Carolina Shore - Ocean, Seafood, History & More!

[giradman]

Outer Banks North Carolina - Part 2

For a general introduction, check the link in the previous post - the Outer Banks consists of a series of low lying fragile 'sand' islands; the one near Roanoke is Bodie Island which connects to Pea Island via the Oregon Inlet; then quickly over a short bridge along HW12, Hatteras Island is next w/ a number of communities and also the famous Hatteras Lighthouse - from Hatteras, a short ferry ride connects to the northern end of Ocracoke Island - finally from Ocracoke Village, a much longer ferry ride reaches the mainland at Cedar Island - the first two aerial maps below show these islands and ferry options. The fragility of these Outer Bank Islands is evident in major storms and hurricanes where the islands can be damaged extensively - one pic below of the results of Hurricane Isabel in 2003 on Hatteras Island.

Before reaching Oregon Inlet, the Bodie Island Lighthouse comes into view (black & white horizontal stripes like 'life savers' - see the following images) - a number of other lighthouses are present further south, as shown in the diagram. The current Herbert Bonner Bridge dates from the early 1960s and will be replaced soon (see first quote below). Once on Hatteras Island, the lighthouse comes into view (spiral black & white stripes like a barber's pole) - the pic shown is from the early 1990s before the structure was moved (more on that later). A short ferry ride is needed to land on Ocracoke Island and then a drive to Ocracoke Village, a wonderful visit and yet another lighthouse. From the Village, a much longer ferry trip can be done back to the mainland on Cedar Island. Dave

Oregon Inlet is an inlet along North Carolina's Outer Banks. It joins the Pamlico Sound with the Atlantic Ocean and separates Bodie Island from Pea Island, which are connected by the 2.5 mile Herbert C. Bonner Bridge that spans the inlet. On December 16, 2015 crews from Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative began moving underground electric cables, which are subsequently attached to the old Bonner Bridge, that connect Hatteras Island to the cooperative's power supplier Dominion North Carolina Power. This was done in order for construction of the new bridge to begin and signaled the beginning of the bridge construction process. The official groundbreaking for construction of the new Bonner Bridge was held on March 8, 2016. The project is expected to cost $246 million and be completed by 2019.

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[scifan57]

Outer Banks North Carolina - Part 2

For a general introduction, check the link in the previous post - the Outer Banks consists of a series of low lying fragile 'sand' islands; the one near Roanoke is Bodie Island which connects to Pea Island via the Oregon Inlet; then quickly over a short bridge along HW12, Hatteras Island is next w/ a number of communities and also the famous Hatteras Lighthouse - from Hatteras, a short ferry ride connects to the northern end of Ocracoke Island - finally from Ocracoke Village, a much longer ferry ride reaches the mainland at Cedar Island - the first two aerial maps below show these islands and ferry options. The fragility of these Outer Bank Islands is evident in major storms and hurricanes where the islands can be damaged extensively - one pic below of the results of Hurricane Isabel in 2003 on Hatteras Island.

Before reaching Oregon Inlet, the Bodie Island Lighthouse comes into view (black & white horizontal stripes like 'life savers' - see the following images) - a number of other lighthouses are present further south, as shown in the diagram. The current Herbert Bonner Bridge dates from the early 1960s and will be replaced soon (see first quote below). Once on Hatteras Island, the lighthouse comes into view (spiral black & white stripes like a barber's pole) - the pic shown is from the early 1990s before the structure was moved (more on that later). A short ferry ride is needed to land on Ocracoke Island and then a drive to Ocracoke Village, a wonderful visit and yet another lighthouse. From the Village, a much longer ferry trip can be done back to the mainland on Cedar Island. Dave


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Those are some very nice lighthouses. I've seen the documentary on the move of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Here's a documentary on the Bell Rock Lighthouse off the coast of Scotland, the oldest surviving wave washed lighthouse in the world. It celebrated it's bicentennial a few years ago.

This is part one of four.

