King Neptune statue
Virginia Beach, Virginia
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Archive for #RoadTrip2015 – Page 12
King Neptune statue
Virginia Beach, Virginia
We spent the entire day today exploring the Outer Banks area in North Carolina. Consisting of 200 miles of shoreline, The Outer Banks begin in Virginia Beach and extend down most of the North Carolina coast.
After traversing a few very long bridges, we arrived at the Outer Banks Visitor Bureau in Manteo, NC around 1 PM. We took advantage of the free dump station, picked up a few brochures, then headed towards Cape Hatteras.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore was designated the first national seashore in the United States in 1937. The original Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was built in 1803. A second lighthouse was completed in 1868 after the original deteriorated beyond repair. One of the largest brick lighthouses in the world, it is truly an awesome sight! After taking several pictures, we visited the lighthouse gift shop where we each purchased a National Parks Passport and received our first cancellation!
We also visited the smaller Bodie Island Lighthouse, the second of three lighthouses in the area that were built to guide ships safely ashore after so many sailors lost their lives in the “Graveyard of the Atlantic.” Our last stop was in Nags Head, a small beach town and tourist mecca. As the sun set over Jeannette’s Pier, we ate our dinner and enjoyed the cool ocean air.
Check out the pics of the day and stay tuned tomorrow as we head to Myrtle Beach, SC and attempt to find a campground that will have an open spot for one night on Labor Day weekend!
We expected Virginia Beach to be mobbed today but there weren’t very many people out. Maybe that’s because it was a ZILLION degrees! It was really about 94 but the punishing sun made it feel double that.
To keep cool, we first rented a couple of beach cruisers and headed down the boardwalk towards the famous King Neptune statue. We rode several blocks to 31st Street and had to wait our turn for pictures. We only paid for one hour on the bikes so after we got our pics, we reversed direction and rode back to the rental place.
The beach seemed to stretch for miles and the water temperature was perfect. Jay took a swim while I strolled and then we briefly browsed a few beach shops. Shortly after heading out towards Williamsburg, we ran into a ton of midday traffic so we had to change our route. This put our arrival in the Revolutionary City at 6 PM. It was a strange but pleasant experience walking down “Duke of Glouster” Street at dusk, a humid haze surrounding everything and the only light emanating from flickering lanterns.
From Williamsburg, we drove towards a city called Williamston. There were virtually no street lamps on this route for over two hours and I think it is the eeriest drive I’ve ever been on. Like, of the Jeepers Creepers variety.
Once again, we settled down late but will be up early to visit the Outer Banks area of North Carolina. Check out the pics below!
Our road trip was supposed to officially begin this morning but we decided to leave last night instead to bypass daytime traffic in New York. It was a good idea but there was so much road work that the travel time amounted to about the same. Our destination was a Pilot/Flying J rest stop in Carneys Point, New Jersey but we didn’t quite make it. We ended up at a Walmart in Manville, arriving at about 3 AM and getting to sleep at 4 AM.
Needless to say, we haven’t had much rest! We were up at 9 AM and back on the road just before Noon. Our final destination for the day was Virginia Beach and that’s where we’re sitting at present. We finished up in New Jersey, drove the entire length of Delaware, passed through the southeastern corner of Maryland and arrived at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel just after sunset. A modern engineering marvel, the “CBBT” is 23 miles long and accommodates millions of travellers every year.
Shortly after crossing the bridge, we arrived in the Virginia Beach area. Tomorrow, the beach boardwalk will be our first stop, followed by a brief trip back in time when we visit Colonial Williamsburg.
Check out our favorite pics from today!
“Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road.” Jack Kerouac
After 15 long months of waiting and preparing, we and Lady T are on the move again, heading south for the next four weeks towards new places, unfamiliar faces and unknown possibilities.
Maybe Kerouac didn’t leave anything behind but we certainly have. Family and friends who give us a reason to return home. A day to day life that can often be monotonous and plain but is still our own. Coincidentally, Jack Kerouac was born and raised in Lowell, Massachusetts, our hometown, and although I can’t imagine growing up anywhere else, I often feel the same urgency to go. The allure of the open road never wanes…our desire to see and do more is persistent and overflowing.
No matter where we go, home will always be waiting for us. But for now, we are the mad ones. For now, we are on the road!
J&J
