After coming back from the Outer Banks just this past Tuesday, I was invited back for the holiday weekend. With my bag barely unpacked, and thinking Dorian was just the name of a Disney character, I made my way back to Cape Hatteras.
Heading South on Highway 12
The highlight of this beauty of a weekend was the day spent on Cape Point. If looking at a map of North Carolina, the most eastern spot is a sliver of sandy real estate jutting into the Atlantic. It’s only reachable by four wheel drive. It’s also a prime surf fishing location.
On this busy and beautiful holiday, FWDs line up, hubcaps almost touching, to stake a claim to cast into their little piece of ocean for the day.
Rods and Reels and Reels and Rods…
For non-fishing folks, beachcombers can find shell remnants that are 10 times the size seen at most beaches.
Three gigantic broken conch shells (For my essay on Broken Shells, please visit my earlier post)
There are also plenty of photo ops, from pretty fat seagulls to that pretty tall, pretty old beacon of light about 1/4 mile to the west.
At 210 feet tall, the tallest brick lighthouse in the US is just a year shy of 150 years old Gull in flight
Watching fisherpeople of all ages take on the task of baiting then waiting is an essay in itself.
The very tip of the Outer BanksBaby spinner fish, who lives to see another day
Sometimes the fisherman wins. Usually the fish does.
The only one that didn’t get away
As the day winds down and the sun starts setting, the gear gets packed up and trucks one by one pull out.
Dorian is out there, now a Cat 5 hurricane, and like ones that’ve come before, it will either strike or skirt this place where sand meets sea. The hurricane may change it, but it will still remain.
My high school gal pal flew home and we went back to being teens this past weekend. While I can’t recount everything we got into, I can confirm that we ate great, cried a little, laughed a lot, and made some more memories of a lifetime in our 700 mile road trip. Here are some highlights:
Pine Knoll Shores:
We spent our first leg at the former ClamDigger hotel on Salter Path. It goes by another less colorful name now (the bland ‘Inn’) and has been renovated, but it’s the location that makes it a favorite. All rooms are full oceanfront, and being about halfway between Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle makes it easy to go either direction for food and fun. An added bonus is a pretty darn good restaurant on site, a lounge with a pool table, and a tiki bar by the pool. Downside is the up charge for the beach umbrellas. But to kick off a few days in the sun, this was a good place to start.
View from my hotel bed. Bliss!
Wide, sandy, and empty! beach
Even if you don’t know where to go, you’re still
going to get there.
Ricky the Paddle-board Guide
Emerald Isle:
On a perfectly fine morning my friend decided it would be a terrifically great idea to paddle board. My friend is tall, graceful, athletic, and an experienced paddle boarder. I am the exact opposite of every one of those. I almost had her convinced I could not do this since I had only one pair of eye glasses and if they were lost in the InterCoastal Waterway , I could not drive her back to the airport, until she discovered my oversized sunshades came with a handy dandy head strap.
Off we go.
It was really fun.
And even though it’s called Stand Up Paddling (SUP) I went the entire distance kneeling, sitting, and dangling. I never stood. I also never fell off. Which is more than my friend can say.
Gotta crawl before you walk….
Swansboro:
What a treat to spend time in the quaint waterfront town of Swansboro! Cozying up to the White Oak River, the historic 18th century buildings have been restored to private homes as well as shops, restaurants and bed and breaksfasts.
One eatery, Yana’s, is a must. Whether for breakfast or lunch, there will be a wait most days for this 50s throwback diner. The burgers are good, the fritters are better, and the service is the best. You’ll know you’re there when you spot Elvis.
Fresh peach fritters doused in powered sugar. This is a half order, and Yana’s serves it as an appetizer. Like they say, life is uncertain, eat dessert first!
Cedar Island:
The next morning we checked out of the Inn formerly known as ClamDigger and headed north to Cedar Island. We were on our way to a 2.5 hour adventure crossing the InterCoastal by ferry to the island of Ocracoke. For a mere $15 per car this is a trip everyone should do at least once. There is nothing quite like being on open water on a barge.