 

[giradman]

Those are some very nice lighthouses. I've seen the documentary on the move of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Here's a documentary on the Bell Rock Lighthouse off the coast of Scotland, the oldest surviving wave washed lighthouse in the world. It celebrated it's bicentennial a few years ago.

This is part one of four.

Thanks Scifan.. for the link above - just looked @ all four episodes - quite an accomplishment for those times and one must wonder 'why do it'! Below a pic found on the web of the lighthouse which seems under repair - of course, global warming and rising sea levels may make its need an afterthought - who knows? Dave
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[scifan57]

Thanks Scifan.. for the link above - just looked @ all four episodes - quite an accomplishment for those times and one must wonder 'why do it'! Below a pic found on the web of the lighthouse which seems under repair - of course, global warming and rising sea levels may make its need an afterthought - who knows? Dave
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At high tide Bell Rock can be under many feet of water but at or near low tide, Bell Rock can be above water, awash, or barely under the surface depending on the exact position. Back in the days before accurate charts, lighthouses like this were essential to maritime safety.


Since the lighthouse was first turned on there have been only two shipwrecks on Bell Rock. One in heavy fog and the other in WWI when the light was turned off. HMS Argyll requested that the light be turned on but the message was never received, leading to the ship running aground. What remains of the warship is still there. HMS Argyll (1904) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[giradman]

Blackbeard - Infamous Pirate - Killed Off Ocracoke Island in 1718!

In the late 17th & early 18th centuries, piracy was rampant off the Carolina coast and the Outer Banks - one of the most famous pirates was Blackbeard (a.k.a. Edward Teach) (c. 1680 - 1718). He often stayed at Bath on the coast (colonial capital of North Carolina). One of his famous ships was the Queen Anne's Revenge (sunk near Beaufort and part of an undersea archeologic study - many artifacts on display in the North Carolina Maritime Museum there).

His story is quoted below (Source), including his death in a sea battle near Ocracoke Island - Lt. Maynard in charge of the winning Royal Navy had Blackbeard beheaded and mounted the head on his ship which returned to Virginia (he needed proof to collect the bounty) - more on Blackbeard in some later posts - in about 6 weeks, we are making a return trip to the Beaufort area. Dave

Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard, is killed off North Carolina’s Outer Banks during a bloody battle with a British navy force sent from Virginia in 1718. Probably a native of England, Teach likely began his pirating career in 1713, when he became a crewman aboard a Caribbean sloop commanded by pirate Benjamin Hornigold. In 1717, after Hornigold accepted an offer of general amnesty by the British crown and retired as a pirate, Teach took over a captured 26-gun French merchantman, increased its armament to 40 guns, and renamed it the Queen Anne’s Revenge.

During the next six months, the Queen Anne’s Revenge served as the flagship of a pirate fleet featuring up to four vessels and more than 200 men. Teach became the most infamous pirate of his day, winning the popular name of Blackbeard for his long, dark beard, which he was said to light on fire during battles to intimidate his enemies. Blackbeard’s pirate forces terrorized the Caribbean and the southern coast of North America and were notorious for their cruelty.

In May 1718, the Queen Anne’s Revenge and another vessel were shipwrecked, forcing Blackbeard to desert a third ship and most of his men because of a lack of supplies. With the single remaining ship, Blackbeard sailed to Bath in North Carolina and met with Governor Charles Eden. Eden agreed to pardon Blackbeard in exchange for a share of his sizable booty.

At the request of North Carolina planters, Governor Alexander Spotswood of Virginia dispatched a British naval force under Lieutenant Robert Maynard to North Carolina to deal with Blackbeard. On November 22, Blackbeard’s forces were defeated and he was killed in a bloody battle of Ocracoke Island. Legend has it that Blackbeard, who captured more than 30 ships in his brief pirating career, received five musket-ball wounds and 20 sword lacerations before dying.

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[scifan57]

Blackbeard - Infamous Pirate - Killed Off Ocracoke Island in 1718!

