November 8, 2007
We knew it would be a big day. It was something we really wanted to do. 420 miles sounded a bit far. First, there was Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head. Don’t you just love the old place names? Do you think a Puyallup developer could sell his homes in a new housing neighborhood that he named Kill Devil Hills or Nags Head? Also, Orville, Wilbur, Blackbeard, the Lost Colony, and the lone highway down the narrow stretch of Cape Hatteras to America’s Lighthouse lured us on.
We left early and arrived at Kitty Hawk around 11. The monument and exhibits were excellent. It helped that the day was pleasant and there was a light wind out of the northeast, just what Orville and Wilbur had sought when they came from Ohio to do their tests.
The Lost Colony monument was just down the road on the island of Roanoke. It recognized the first attempt of the English to settle North America in 1585, 17 years before Jamestown and 35 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth. After establishing an outpost, the British ship sailed back to England for more supplies, and on return found no one at the settlement. 116 men, women and children disappeared and the mystery has never been solved.
More than 600 ships have wrecked of the shallow shoals of Hatteras. Most were from stor
ms but some were due to pirates or the occasional naval battle. Mid afternoon found us at the Cape Hatteras lighthouse which was built in 1870. It is called America's lighthouse because it is the tallest brick beacon on America's coast, standing 208 feet tall. It is the symbol of North Carolina.
It was a long day but the 12 hour travelogue kept us thoroughly engaged. Cape Hatteras is so unique, historically and
geographically. The pictures show Barb on the wing with Orville, the lighthouse, local fisherman returning from their day's events, and the cape's road.
We knew it would be a big day. It was something we really wanted to do. 420 miles sounded a bit far. First, there was Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head. Don’t you just love the old place names? Do you think a Puyallup developer could sell his homes in a new housing neighborhood that he named Kill Devil Hills or Nags Head? Also, Orville, Wilbur, Blackbeard, the Lost Colony, and the lone highway down the narrow stretch of Cape Hatteras to America’s Lighthouse lured us on.
We left early and arrived at Kitty Hawk around 11. The monument and exhibits were excellent. It helped that the day was pleasant and there was a light wind out of the northeast, just what Orville and Wilbur had sought when they came from Ohio to do their tests.
The Lost Colony monument was just down the road on the island of Roanoke. It recognized the first attempt of the English to settle North America in 1585, 17 years before Jamestown and 35 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth. After establishing an outpost, the British ship sailed back to England for more supplies, and on return found no one at the settlement. 116 men, women and children disappeared and the mystery has never been solved.
More than 600 ships have wrecked of the shallow shoals of Hatteras. Most were from stor
ms but some were due to pirates or the occasional naval battle. Mid afternoon found us at the Cape Hatteras lighthouse which was built in 1870. It is called America's lighthouse because it is the tallest brick beacon on America's coast, standing 208 feet tall. It is the symbol of North Carolina.It was a long day but the 12 hour travelogue kept us thoroughly engaged. Cape Hatteras is so unique, historically and
geographically. The pictures show Barb on the wing with Orville, the lighthouse, local fisherman returning from their day's events, and the cape's road.
1 comment:
Norm,
When I was in college, I worked in the summer at a restaurant in Kill Devil Hill. We would get up and go to the beach at 8 am and dash back for a quick shower to open up "Mrs. Perry's Drive-In" at 10 am. Roger came down on the weekends! What a fun summer that was! I love that area so much, and I am very happy that you and Barb went to that area.
Freda
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