WE ARE PERMITTED!!!

Yup! We did it. In order to have driving access to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore you need an Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Permit. From our campsite it is quite the haul to get out there. Which is not the problem walking Jett there, it's after she has ran and played, exhausting herself, then trying to walk her the half mile back in full sun. 

Yes. It is a bit expensive, $50 for seven days or $120  for a full calendar year. The good thing however is that this permit allows us into designated areas all along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Including back in Ocracoke, here on Hatteras Island and all the way up to Nags Head. So we will get good use of our seven days as we move north up the coast. 

I can respect this management plan. After having spent most of my life in Florida and knowing what Daytona Beach has turned into the ORV allows regulation of beach driving access while protecting wildlife and the ecosystem of these dynamic barrier islands. 

After getting the truck dialed in for beach driving we found a spot to park. This area is way busier than Ocracoke was and even more crowded than it was here on Friday. Guess the local mainlanders combined with the beginning of the tourist season all adds up on the weekend. The trucks seen in the pictures are not sunbathers, these are all serious sport fishermen surf fishing from the beach.  

Today was a cool high of 63*! Making our time on the beach so pleasant. Jett had a blast. She loves running in and out waves and chasing them as they hit the beach. 

The cooler weather also made for an even cooler shower. Shower stalls are present here as well but higher up in the dunes, catching a bit more sea breeze. Brrrr . . . 

The day is coming to an end so soon and Jett is already asking for more beach time tomorrow!