In the late 17th & early 18th centuries, piracy was rampant off the Carolina coast and the Outer Banks - one of the most famous pirates was Blackbeard (a.k.a. Edward Teach) (c. 1680 - 1718). He often stayed at Bath on the coast (colonial capital of North Carolina). One of his famous ships was the Queen Anne's Revenge (sunk near Beaufort and part of an undersea archeologic study - many artifacts on display in the North Carolina Maritime Museum there).

His story is quoted below (Source), including his death in a sea battle near Ocracoke Island - Lt. Maynard in charge of the winning Royal Navy had Blackbeard beheaded and mounted the head on his ship which returned to Virginia (he needed proof to collect the bounty) - more on Blackbeard in some later posts - in about 6 weeks, we are making a return trip to the Beaufort area. Dave








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This will probably interest you. Queen Anne's Revenge - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[giradman]

This will probably interest you. Queen Anne's Revenge - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanks Scifan.. for the links - I've been reading about NC coastal history for decades and have seen that excellent video before - highly recommended to those who are pirate fans and may be visiting the area. As mentioned before, we have planned a trip to the Beaufort area at the end of next month, and will stay on Atlantic Beach this time (see map & approximate hotel area; also shows the closeness to Beaufort & Moorehead City; and the location of the Cedar Island Ferry to Ocracoke Island).

There are many attractions, but a visit to the North Carolina Maritime Museum will be a must (will be my 3-4 time there) - am curious about the expansion of the Blackbeard exhibit (below just a model of the Queen Anne Revenge) - the wreck of the ship discussed in the video is near the Beaufort Inlet near the end of Atlantic Beach and the location of Ft. Macon State Park w/ Ft. Macon, a civil war brick structure. Will get some new pictures (and look for some older ones from previous trips to Beaufort). Dave
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P.S. last couple of images below - first the Watercraft Center (across the street from the museum) where boat construction, restoration, and even classes can be observed and taken. Finally, I've read many books over the decades on NC coastal history, pirates, etc. - the one below was published in 2000 and starts w/ pirates & Blackbeard, but continues into the Civil War - a nice general fairly encompassing recommendation.
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[scifan57]

Thanks Scifan.. for the links - I've been reading about NC coastal history for decades and have seen that excellent video before - highly recommended to those who are pirate fans and may be visiting the area. As mentioned before, we have planned a trip to the Beaufort area at the end of next month, and will stay on Atlantic Beach this time (see map & approximate hotel area; also shows the closeness to Beaufort & Moorehead City; and the location of the Cedar Island Ferry to Ocracoke Island).

There are many attractions, but a visit to the North Carolina Maritime Museum will be a must (will be my 3-4 time there) - am curious about the expansion of the Blackbeard exhibit (below just a model of the Queen Anne Revenge) - the wreck of the ship discussed in the video is near the Beaufort Inlet near the end of Atlantic Beach and the location of Ft. Macon State Park w/ Ft. Macon, a civil war brick structure. Will get some new pictures (and look for some older ones from previous trips to Beaufort). Dave
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P.S. last couple of images below - first the Watercraft Center (across the street from the museum) where boat construction, restoration, and even classes can be observed and taken. Finally, I've read many books over the decades on NC coastal history, pirates, etc. - the one below was published in 2000 and starts w/ pirates & Blackbeard, but continues into the Civil War - a nice general fairly encompassing recommendation.
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It will be interesting to see the wreck of the ship itself after it's been properly conserved.

 

[giradman]

It will be interesting to see the wreck of the ship itself after it's been properly conserved.

Well, I'm not sure 'how much' of the wood will be preserved, and suspect that the type of artifacts being recovered over the last decade or so will be the 'norm' - plus, the cost of this project based largely on private funding is not only high but possibly not sustainable - don't know? Below is another video showing and discussing more of the details of the undersea archeology - I'm anxious to return to the Maritime Museum in Beaufort for an update on the progress - probably has been a half dozen years since our last visit to the area. Dave
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[giradman]

North Carolina Coastal Lighthouses

As stated previously, I’m a major lighthouse fan and North Carolina has about a half dozen ‘major’ ones extending from Corolla, upper Outer Banks to the Oak Island Lighthouse near Southport, North Carolina, south of Wilmington - the diagram below shows most of those in this post.

