Oregon Inlet Bridge and the Outer Banks Brewing Station

Monday, April 22, 2015

Late Saturday afternoon the fog rolled in off of the sea. We waited until then to walk on the beach so that we wouldn't need to bother with sunscreen. Once we crossed the dunes the beach got foggier and wetter. We took a brief walk and came back over the dunes where the fog was behind us and the sun in front of us, for a while at least. Until the fog started rolling through the campground and it was time to go inside.

Sunny to foggy in minutes!

Blowing fog and brief sunshine averages out to pretty nice!

Sunday morning dawned overcast. A big front was coming in so we took an early walk. We hiked the beach south and around the end of the island to the Oregon Inlet bridge. On the way we spied lots of seabirds and ducks. The Brown Pelicans were the most skittish which made them hard to get close enough to photograph with my handy pocket-sized point-and-shoot. I found two beautiful intact whelk shells and some coral which I photographed and left behind for someone or the sea to claim. When I have no extra room in the rig it makes it easier to enjoy something, take a photo and leave it behind. Experiences instead of things...

 

Sneak up close to the Brown Pelicans...Not Happening!

We walked directly next to the long bridge that spans Oregon Inlet and connects Bodie Island with Hatteras Island. Pamlico Sound stretched off to the distance on the other side. The overcast came and went and we decided that since we hadn't brought a lunch with us, (Greg suggested brie, a baguette, and wine, which just made me hungrier...), we made the long hike back to camp. It was a great beach to walk on. Firm enough to walk fast and get some good exercise. Also, firm enough for 4 wheel drive vehicles to drive. We were pretty darn hungry when we got back, salt air and it's effects you know. It started to sprinkle just as we got to camp.

Walking on the beach along Oregon Inlet

 

The viaduct to Hatteras Island

 

Pelican Tracks

Nesting area for Piping Plovers, Skimmers, and Terns

 

Our camp neighbor practicing with his new kite board, without the board.

Coming home to Lunch!

 Last night it poured and the wind shook the rig all night. I dreamed about earthquakes! Today was supposed to be rainy, but dawned sunny with clear blue skies and mild temperatures. Because we thought it would rain all day we had already decided to lunch at Outer Banks Brewing Station. Well, we decided to go anyway! First we drove across the highway to the Oregon Inlet Marina to dump tanks. The charter fishermen were enjoying the sunshine while preparing their boats for the tourist fishing season. A plastic replica of the 805.5 lb North Carolina record tuna hangs gruesomely from a cross beam as you enter the marina.

"The eye of the ...tu-na!"

 

We drove out of the quiet of the dune-filled national seashore and into the town of Nags Head, also fairly quiet now as it gears up for tourist season. We've been to the Outer Banks Brewing Station the past two Aprils and enjoy their micro-brews. They make a Lemongrass Wheat beer that I haven't found elsewhere on our travels. Greg ordered a Foxy Brown Spiced Ale and we ordered the usual; for me a salad, for Greg a grilled fish sandwich. It was a low key Monday afternoon in the brewery. Just our kind of day!

"You want me to smile when I'm Hungry?"

 

He is making ale as fast as he can!

OK, Now I will smile. Grilled Mahi with Pineapple, onion, and tomato...

It's 5 pm and the overcast is back, so we still have a chance of showers as the next system passes through. Then we should have good weather the rest of the week. April on the North Carolina coast is often rainy, so we are excited that we will have a good stretch of weather before we leave next Sunday. More beach walks with my honey!