Water, water everywhere!
Destination in sight!
Ocracoke Island Lighthouse
Ocracoke Island:
Ah, Ocracoke! What a wonderful, isolated, picturesque place you are! There is something just magical about Ocracoke. It has managed to defy the mightiest of hurricanes and still retain a charm and an appeal unlike any place I’ve ever been. Every time there, I find something that keeps drawing me back. This time around, we stumbled upon family plots of ancient fishermen and mariners. The mosquitoes kept us from lingering for long. But even though decades can pass between visits, as long as I am around and it is too, I will always have in the back of my mind a desire to come back and be an Ocracokan for a while.
One of Bonnie and Clyde’s?
Shells topping a picket fence
Old headstones of souls long gone home
After strolling along Silver Lake we popped into Howard’s Pub for a couple of delicious burgers and even better fries.
Then we drove to the other end of the 12 mile island to catch the one hour ferry ride to Hatteras Island. The blazing sunset was a gorgeous end to the day.
The next morning, after spending the night with a friend, we woke to take in the last day of our trek along the N.C. coast. We visited two of the most famous landmarks in America, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and the Wright Brothers Memorial.
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse:
The last time I visited the Lighthouse was in 1999, during the historic and daring relocation of the Lighthouse 1/2 mile inland. The beach and foundation the massive structure was located on was eroding, and amid a great deal of controversy, the megaton brick lighthouse, the tallest in the US, 2nd tallest in the world, built in 1870, and only 15 feet from the surf, was moved inch by inch 2900 feet on railroad ties by house movers using Ivory soap. Word is that not a single brick crumbled.
Wright Brothers Memorial;
About 60 miles north of the Lighthouse is Big Kill Devil Hill, the almost 100 foot tall massive sand dune the Ohio brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright first took off in flight. The memorial on top of the dune, which has been covered with vegetation to stabilize the shifting sands, stands another 60 feet high. Visitors can walk up to the tower but not into it, although tours inside have taken place in the past. Views from the the top of the hill are breathtaking and the constant winds make it easy to see how the inventors decided to use this area to test their flying machine. A museum on the site houses a full size replica of the first flyer. The original is on display at the Smithsonian.
North Carolina is rich in natural beauty and history. A trek along the coast with an old friend was a fitting end to the summer.
Do you have a special weekend trip that you’d like to recommend? Please share your suggestions in the comments section. Thank you for visiting my blog!
So many things to see and do, and so many times, either nobody else to do them with or nobody else who can coordinate their schedule with yours. Do you stay home and Netflix alone?
While that’s a perfectly good binge on a rainy day, if you really want to get out of the house, here’s some tips I’ve learned along the way for going it alone.
Street Festivals:
A street festival is the perfect place to go it alone the first time. First, there’s always a crowd, so you blend in and don’t look so obviously like you are by yourself.
Street festivals usually have some sort of theme, with vendors, music, crafts or exhibitions, are almost always free to enter, and you can wander around at your heart’s content.
State and National Parks:
I love the state and national park system. There is so much to learn! All that I’ve been to have a Visitor Center, and the rangers and staff are friendly, helpful and love their jobs. Use the resources they have available, especially the maps.
If it’s your first time there let the rangers know you are exploring alone. I’m a regular at a state park with hiking trails and the rangers are used to seeing my vehicle in the front lot. They also know if it’s there when it’s time to lock the trail gates that I would not be there after hours.
Movies:
I go to movies alone all the time, especially now that theaters have the cushy Lazy Boy recliners. Where have you been all my life! No more worries about having some stranger elbowing your arm rest the whole time or a kid kicking the back of your seat. Movies are great to attend alone!
Museums:
Museums are another excellent venue to attend by yourself. I’ve spent hours going through exhibits at my own pace, studying the sculptures and reading historical documents, and bypassing old Danish artists, which aren’t my cup of tea. To each his own, right? There are tours to take advantage of, and many museums are free but do consider giving a donation if you have the means to do so and you see a box at the entrance.
