Thursday, September 28, 2017

Corolla North Carolina - OBX Day 4 Bodie Island and Wright Brothers

We missed sunrise again, but we were mobile by 7:30 AM. There was no wind and the seas were calm for a change. I worked on finishing yesterday's post and had breakfast that included sausage links, sausage patties, bacon and large waffles (not including syrup). Linda said we would be leaving for the Bodie Island Lighthouse when breakfast was done but didn't specify a time. That was a mistake that she rectified by telling me it was time for 'kickstands up'.

It was 9:00 AM when Bob drove us south on NC 12 and then US 158. We arrived at the Bodie Island Light Station an hour later. There is some dispute on the pronunciation of Bodie. Several sources say it is BAW-dee, the same as body, but they acknowledge that it had been pronounced BOE-dee incorrectly for so long that this had become an acceptable alternative.

It is a very distinctive looking structure

For a fee, we could walk up to the top - NOT!!

The boardwalk is just fine by me

Bob looking for snakes

More Robertson screws

Linda photographing the lighthouse

This is how it looks from there

Sandy looking good

Even if she is wearing a funny hat

Trees and marsh grasses

Wetlands

More trees and march grasses

The whole lighthouse site

Bob waiting on some women

We learned about Fresnel lenses at Avila Beach this summer

Too many stairs for my liking

The Atlantic lighthouse chain

I wish we were eligible for the Golden Age Passport Senior Pass

Bob cleaning the windows with newspaper

We left the lighthouse about 10:45 and drove south. The road was closed at the Bonner Bridge, but the deputies told us it would not be open until 1:00 PM. This gave us hope for our planned trip to Ocracoke tomorrow. The bridge construction was where the workers accidentally cut the only power cable to Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands back at the end of July, resulting in the evacuation of both islands.

You can see the Bonner Bridge in the distance

The whole OBX is nothing but sand dunes

Looks like a road block

The deputies were friendly but firm

I took this for Sherm

We'll be back tomorrow

The busy road around Nags Head/Kitty Hawk

VROC friend Rabbi and his wife Vonna were staying in Kitty Hawk after they had been evacuated from Salvo on Hatteras Island earlier in the week. After texts between us, we agreed to meet for lunch at Mama Kwan's Tiki Bar and Grill at 1:00 PM.

The Visitor Center at the Wright Brothers National Memorial at Kill Devil Hill was closed for renovations but the rest of the facility was open. I thought the flight took place starting from the top of the hill where the Memorial Tower was set, but that was where they launched their gliders. The actual first powered flight took place on flat ground and the first flight on December 17, 1903 was only 120 feet. That was less than the length of my yard. But they made four more flights that day. Two of them each went a little farther and then, on the fourth launch, it traveled 852 feet.

Front gate of the Memorial

OK, I am confused

It was a quiet place 114 years ago

This ranger loved telling the story

Sandy and the spot where powered human flight began


The first stone is where the first flight landed 120 feet away

The four landing spots are marked by stones

Temporary Visitor Center

Linda and Bob walking up Kill Devil Hill

The Monument

Looking down at the lines of flight

Sandy did not climb the very steep hill


The Wright Flyer - Orville at the controls

Wilbur running after the plane

John T Daniels taking the only photo of his life

Sandy thinks he is cute

Bob found the only shade

Linda waiting for pesky tourist to get out of her shot

They took their time

We moved on the Mama Kwan's, getting there about 15 minutes before the appointed time. The pretty server got us situated at a table for six and Rabbi and Vonna arrived right on time. Rabbi has been one of the most respected voices in VROC and it was sure good to share a meal with him again. We enjoyed some interesting food as we caught up. I told him about the plans for the 20th year of SEVROC in May, 2018 and he said he would try to make it.

Mama Kwan's - I'd eat there again

Interesting backdrop

Rabbi, Vonna, Sandy, Linda, Bob

couldn't pass up the photo op

It was 3:00 PM when we got back to the house. The elevator had been rendered inoperable but it was going to take a repair man to fix it. I set up in the dining room to sort photos and write the story of today.

Quiet road in Corolla North Carolina

Maybe more later.....

Today's Route (75 Subaru miles):

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