The Outer Banks are a string of islands off the North Carolina coast. On September 1, 1983, Karen and I ferried 27 miles across Pamlico Sound to Okracoke Island. This ferry ride was one of the highlights of our trip. We took the car on the boat. Water was on all sides. It was drizzling rain. Birds glided overhead, and Karen spotted jellyfish swimming by. We spent the night on Okracoke. The next morning, we headed up the islands. The deserted beaches were peaceful, and we collected shells. Crabs saw us and scurried to their holes in the sand. On Hatteras [View Full Entry]

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Before flying over to Krakow, we spend a couple of weeks at home in North Carolina, visiting friends and family, and encouraging them to make plans for Poland! Keith goes on the annual fishing trip to Core Banks. This is a man thing. The men of the family stay in shacks and drive their trucks up and down the beach looking for fish. This goes on for 3 days until they pack up and ferry back over. This is a very well planned and executed excursion, very empowering. I and the other females of the family don't know all the particulars, [View Full Entry]

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We got to Annapolis, MD late afternoon on Saturday. I met Jared’s friend Serena and her quirky rat terrier, Oliver. We did some sightseeing in town…brick roads, brick buildings..a lot of sailors…and then headed to dinner at a Thai restaurant called Lemon Grass. I had cashew chicken that was ten times better than PF Changs. After dinner we went over to a beer garden and talked and waited for Shannon to meet us after she got off of work. I tried a Smithwicks (I am hooked) and we relaxed and listened to Serena tell us ghost stories and the history about [View Full Entry]

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Recently i took a trip to Ocracoke Island in NC , July 31st 2007 . As the Cedar Island ferry prepared to dock , i snapped this photo coming into our first view of the island . This was an amazeing view ! God's hand at work showing his finest art ! As you come ashore....you get the feeling of peace and serenity . This is an island the stretch's 16 miles in length and is only accessable by boat . The small village that survives there is a quaint little village that is early to bed and early to rise [View Full Entry]

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This is a snap shot of the Ocracoke Island lighthouse . This light house is the second oldest lighthouse in the nation . It stands 77.5 feet in height , and has a screwed iron railed tower on top . It is not open for climbing or tours . Built in 1823, and is still in operation ! The beacon can be seen for 14 miles out at sea and rotates a 360 degrees . The walls are 5 feet thick . A Must see site at night ! Blog & photo By : Denise M. Watkins [View Full Entry]

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This snap shot was taken while waiting for the Cedar Island ferry ride over to Ocracoke Island . Threating massive in size , dark clouds furiously rush over the docking station before boarding . This was an amazing site appearing in a 3D effect over the Island . Right before the downfall of the rain , the thunder rumbled over head ....announcing its mighty power , and adding its threating beauty to the Island ambiance . What seems to be a everyday event according to the locals...... does not last long, as it rushes out traveling the coast as fast as [View Full Entry]

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We spent 2 days at Freightliner in Gaffney, SC, to have the Winnebago's oil changed and a 4-wheel alignment. $500 later we were good to go and headed to the East Coast. We "dry camped" in a church (founded 1812) parking lot, with their permission at Swan Quarter, NC. After I took a sea sick pill we put the rig on the Ocracoke Ferry at 6:30 a.m. and headed to the Outer Banks. Tom was loving the ferry ride. Cape Hatteras was quite a history lesson. The litehouse was moved in 2003 due to hurricanes eroding her previous location. She [View Full Entry]

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As an NSE (National Student Exchange) student to UNC Wilmington, I got the priviledge of going on a trip with all of my fellow exchangers from across the U.S. to the Outer Banks. The Outer Banks is one of the most amazing beachside, tourist attractions in North Carolina. It spans for hundreds of miles and is made of a couple of islands...one of which (Ocracoke) is only accessible by ferry or plane. We were quite an eccentric group with representatives from: Alaska (me), North Dakota, South Dakota, Massachussets, Utah, Oregon, Montana, South Carolina, and New Mexico. The first stop on [View Full Entry]

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Quite a phallic symbol, isn’t it? This is the only lighthouse that I stopped for picture out of sentimental reason. I remember the last visit, 3 years ago, during which time there were three of us. We visited this one in between hang gliding lessons and walking the beach. Memory...it has a way of doing you in if you let it. After the necessary hygiene routine, I said good bye to the sandy beach and left the campground. Must find some coffee. Kitty Hawk, here I come. [View Full Entry]

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