t head out the door until mid-morning. It’s not all that bad, I can get used to this, but if we really want to sightsee, it’s nice to do so before the afternoon heat sets in. Our first morning in Ocracoke was no exception. We hopped on our bikes and headed toward the main part of town. Stopped in a couple of shops and decided to head over to the lighthouse. The Ocracoke lighthouse is North Carolina‘s oldest operating lighthouse. Standing at only 75 feet it’s stationary beam can be seen a full 360 degrees to a distance of 14 miles. Unfortunately, you can’t enter either the lighthouse or the lighthouse keepers residence. Even though we were disappointed, I suppose it was a good thing because it was over 90 degrees and I’m sure a lot hotter inside the lighthouse. We were hot and tired so after the lighthouse decided to peddle back to the 5’er and go out again later that night to a nice seafood dinner. “I’m just going to lay down and rest my eyes,” and before you know it, he’s out like a light and as you guessed it, we never made it to dinner.

The next morning we headed up the Carolina coast and decided to spend one last night camping by the beach before heading inland towards Williamsburg. There’s only a handful of RV parks on Cape Hatteras so decided to stay in one of the NC state parks at Oregon Inlet. We were aware we would not have any hookups but that didn’t matter. We had battery for power and 46 gallons of water in the tank. It was a cloudy day and didn’t need the ac so we figured we’d be good for the night. We sat up and with beach chairs slung over our shoulders and Emma in tow, headed for the beach. It really was a fantastic afternoon. Brian spent his time bodysurfing and I spent my time reading. Not a care in the world until we decided to head back to the 5‘er. As we were crossing the dunes I look up to see Brian’s madly swinging his arms around his head. “What in the world are you doing?” “Trying to keep the mosquitoes away!” The further we walk, the more they decide to attack and now they’re bothering me as well. I yelled, “Run!” and off we go. I would have liked to have seen us from a distance because I’m sure we were a sight to be seen. Like slap-stick comedy, we were running through the sand, waving our arms around our heads and bodies trying our best to keep the little pests away.

And that’s not the end of it. Since we didn’t have electricity, we didn’t have air conditioning so we had to sleep with the windows open. Thank God for screens but I know from experience that mosquitoes can wiggle their way through the tiniest of openings and screens are no exception. Besides being hot that night, the mosquitoes had a field day. I ended up with over 20 mosquito bites (I stopped counting at 20) with Brian only having a few which is totally not fair because he sleeps in his birthday suit!! And I swear the little buggers follow us from Ocracoke and multiplied as they followed us along the freeway!!

We’ll have to say, the Outer Banks is definitely a place you want to visit. The towns are quaint, the people are friendly, there are great fresh seafood stores everywhere and the beaches and Atlantic ocean is fantastic. But I’m warning you, if you do decided to visit, don’t forget to pack the mosquito spray!!!