Newport, NC March 31 - April 4

 

Our next stop was scheduled for March 31st - April 4^th in Newport, NC. Since Kitty Hawk is on the Outer Banks (OBX) we decided to just head south and catch the ferry to Ocracoke Island, then catch another ferry to the mainland, then on to Newport, NC. Just after we started out we saw a sign for the Wright Brothers memorial so we stopped by. This was the actual place the Wright Brothers made those first flights. Nicely done memorial and a VERY interesting story. BTW: it is in Kill Devil Hills just south of Kitty Hawk that this occurred.

After leaving the memorial, we continued south to the Hattares - Ocracoke Ferry. This is a free car ferry to Ocracoke Island. Having completed driving the length of Ocracoke Island, we got in the lane for the ferry, but the attendant told us it had been cancelled by the Coast Guard due to high winds. We rescheduled for the next day at 1:00 and went and found a motel. Found Blackbeard’s Lodge. It was well used but clean and pleasant. Went out and had something to eat. Actually glad we got stuck there for a night. Gave us another place to explore.

Next morning April 1st, still on Ocracoke Island, since we had until 1:00, we continued exploring and found a nice area where we could hang out and watch the world go by. Then got in line for the Ocracoke - CedarIsland Car Ferry. This one was 2 1/2 hours and run by the State of North Carolina and cost only $15. No pool though. It was an uneventful crossing but beautiful weather. Got to Cedar Island and drove to our Airbnb. The area all seems to be marsh or wetlands.

It is a beautiful place in the middle of nowhere. So upscale, it’s indescribable. Owners, who live in the main home, were away for the weekend.

4/2 - We had settled in and decided to explore the beach/shore in a little tourist town named Beaufort. Not the one in South Carolina, but the one in North Carolina. When we got to Beaufort, while looking for a place to park, we happened upon a very nice gentleman who gave us much insight to places to see in Beaufort. He has lived there 35 years and used to live in Pennsylvania. Even though we did not go into his house, it is absolutely beautiful and on their town’s historic list. It was built in 18xx with the nice columns. His wife volunteers at the local North Carolina Maritime Museum and he highly recommended that as a place to visit. First we stopped at the cemetery along the way, as suggested, and had a nice time exploring. Then off to eat something. Then to the museum. We spent most of the afternoon at the museum. It was fascinating and apparently Blackbeard pretty much called this area home and was killed and beheaded near here in Ocracoke! Also The Queen Anne's Revenge (a ship) went aground in 1718 just offshore from Beaufort. A few months after the grounding, Blackbeard was killed in a battle with British naval forces in the Pamlico Sound.

On the 3rd we decided to go a little further and went Atlantic Beach. What a difference from Beaufort. This place is a bit worse for wear compared to Beaufort, but also touristy. Hung out for awhile then drove the length of the island. Oops forgot to mention, on these roads there were times when they were covered in sand so it was almost like driving on the beach. The winds were always high, but the weather was perfect. Along the way we went to Fort Macon at the end of the island. Very interesting and well done museum. Visit it if you ever get that way. On the 4^th of April we cleaned up and left Newport, NC destined for our Airbnb at the Boardwalk Beach Resort in Myrtle Beach.

NOTE from the Usual Suspects text messenger: We are! We made it to the ferry terminal with one hour to spare just to be told that the ferry was canceled due to high winds. / Not a problem. I was hoping to get an opportunity to explore this little tip of the island. So we rebooked our ferry ride until 1 tomorrow afternoon. Give this more than ample time to explore. We check into the Pirate's Lodge here in Ocracoke Island. Very quaint and Antiquated place. Maybe I'll be able to find a pirate tonight. But first we have to eat cuz Lilia is wasting away to nothing. / Well I think I having a cold for a week and a half now is a little ridiculous but we may get over it sooner or later. We have rescheduled the ferry for 1 today. It's a two and a half hour trip to the mainland. Weather is windy and it appears to be dying down now. Lilia I just finished coughing a lung up. Well onward and upward. We have a ferry to catch. Have an awesome day! / Had some fig newton's. The world became a better place! / Breakfast at the Magic Bean coffee shop. We are exploring the secret garden next. We have a couple hours to kill before boarding the ferry to Cedar Island. / Nah! I almost grew roots waiting for 2 cups of coffee and two muffins. Bacon etc will keep me here til xmas! / Okay folks, I think we were actually up to 95% done with the cold. We are also in the new apartment in Newport North Carolina. Beautiful place, looks like they just finished it. Out in the middle of nowhere although there is an inground swimming pool right here. I guess we're going to never recover from this cold we will have to stay here for a few days. As of now we will be checking out the 4th. All is well and we have food here with us to eat for supper. / Hello dear ones! We made it to God's country. It is really in the middle of nowhere, but so beautiful and peaceful. If I am not dazed and confused as always, I think this area is still considered part of the the outer banks. When the ferry deposited us on Cedar Island we drove past the signs for Down East, that it is supposed to be OBX also. Guess I have to triple check the maps and educate myself. I think 80 percent of this area is wetlands, I've never seen anything so serene, beautiful and completely different from other landscapes. I'm in awe. Drool ! As Jerry mentioned, it seems we are going to live after all. Our colds are getting better and we are able to utter one or two sentences without coughing up a lung . That's why I haven't made any phone calls. For once, I am a silent woman. It takes a lot to zip it. OK my pretties, it's time to say good night. Love you all / Today we are even better. We spent the day in a little town called Beaufort North Carolina. It is a beautiful tourist town right on the water. We just wandering around explore some things. When we were parking I ran into one of the locals and chatted with them for a while about things to do. That was very helpful. Went to the Maritime Museum which was absolutely amazing. And now Lilia has stopped off for some of her prescriptions at CVS and we will be heading back to our actually amazing Airbnb this time. Oh and we both feel a lot better we're probably at about 98% now. It is so good to feel better. Still not hot out though. Only got in the sixties today. Supposedly tomorrow it will get to the 70s. / Good morning my dear! We are getting ready to go out and explore Morehead city and maybe one or two islands around here. Tomorrow we leave for Myrtle Beach, so there is laundry and packing in my near future. Cheers! / We made it to the Atlantic Beach! Hopefully the sunshine and clean sea breeze will help to shake off the remnants of this cold. The weather is improving. 70s today. Cheers my pretties!