Concerts:
I cannot stress how important it is to go see that band, that musical artist, you’ve always wanted to see, went the chance comes, you have the time and the means to do it, but no +1.
Do it! Go!
Once you are there, you’ll be with thousands of others all there for the same reason. The best concert I ever went to was a last minute ticket purchase to see Bono and the boys in an outdoor venue. Seats were advertised as being behind the stage, and were cheap. Guess what? It was a circular stage, shaped somewhat like a spider, and I was on a 5th row bleacher with a few other last minute buyers. We were so close we could feel the vibration of the Edge’s guitar strings. Epic! And no pics! Totally in the moment!!!
Alas, there are a few things I’ve done solo that I’ll skip doing alone again:
Wine Tastings: in general, at least for me, drinking alone, even just a wine tasting, is just sad
Trivia Night: boy, those people are really competitive and super territorial. Maybe they need to attend a few wine tastings
Putt Putt: seriously what fun is this unless you play yourself and then everyone behind you gets mad and looks at you funny
Wrapping Up:
Use an extra dose of common sense when going it alone. Be very observant of your surroundings, especially if you’re a female, of any age.
For women, try to not use handbags that can be easily snatched. I’ve got a cargo-style jean skirt with extra pockets in the front and side panels that I use to stash my cash, keys, phone, and ID, keeping my hands free.
People joke about fanny packs, but the one I use is a camera bag that clips flat to your waist and is great for carrying snacks, water, hand wipes, etc.
Never, ever, ever, never go anywhere without telling someone your plans. If you have absolutely no one to tell, then, write a note before you leave your home saying where you intend to be and when you plan to return.
Be sure your cell phone is charged. If you are in a remote place and starting to lose power or service, consider heading back home.
At the very least, make that call or send that text to a friend, relative or neighbor letting them know where you are. And do it anytime you feel uncomfortable in your surroundings.
Unfortunately, the world is full of people with evil intent. Be aware, but take that deep breath and strike out on your own. You will find the pleasure of your company is very nice indeed.
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Hope along your journey you find your own unforgettable One OfAKind Place!
With a beautiful afternoon and a nearby park that I’d never visited, I went to check out the trails at Forest Ridge.
The trails at Forest Ridge Park are a mix of old logging roads and gravel paths. A three mike loop is used by beginning mountain bikers as well as hikers.
The park itself is fairly young, less than 2 years old. Its entrance is at the end of old NC 98, a deceptively rural area less than 10 miles from the densely populated state capital. The park borders the huge Falls Lake Recreation Area, a favorite destination for outdoor lovers in central N.C.
At this park, there’s a few short trails (.2 mile to 1.25 mile), easy to navigate on foot or bike. Fishing and watercraft are permitted, but there is no swimming or wading allowed at this park’s lake front.
Two nice covered picnic shelters and a playground are near the entrance, as well as a staffed welcome center, restrooms and an indoor classroom facility.
Of the natural areas I’ve visited along Falls Lake, Forest Ridge has the fewest amenities and is the most primitive. The simplicity actually makes its appealing, but it will not be a destination that will likely draw avid boaters or mountain bikers given the limited features compared to others nearby.
Still, it may be just enough, when getting back to nature is what is needed. In a matter of minutes the frenzy of city life can be temporarily left behind at Forest Ridge Park along Falls Lake.
In my summer quest to journal about my treks on trails, today’s story is a bit of a departure.
I’m by the sea at the moment. It is my escape. I’m drawn to it when I’m happy, even more when I’m sad. It restores my soul. Yesterday was not a good day. So today I find myself walking along the sand, with the waves barely licking my toes. While this is not a marked trail through majestic trees or along a mountain pass, it is the path where earth meets sea meets sky.
I came across people looking down, searching for that perfect sea shell, spying one, picking it up, and tossing it down as soon as they see it’s cracked or worn or ugly underneath. And I am suddenly irritated by this. There are millions if not billions of shells. They are tossed and pounded and beaten and seldom survive raging storms unscathed. Then I see them. Three broken shells. 
