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!

Polaroid Prologue to Ocracoke Island

At the very tip of Hatteras Island you have the opportunity to take a ferry ride
to the neighboring island. I've been on one before but this was my first time
driving a vehicle onto a ferry. It was an interesting experience.
The free ride took approximately 45 minutes.
Meanwhile, I walked around....



Once across, we made our way to the next camping destination.
This one was also oceanside and we chose a site with direct access this time.
After settling into our new campsite, we had to go explore.



Ocracoke NPS Campground was much more open than Frisco and because of
that it lacked the same privacy that we relished at our last overnight spot, but
being a stones throw from the beach just can't be beat, so I didn't complain!



It was so tranquil....waves crashing.....salty sea air....blowing breeze



See you on Monday when I will share more of Ocracoke Island.
Until then, have a great weekend!

Posted in Hooked On & Photostory Friday

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

Reminder {3}

You are Unique.


HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
I had an extremely productive weekend and I am as happy as a clam.
What was "unique" about your weekend?

• Reminder #2
• Reminder #1

A Night in Rodanthe

Our first stop on the island was the small seaside town of Rodanthe.



The remote beaches of Hatteras Island looked like this the entire time.



It was like having it all to ourselves.



I know, this is just a teaser.
It gets better!

Posted in Photostory Friday & Hooked On

Reminder {2}

Take a Break.


I'm not the planner I used to be, and that's a good thing.
A mini-vacation that felt like one was exactly what the doctor ordered.
It's amazing how much your outlook can change over the course of four days.
Come back on Friday to find out more about our visit to the barrier islands off the coast of NC.