Currituck Beach Lighthouse is near Corolla Village, also an area with wild houses. This is my favorite structure because of the red-brick exterior, was the last major brick lighthouse build on the Outer Banks. The structure is 162 ft high w/ 220 steps.

Bodie Island Lighthouse is near the Oregon Inlet - this is the third lighthouse in the vicinity and opened in 1872 (the second one was destroyed in 1861 by Confederate troops retreating from the Union Army during the early Civil War). The structure is 165 ft high and is one of three w/ the white-black paint design over bricks (the others are Hatteras & Cape Lookout).

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is located on Hatteras Island near the town of Buxton - it is 210 ft in height with 268 steps, and is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States; the original lighthouse was constructed in 1803. Due to the fragility of these barrier islands, the lighthouse was threatened by the Atlantic Ocean (see pic below from 1991); in 1999, the entire structure was moved 2,900 feet (following pic) - we have not been there since its relocation - I guess an item to add to my travel list!

Ocracoke Lighthouse is on the island of the same name and located in the Village, shown previously. The structure was built in 1823 and stands 75 ft tall - it is the oldest operating light station in North Carolina.

Cape Lookout Lighthouse is on the southern Outer Banks and can be reached only by boat (our first trip there was on a speed boat via Harker’s Island - took a guided jeep tour once there - will likely repeat the experience on our upcoming visit). The first lighthouse was completed in 1812, and the current one is a replacement. The structure is 163 ft high and offers beautiful views of the surrounding islands and water - highly recommended!

Bald Head Lighthouse (Old Baldy) is located on Bald Head Island and is reached by a short boat ride from Southport (see map and also the location of the Oak Island Lighthouse). Old Baldy is the oldest standing lighthouse in North Carolina; just 110 ft in height. The island is a resort-residential retreat that we’ve visited just once - only golf carts are allowed for transportation which can be rented - worth a visit!

Oak Island Lighthouse was constructed in 1958 and is 153 ft tall - have seen many times but have never done a visit - for me, the least attractive of the NC coastal lighthouses.

Note - all facts above taken from the Wiki articles of each lighthouse.
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[scifan57]

North Carolina Coastal Lighthouses

As stated previously, I’m a major lighthouse fan and North Carolina has about a half dozen ‘major’ ones extending from Corolla, upper Outer Banks to the Oak Island Lighthouse near Southport, North Carolina, south of Wilmington - the diagram below shows most of those in this post.

Currituck Beach Lighthouse is near Corolla Village, also an area with wild houses. This is my favorite structure because of the red-brick exterior, was the last major brick lighthouse build on the Outer Banks. The structure is 162 ft high w/ 220 steps.

Bodie Island Lighthouse is near the Oregon Inlet - this is the third lighthouse in the vicinity and opened in 1872 (the second one was destroyed in 1861 by Confederate troops retreating from the Union Army during the early Civil War). The structure is 165 ft high and is one of three w/ the white-black paint design over bricks (the others are Hatteras & Cape Lookout).

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is located on Hatteras Island near the town of Buxton - it is 210 ft in height with 268 steps, and is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States; the original lighthouse was constructed in 1803. Due to the fragility of these barrier islands, the lighthouse was threatened by the Atlantic Ocean (see pic below from 1991); in 1999, the entire structure was moved 2,900 feet (following pic) - we have not been there since its relocation - I guess an item to add to my travel list!

Ocracoke Lighthouse is on the island of the same name and located in the Village, shown previously. The structure was built in 1823 and stands 75 ft tall - it is the oldest operating light station in North Carolina.

