While Three Sons was on the hard getting new engine mounts and the propellers balanced, the crew took a road trip to the Outer Banks. We enjoyed three days along with two days of some fabulous weather and a day of rain taking in all the sights from Kitty Hawk to Hatteras.
Our first stop took us to Wright Brothers National Memorial where the first successful, sustained, and controlled heavier-than-air powered flight took place. The museum is small but very nice and we were able to learn about Orville and Wilbur’s life and the experiments that lead up their discovery. The memorial serves as a testament to their pioneering achievement in aviation along with a markers that show the distance for their first successful flights.
We ended the day visiting a few breweries and stopping at Jack’s Burgers for dinner. Low and behold were we excited when we looked at the menu and saw the “Elvis” burger. During our Norfolk stop last year, Tracy gave the best meal so far award to the Elvis Burger at Jacks, a hole in the wall dive bar. We were shocked to learn Jack’s is a chain and the dive beach bar we were sitting in is has the same! YUP, round two of the Elvis Burger, a smash burger with peanut butter and bacon did not disappoint.
Funny, we have a rule not to go to chain restaurants and instead seek out local places. Kind of happy, we did not follow that rule for this one! Just like in Norfolk, we left a Three Sons sticker.
Day 2, we took a ride down the coast stopping at every spot we could find! We were amazed at the plethora of beach house stacked on top of each other dotted along the shore. We certainly enjoyed the southern stretch of Cape Hatteras National Seashore better.
A great walking path on Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge gave us an opportunity to enjoy nature. The park was established to provide nesting, resting, and wintering habitat for migratory birds and to provide habitat and protection for endangered and threatened species, such as loggerhead sea turtles.
Stopped for lunch at the ‘market’ where the deli made sandwiches to go. Yup, glad we split it.
The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was closed for climbing due to restorations. The grounds, museum and gift store were open and we spent a time exploring each one.
The Bodie Island Lighthouse on Nags Head is 170-foot structure and one of only a dozen remaining tall, brick tower lighthouses in the United States. We did not climb the 200 steps to the top but did talk to the ranger about the significance of the lighthouse. The powerful light beams shined out across the darkening waves, keeping silent watch over the treacherous waters known as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic.” We did enjoy the grounds and take in the gorgeous natural surroundings of Bodie Island, the Atlantic Ocean, and Pamlico Sound.
Located in Rodanthe, the Chicamacomico Lifesaving station which is the only restored and open Life Saving Station. We learned lots touring the museum and boathouse. it was established in 1874, the Chicamacomico Life Saving Station was a predecessor to the modern U.S. Coast Guard, of which it became a part in 1915. The station features fantastic architecture and some interesting designs.
