RV Trips: AS 9-12

October 6

Oh, my. Another tough day at the beach!

But first, a 12 km bike ride to see the Ocracoke Ponies:

Then an afternoon the beach, sunning, walking, shelling, watching “vertical takeoff” planes flying overhead (maybe from Wilmington?) and sitting in our beach cabana and drinking a beer:

The view from my chair is of an ever-emptying campground:

October 7

Okay, just one more day!

We rode back into Ocracoke and sat on a dock overlooking the ocean from a different angle:

Then this phenomenon occurred: thousands and thousands of Pelicans and Cormorants flew by. We saw no reason why nor did we see a destination (talked to a local later who said he’d never seen anything like it before):

We recovered with a coffee and some treats at Ocracoke Coffee (for Heather, a food shot):

The coffee shop was just outside the school, and we watched as a dad picked up his kids in his golf cart (the vehicle of choice here) and later saw them pulled up to Eduardo’s Taco Truck for lunch!

AND another afternoon on the beach. Then we packed up for an early departure from the island tomorrow.

The final view from my chair is of the almost empty campground:

October 8

Neither of us slept well (Mandy always sleeps well), but that did mean we were awake to watch the Lunar Eclipse. It’s nice to be in an elevated vehicle with a clear view of a clear sky! It was very cool.

We dumped and got water and headed to the ferry terminal. This was our ride (and our warning):

It was a gorgeous day and a gorgeous two-hour crossing. David hung with the bikers and RVers, and I talked with three women: one from Germany and two who are on a whirlwind four-week trip from Utah and back via the Gulf Coast with their husbands. Yikes! It was fun to compare knitting stories (German woman) and travels.

We landed and headed towards Beaufort and really noticed a change in the scenery. Though we were still on the Atlantic coast, there were many Egrets and (finally) a flock of Ibis in the salt marshes. We both noted that this really was feeling like the South.

We drove to to Harker’s Island and contemplated talking the ferry to the Cape Lookout Lighthouse (and we decided not to) but you might see it in this view of the View:

We had lunch here then officially started North! We passed a “Collards Shack”, our first cottonfield and a lot of churches (yep, the South). The best church sign was:

Get in touch with God through knee-mail

We drove by the Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Service (loved this sign):

Just a few miles later, we found the Neuse River National Forest campground and had a peaceful and air-conditioned (they had electricity!) night in this place complete with spacious sites (Site 10, $17), Spanish Moss in the Day Use area and a little beach:

And here’s the view from my chair:

October 9

Up early and heading to Fayetteville.

Here are some sights and signs:

the first Chain-less Chain Gang picking garbage
a Piggly Wiggly and BB Joint in one mall (the smiling Piggy sign did double duty!)
rich NC farmland with cotton and tobacco (David used to pick it years ago in Kendall near our house so he was my expert):

real Hispanic influence on the churches, stores and picking (we weren’t sure what this crop was):

churches every two miles (and all different denominations) with the most interesting sign, “Be an organ donor. Give your heart to Jesus”
Spivey’s Corners, The Hollerin’ Capital (there’s a Hollerin’ Festival there in September)

We found our way to Art’s RV Sites (15 sites in his backyard). He had the coolest Office: