Ocracoke Lighthouse

The Ocracoke Lighthouse, built in 1823,
is the oldest continually operating lighthouse on the NC Coast.



The lighthouse is 75 feet tall. Its diameter narrows from 25 feet at the base to 12
feet at the top. The walls are made of brick which is five feet wide at the bottom
tapering to two feet wide at the top.



The solid white exterior was made from mixing lime, salt, Spanish whiting, rice, glue,
and boiling water together and applying it, while still hot, to the exterior.



The Ocracoke Lighthouse was electrified in the early 1900s.
The present light is equal to 8,000 candlepower and casts a stationary beckoning beam.
Its beam reaches a distance of 14 miles.

Fully automated, the lighthouse no longer needs a resident lightkeeper to tend to its daily needs.
The United States Coast Guard now oversees the operation of the light.
Since the lightstation is still in operation you cannot climb the tower,
although the site can still be visited daily.

You might also like:

• Saint Augustine Lighthouse
• Polaroid Prologue to Ocracoke Island
• More info on Ocracoke Lighthouse via NPS

Hope you had a great weekend!

Oceanside Camping on the NC Coast

On our most recent trip to the Outer Banks we decided to camp our way down the coast of NC. In fact, camping is what we almost always do when traveling. I'm cheap like that ;) Moreso, I like waking up and already being outdoors.



We stayed at two of the National Park Service campgrounds while on the island, the first being the Frisco NPS Campground. There weren't many other campers there since we went during the off season, but I hear that it is usually a pretty quiet place.



Once you turn off the main highway you drive a few miles before reaching the entrance, it's a secluded spot. Even the sites found throughout offered a lot more privacy than the other places we stayed. There you will find small trees and scrubby brush shielding and concealing.



A splendid surprise was that it was oceanfront! But, we didn't choose a site with direct access because we wanted to see more of the view so we went higher up. The view was really spectacular, it took my breath away.....or maybe that was the 25mph winds?! Can't remember :)



Doesn't matter. We ended our day barefoot on the beach watching the sun go down behind the dunes.

Posted in Wordful Wednesday

Away We Go!

Retreat to the Sea
the waves are gently calling
I will long no more


The above photo was taken the summer of 07 by Cody!
Now, I finally get to go to the NC Coast, too. Namely, the Outer Banks.
I am more than excited. It has been a very rough week. I need a break.
Have a great weekend!!

Posted in Hooked On, Photostory Friday, & Haiku Friday

I love POSTCARDS!

Here are two postcards I received in the mail last week! You'll notice that one is from Cody while he was away on vacation in Cape Hatteras and the other is from one of my most favorite people Christie. Christie was in New York for the US Open and while there she sent me a postcard to add to my ever growing collection! Isn't she awesome.........and let's not forget Cody as he brought home a ton of postcards. What was funny is after I looked through them all naturally I picked out my most favorite ones which happened to be the ones that Cody selected as being the ones I would like most. I suppose that after being with someone for more than a year you start picking up on those sorts of things, huh?!

HELP ME ADD TO MY COLLECTION: If anyone is interested in sending me a postcard from your hometown or travel destination please send me an email & I will gladly forward my mailing address.

Greeting From Cape Hatteras

©Cody Maddox 2007

Super jealous of the lost photo ops had I went along on the beach trip to Cape Hatteras with Cody and his co-workers but then again I would have been the only chick and, well, that's no fun. But being the best beau a girl could imagine he did not come home empty handed. He took a few snapshots and this one happens to be my absolute favorite, isn't it amazing! After seeing this I really wished that I sat there by his side to watch the sunsets on the beach. Along with some photos Cody brought back a fair share of postcards--somewhere around 10 I think! I will post those once I get the opportunity to scan them in. It's been a long time since my feet have touched the sand, it makes me a little home sick. Come November it will make a year since I've been back to Florida and believe me I miss my family so very much. They are never far from my thoughts.............