Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry to Ocracoke Island

Now that we were worn out from the climb, we headed to the ferry.
While we paid $7 for the opportunity to climb a light house, this ferry is FREE. Yes, that's right...FREE.

But don't worry, I'm sure that will change soon.

Here's the captain's deck.

The ferry runs twice an hour during peak season from about 5 am to 9 pm. Pretty convenient for FREE, huh?

Wild horses roamed Ocracoke in the years prior to its establishment as part of the National Park Service. When the National Park Service took over, the wild horses were fenced and given their own pasture so as to not compete with the native wildlife. The herd currently numbers between 25 and 30...and they don't APPEAR too wild anymore.

We ate at this waterside restaurant.

When the ferry began in 1955, cars had to drive off into the water!

Look! Ocracoke has its OWN light house...not open today though.

This stump was open for climbing though.

Uh-oh! Everybody wants to go back to Hatteras at the same time. Luckily, the ferry was able to hold us all.

The birds...the birds...

Not far from the ferry, we passed by this product of post-war Finland...the Future House. About 100 of these polyester plastic and fiberglass houses were built during the late 1960s and early 1970s. When the energy crisis of the mid 1970s made the manufacture of plastic extremely expensive, the houses were taken off the market. Anywhere from 60 to 100 of these homes are thought to survive today.

Marlon made it back to the beach and wants Doug to snap this picture before his feet get wet.

For a video of our day at the Cape Hatteras Light Station and on the Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry, click below. For more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/may/ocracokeislandferry/ pictures 50-121.

To be continued...

Cape Hatteras Light Station

Time to head toward the Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry.

As we headed south, we saw hundreds of huge rental houses like these. They rent for anywhere from about $1,000 to $4,000 per week depending upon size and season.
Our first stop was the Cape Hatteras Light Station where we decided to test our stair climbing skills on 268 steps.

Marlon has finished counting the 1.25 million bricks used to construct the light house and is ready to start climbing.

There are several landings to stop and rest on along the climb.

We made it to the top!

The light house was moved 2,870 feet inland during 1999/2000 due to shore erosion.

The light house casts its shadow...

Doug made it back down the stairs and left Marlon up there. Here Marlon risks life and limb by putting his hand in the air.

For a video of the top of the Cape Hatteras Light Station, see the next blog.

For more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/may/ocracokeislandferry/ pictures 1-49.

To be continued...

Driving to the Outer Banks' Camp Hatteras

Today we headed to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

We ran into some very stormy weather on the way and had to contend with it as we went over very LONG bridges. This one was the worst...two lanes!

Here the storms continued but at least it was two lanes both way and divided.

This is North Carolina Highway 12 which is the north-south artery on the Outer Banks. No more bridges...just harsh winds and blowing sand.

But we made it safely to Camp Hatteras, near the town of Waves, on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

This campground had over 400 rv sites and its very own beachfront. We arrived about 2 weeks after tornadoes had gone through the area and taken away the boardwalk to the beach. They had already finished a new boardwalk though.

For some video of the beach, click below.
This picnic shelter was located beachfront.

The resort featured a nice gameroom with video games and pool tables...

a fully furnished clubhouse with board games, book exchange and complete kitchen for social activities.

An outdoor pool as well as an indoor pool and hot tub.

For more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/may/camp-hatteras-rodan/ .

To be continued...

Visitors Arrive and We Visit The Haven

Today is Memorial Day. Carol and her friend A (formerly known as O, which stands for Orville) checked into Pedro's Motor Inn today after attending a NASCAR race over the weekend. A is from Canada...get it, eh?

Here we are trying out Peddler's Steakhouse at South of the Border. We love Outback Steakhouse...Outback it ain't.

Next we went to the Waffle House. But we didn't eat any waffles.

Based on our recommendation, they were excited to go up Sombrero Tower. Our SECOND trip up was double the fun.

We ran into an Elton John impersonator who treated us to an ocapela version of the 1983 hit I'm Still Standing.

Carol and Doug tried on a little color.

That was obviously NOT a hungry, hungry hippo.

On Tuesday, Carol and Orville left us for Myrtle Beach.

I've fallen and I can't get up!

Okay, I can...for food.

We didn't think we should leave our new kitty friend at Pedro's Campground, so we packed her up and dropped her off at Raeford, North Carolina's The Haven-Friends For Life No-Kill Animal Shelter.

Here's one of The Haven's cathouses.

The Haven is an extraordinary shelter run by Linden Spears. Linden moved to the Raeford area to raise horses on her farm but saw the need to save some animals.

And save them she does. At any given time, The Haven houses approximately 500 cats and 1,000 dogs!

Learn more about The Haven and the challenges it faces at http://www.thehaven-nc.com/ .

The Haven was recently gifted 10 of these Pawsidential Suites which will serve as home to 60 lucky cats. The Suites were donated by The Diane Warren Foundation run by songwriter Diane Warren.

It is almost guaranteed that every person (at least in America) knows many of Diane's songs whether they realize it or not. Check her website out at http://www.dianewarren.com/ and learn more about this supporter of both animal and human rights.

Oh...and don't worry about this little one.

Doug will soon sign a long-term contract upgrading her from guest star to regular.

For more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/may/carol-and-orville-m/ and http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/may/spending-the-day-wi/ .

To be continued...

Pedro's South of the Border Pt. 2

Now it was time to go to the top of Sombrero Tower to find...

the panoramic view of beauty that IS South of the Border.
This is the view south toward Dillon, South Carolina. About 1/2 mile down the road are about a dozen run-down strip clubs which mostly appear to be abandoned. Dirty old men just don't come here anymore like they used to.

I-95...the highway of hundreds of South of the Border billboards that start hawking Pedro as far as 175 miles away.

Here's the one you see if you miss the exit.

We are sure you want a video from the top of the tower...so here it is.
Marlon and his big red dog.

South of the Border even features a pet toilet.

Pedro greets you as you enter the parking lot.

At night, South of the Border becomes a plethora of neon lights.

They even have neon that appears to just hover in the air attached to nothing.

Don't be fooled by Pedro's Coffee Shop. There might be a coffee pot sitting on the back counter, but this is one of the big gift shops...including the goofy (not Goofy) hat shop. There hasn't been a meal served in this building for years.

Here's the lighted bridge which serves as the walkway between Pedro's Motor Inn and Golf of Mexico (which seems to be permanently closed).

The campground office took over the building formerly known as Pedro's Southern Fried Chicken.

Have you ever seen the top of our motorhome?

Now you have.

What is this...a cute cuddly kitty?

She was definitely a very hungry kitty...so we fed her.

For more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/may/exploring-south-of-/ pictures 55-119.

To be continued...