All three had their best sides showing to the world. But, when you pick them up and look a little closer, you see the broken edges, the scars, the cracks. It’s easy to imagine someone coming along, reaching down to pick up and take that shell, then tossing it aside when seeing the imperfections.
Broken shells are a sign of strength, of perseverance, of survival. They are defiant and tenacious, not giving up, not giving in. They are beaten and tossed by forces much stronger than they. But they are here, still. Broken shells are nature’s reminder to not give up hope.
I picked up all three imperfect, broken shells. I did not toss them back down.
Another blogger jogged my memory about Yates Mill Pond. I’ve been living in this county for well over a decade and never driven the dozen or so miles to explore this historic site, that is, until recently.
Yates Mill Pond is a well maintained park within spitting distance of NCSU, just down Lake Wheeler Road within easy access of major highways. The mill itself still gives demonstrations monthly to show exactly how the great stones ground corn into meal, powered by the falls on the pond. There is a nominal charge to take this 30 minute guided tour. The Park also presents a number of educational activities and programs that are updated seasonally.
There are scattered sitting and picnic areas on the simple paths around the pond. Plenty of wildlife can be spotted.
Keep an eye out for the abundance of snakes that inhabit the rocks below the falls.
Many Instagram-worthy pictures await your cell phone clicks. To be honest, it is worth a visit on a sunny afternoon or a crisp fall day for the photo ops alone, but as a destination for hiking this will not be high on my list of trails to return to. Still, if you are in the area with an hour to spare, take a step back in time to Yates Mill Pond.
A little known gem, Beaverdam Lake is located within the large Falls Lake State Park. Falls Lake was created by the damming of the Neuse River and straddles a 3 county area in central North Carolina.
On this visit, the plan was to explore the trail system at the Beaverdam Lake site.
However, when I found out this lake had a beach, and the heat index was topping 104, a dip in the water beat out a hike on the trails.
What a nice, secluded beach it is! A wide, sandy stretch is surrounded by a view of still, flat water and thick trees. The really nice feature is no motorized boating is allowed! So not only are the waters calm and cool on this really hot day, but kayaks, canoes, paddle boards and floats can put in without fear of being swamped by boats and jet skis.
Beaverdam Lake also has nice picnic spots, covered shelters, outdoor showers, a playground, large clean restrooms, and plenty of parking.
See that blue umbrella? That’s my spot. In 3 hours on this hot summer day, less than a dozen adults, most with kids, came to cool off. Granted, there is not an ocean breeze, so you end up in the water more than on the sand, but this place is a great alternative when a day by the sea is not doable.
But wait, there’s more!BeaverdamLake does have trails. About 15 milesof mountainbiking paths are mapped out on 4 loops, ranging frombeginner to advanced, and a drop zone course.The trailhead has parking places, aconvenientrestroom, site mapsand clearly markeddirections to avoidhead on collisions.Hikers are allowed to use the same trails, as well as leashed dogs. Just bevery aware, as always, of your fellow trail users, and be courteous in giving bikers the right of way.
The park is patrolled by rangers and there is a nominal fee per car or bikers in most months. All visits end at dusk; there is no overnight camping at this location. Overall, this easy to find day park is one that offers a lot of recreational opportunities without a lot of crowds, even on the hottest of summer days. Check it out if you are in the area and see for yourself!
Street festivals usually have some sort of theme, with vendors, music, crafts or exhibitions, are almost always free to enter, and you can wander around at your heart’s content.
However, when I found out this lake had a beach, and the heat index was topping 104, a dip in the water beat out a hike on the trails.
What a nice, secluded beach it is! A wide, sandy stretch is surrounded by a view of still, flat water and thick trees. The really nice feature is no motorized boating is allowed! So not only are the waters calm and cool on this really hot day, but kayaks, canoes, paddle boards and floats can put in without fear of being swamped by boats and jet skis.
One OAK Place 