Ralph & Linda's Travels: #89 Apr 2015 Shifting Sands of the Outer Banks, North Carolina

The Outer Banks did not mean anything to us until we carefully looked at a map and saw the long, thin, broken strip of islands sheltering the mainland of North Carolina.

At the south end of the Outer Banks the ferry from Cedar Island to Ocracoke Island takes about two hours.

The upper viewing deck provided my first view of the top of our motorhome.

I have no desire to climb the ladder on the back and stand thirteen feet in the air.

The Atlantic side of the Outer Banks is very treacherous. The cold Labrador Current and the warm Gulf Stream collide in the Diamond Shoals east of Cape Hatteras, which is the easternmost point of the barrier islands.

In the 1800s lighthouses were erected along the Outer Banks to warn mariners of the swift currents and shallow water. The beam from each light is visible about 20 miles; therefore, lighthouses were constructed about 40 miles apart. Each light has a distinctive sequence of flashes and pauses and each tower has a distinguishing paint signature.

OCRACOKE LIGHTHOUSE welcomed us as the ferry approached.

CAPE HATTERAS LIGHTHOUSE is the world’s second tallest lighthouse at 198.5 feet. When it was built in 1870 it was situated 1,500 feet from the shore. That seemed to be a secure location at the time but by 1999 the shoreline was only 150 feet from the lighthouse. The lighthouse was relocated 2,900 feet and is again 1,500 feet from the shifting shoreline.

These sand islands shift and move with the wind and tides.

Forests become stumps on the beach as the island moves westward.

Beaches move.

Footsteps wash away.

In 2012 Hurricane Sandy created a 2,000 foot wide inlet on Hatteras Island.

It is still being filled with sand in order to construct a new bridge. Locals call this the Lego Bridge.

Ralph climbed the 214 steps inside BODIE ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE.

He was was rewarded with a magnificent 360* view.

CURRITUCK ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE was left unpainted, which provides a sense of the multitude of bricks used to form the structure. This was the last lighthouse built along the Atlantic Outer Banks and warned mariners about the danger of approaching the last 40 mile stretch of dark coastline.

Treacherous waters off the coast of the Outer Banks are known as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic”. Over 600 ships wrecked here as victims of shallow shoals, storms and war. Modern boats are wrecked and abandoned as well.

These islands have a very turbulent European history. Beginning in 1495 European nations sought to control the riches of the east coast of North America and the Carribean. The sailing ships endured a long, dangerous voyage across the Atlantic and often encountered violent storms. When they ran aground cargo was offloaded in order to lighten and re-float the ships.

500 years ago Spanish horses (cargo) were abandoned along the islands but they survived and thrived in the harsh climate.

Descendants of these horses have been treasured but more recently homes were built in the same area and conflicts occurred.

By nature horses do not know how to swim or jump fences. They must be taught. A fence has been erected across the island from shore to shore to allow the horses to safely roam the north end of the islands.