We left Virginia and entered North Carolina near a place called Dismal Swamp. We saw farms with vast rice fields...as far as the eye could see. We were anticipating seeing the ocean before the day was over, but we saw oceans of rice fields in the morning. The wind was unbelievable!!! It took every bit of Sid's strength to hold the bike on the road. It was quite frightening. He tried to conceal it from me, but I knew we were in a precarious situation. Once again we saw farms in every imaginable condition - from neat and well-kept to those barely making a hardscrabble living. There were so many abandoned farmhouses. It made me sad to know that those homes once housed families that loved them and cared for them.
Eventually, we reached the coast and headed down the Outer Banks to Nags Head, NC.
What a relief to be off the bike on this dangerously windy day. We checked into the historic Sea Foam Motel on Beach Road. This motel was built in 1948 and has maintained the vintage look with paneled walls and tiny bathrooms. Some of the rooms have kitchenettes. I remember my family vacationing on the coast of South Carolina and Florida throughout my childhood - we always stayed in places with kitchenettes and shuffleboard courts! After a late lunch at Sam and Omie's famous restaurant, we headed to the Lighthouse at Bodie Island for a few photos. People had gathered for a wedding, and I really wanted to stay, but Sid (the spoilsport) said we couldn't...something about not being invited. I guess it's a good thing. I always cry at weddings.
Originally built in 1872, the Bodie Island Lighthouse is a landmark at Nags Head. There are several other lighthouses that I plan to see...let's hope Sid cooperates. I think he might be of the mindset that if you've seen one lighthouse, you've seen them all.
The Beach Road at Nags Head, NC, is lined with these "painted ladies" - rental beach houses. So much better than rows and rows of high rise hotels which distinguishes this area from what we will see farther down the coast in South Carolina.
The birds on the beach are very friendly! I captured this shot from our balcony at the Sea Foam Motel. Sid threw a few crackers in the air and the birds appeared from every direction. Somehow I managed to overcome the thought that they might peck out our eyes (thank you, Alfred Hitchcock!) and took lots of photos from every angle. We started a feeding frenzy with others from the motel tossing food into the air. It was a memorable sight. Since it was dusk and the birds were backlit, I had to use my flash to get the best shots.
We dined at Owen's Restaurant just across the street, overindulging in rich seafood and wine. We wore our tie-dyed t-shirts to dinner, looking like what we are - a couple who came to town on a motorcycle! It was clear that we were the only bikers in this "spendy" restaurant (descriptor supplied by the desk clerk at the motel). We walked back across the street and chatted with Andy from Dexter, Kansas. He was also on a bike having traveled 3000 miles so far.
No comments:
Post a Comment