OBX - 2013

The frau got a few unexpected days off and we decided to take advantage of it and head to the the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  We absolutely love the Outer Banks (OBX) and went there every year while our kids were growing up.  It does not have all the trappings of some beach areas since much of it is a National Seashore.

We set up our base at the National Park Service campground near Frisco, NC.  This campground is situated in the maritime forest near Buxton, NC.

Our tent in the maritime forest.

The next day we took the ferry from Hatteras Village to the island of Ocracoke.   When we first started visiting Ocracoke more than 20 years ago it was just a sleepy little fishing village with two restaurants and a couple of watering holes.  Today it is a bustling tourist area with hotels, restaurants, bars, t-shirt shops, etc.  There is a lot of traffic on the only main road through the island.  But that's OK.  The type of tourists Ocracoke attracts are not the obnoxious type.  Mostly just old and young beach bums.

Waiting for the Ocracoke Ferry.

Leaving Hatteras Village

The next day we went to the north of the island.  We visited Kitty Hawk and Nags Head.  This is the area that is the most built up.  Just what you would expect from a Spring Break destination.  There were heavy rains there the day we were there so we decided to head for my favorite seafood restaurant, Fisherman's Wharf in Wanchese, NC.  The restaurant is located above the fish processing plant in Wanchese Harbor.  Fresh!

Fisherman's Wharf Restaurant in Wanchese, NC

It's also a good area to take some maritime photographs since it is a working harbor.

Fishing Boat

The Pacifics

Fishing Boats

The next day we just spent hanging out at the camp.  The weather was cool for the OBX in July.  That evening we bought some tuna steaks and grilled them at the camp.  Delicious.

Tuna steaks back at camp

That evening we walked down to the beach for one last look at the ocean.  Next month I will be sailing on a freighter across the Atlantic Ocean to Germany.  That trip will probably be my next post on this blog.  Stay tuned!

The Atlanic Ocean.  I'll be crossing it next month on a ship!