Here we are at Oregon Inlet Campground now. It's still a part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Tim and I hooked up the Airstream and drove the forty miles north taking an hour to drive just north of Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. It was one of our easiest towing trips on this trip yet and no ferry to get here.
Along the way we had decided to stop at Cape Hatteras Lighthouse to climb the 257 steps up to the top. We have actually been here several times prior on this trip, once to get our Off-Road Vehicle Permit. Tim and I wanted to wait to make the climb on our departure day as we would have the Airstream with us and it would make a great photo opportunity.
Of course it was raining today. One could still climb to the top but on rainy days they close the balcony leaving only a small window at the top to look out. I spoke to a passing ranger who said the visibility was poor, so much so you would not even be able to see the point on Hatteras. With this said we decided it wasn't worth the small fee or the effort of the climb.
The stop was still worth it. I bought a great coffee-table book on the National Parks and got a few good pictures taken from below. The massive lighthouse of 210 feet tall makes it the tallest brick lighthouse structure in the United States and 29th in the world. The base I thought was pretty impressive as well with red bricks and granite corners. The 'Move of the Millennium' took place in 1999 when due to erosion the light house was moved 2,900 feet inland because it was sitting just 15 feet from shore.
The picture from yesterday's blog post is of the fresnel lens that once sat atop the Hatteras Lighthouse. What's left of the frame and prism glass has been partially restored and on loan from the Park Service. The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum has adequate space to exhibit this beautiful piece of history.
Since it was a quick trip here with just the lighthouse stop and a stop at the Ace Hardware ... wink ... Tim and I decide to get Jett to a dog park. There is one in Kitty Hawk. However I had to jump through some hoops to make it happen. So in order to go to the dog park one needs to fill out an eight page application in Kill Devils Hill, be approved, get a park dog tag and get a gate code. Mission accomplished!
This evening before sunset it was a brisk 55* outside with 25 mph winds. Inside we are 65* with windows closed and heater off. It turned out to be the perfect night for Mexican Taco Soup. I had brought it from home frozen. It was super yummy delicious!
Fingers crossed that tomorrow brings us another lighthouse.
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