Cape Lookout Lighthouse is on the southern Outer Banks and can be reached only by boat (our first trip there was on a speed boat via Harker’s Island - took a guided jeep tour once there - will likely repeat the experience on our upcoming visit). The first lighthouse was completed in 1812, and the current one is a replacement. The structure is 163 ft high and offers beautiful views of the surrounding islands and water - highly recommended!

Bald Head Lighthouse (Old Baldy) is located on Bald Head Island and is reached by a short boat ride from Southport (see map and also the location of the Oak Island Lighthouse). Old Baldy is the oldest standing lighthouse in North Carolina; just 110 ft in height. The island is a resort-residential retreat that we’ve visited just once - only golf carts are allowed for transportation which can be rented - worth a visit!

Oak Island Lighthouse was constructed in 1958 and is 153 ft tall - have seen many times but have never done a visit - for me, the least attractive of the NC coastal lighthouses.

Note - all facts above taken from the Wiki articles of each lighthouse.
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Fizgard lighthouse, at the entrance to Esquimalt harbour, British Columbia, the oldest working lighthouse on the west coast of North America was built in 1860. Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alcatraz lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse on the west coast of the United States, was established in 1854, but the current structure dates to 1909, making Fizgard lighthouse 49 years older than the present structure.

 

[giradman]

Cool - I've been to the Fizgard Lighthouse - years ago, we did a British Columbia coastal trip - first flew into Port Hardy at the northern end of Vancouver Island, then took a 2-night large ferry boat (had a tiny cabin but food was excellent) to Prince Rupert (first map below); returned and rented a car at Port Hardy and drove the length of the island to Victoria - stay a few nights and saw the lighthouse and some gardens (also bought a wonderful piece of art in the city); then, a ferry to Vancouver for some more nights (some great sites & food) - finally a flight back home to North Carolina - wonderful trip (probably about 8-9 days). Dave

ADDENDUM: Some more information on the trip above - in Victoria, we stayed across the Inner Harbor and had a great view of the downtown area & the Empress Hotel (shown below on map & pic) - we bought a watercolor painting from an art gallery w/i that hotel by the artist
Robert Kaykaygeesick, Jr. called Visions (pic below from a corner of my den - not good because of the flash - but one that we still enjoy - found the receipt from July 1990, our 20th anniversary) - a little history of the artist given - added attachments.
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[scifan57]

Cool - I've been to the Fizgard Lighthouse - years ago, we did a British Columbia coastal trip - first flew into Port Hardy at the northern end of Vancouver Island, then took a 2-night large ferry boat (had a tiny cabin but food was excellent) to Prince Rupert (first map below); returned and rented a car at Port Hardy and drove the length of the island to Victoria - stay a few nights and saw the lighthouse and some gardens (also bought a wonderful piece of art in the city); then, a ferry to Vancouver for some more nights (some great sites & food) - finally a flight back home to North Carolina - wonderful trip (probably about 8-9 days). Dave
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That's a wonderful trip to take. I've been all the way to Alaska and back by way of the Inside Passage and the views are spectacular, especially in the section from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert.

 

[giradman]

That's a wonderful trip to take. I've been all the way to Alaska and back by way of the Inside Passage and the views are spectacular, especially in the section from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert.

Hi Scifan.. - we did love that trip! I just put an ADDENDUM on that post w/ a little more on Victoria and the art work we bought in July 1990 (checked our receipt) - my photo is poor (indoor flash) - the watercolor painting is wonderful w/ Native American/spiritual imagery (if you're into that as we are).

We've also done a 2-week land/water tour of Alaska - first week on land & second week on sea from Seward to Glacier Bay to Juneau and then to Ketchikan, ending up in Vancouver - gained TOO much weight on that boat (exercise rooms were not common then!) - Dave

 

[giradman]

Hatteras Lighthouse - Video of the Move - Quite Impressive!

Just re-watched a video of moving the 4,830 ton Hatteras Lighthouse 2,900 ft to its new and much safer location - 50 minute video below (well worth watching) and a few pics. Dave
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