Day 51. Rochdale Reunion. Buxton, Outer Banks, NC

 

Leaving Ocracoke around 9am and riding ENE with the help of a strong and steady tailwind, catching the Hatteras ferry and finishing our ride into Buxton around 1pm. 

 Gathering in the morning before our last day of riding in front of the Blackbeard Lodge in Ocracoke. It was already very warm. ☀️

 After screaming down the road at 20mph with the assistance of our tailwind for about 10 miles, we find an access spot above the dunes for our first big view of the Atlantic Ocean.

 NC 12 is the road that runs all the way up the Outer Banks until it reaches the Virginia Beach, VA area. It's a narrow road on a very narrow strip of land. Often we could see both the Pamlico Sound to the west and the Atlantic to the east at the same time. It's also clear as evidenced by the sand encroaching on the road that keeping the dunes at bay from the ever present wind must be full time job for the highway department. 

 

Waiting for the Hatteras ferry we say our good byes to James. He's headed back to the ferry terminal in Ocracoke to meet up with Wendy for the weekend further north on the Outer Banks. Good bye James and thanks for the bike tour of North Carolina!

 With about half of our 31 mile bike ride done it's time to board our last ferry to Hatteras. I read that in 1860 a hurricane washed away the strip of land that used to connect Ocracoke to Hatteras and now a ferry runs a circuitous route to avoid the shallows that still exist. You can see the roundabout ferry ride in the Map My Ride tracking at the top of the post. 

 

For some who are geographically challenged like me I've added this view of the Outer Banks, our location on Buxton, and North Carolina to the west. To me it's amazing that the sea hasn't washed away this tiny slip of land. Thankfully, it's still here or we wouldn't have had a place to ride our bikes to!

 

Now that James is gone, Angela can feed the sea gulls. You'll have to ask James about his thoughts on feeding sea gulls and other birds. I can tell you simply, it is not supportive. 🐦

 

We have arrived, Buxton, NC!!

 Some people prefer to dip their bike wheel into the ocean when they finish a big bike trip. We were content to keep our bikes dry and salt water free and settle for the warm waters splashing around our legs. 🌊

We have finally found and waded in the big water. 

 

And here we all are, the hardcore, resilient and stubbornly still connected as friends, the representives of the pledge classes of 1976 and 1977.  From left to right; David Chastain, Carolyn Kerchner, Jim Phillips, Mike Kerchner, Charles & Julie Knott, Teresa Doutlick, Tom West, Mark Doutlick, Sue Ann West, Geoff Newman, David Bonitz, Joanie Hammonds, John Crofts, Barry Foxworthy, Angela & Scott Brand. Missing from the photo, Suzie Sneider (just sprained her ankle and icing it), Tim Williams (arriving today) and Jim Payne (called back to Orlando to cover the horrific shooting at the night club). 

I could do a whole blog on this cast of characters for years. Let it suffice to say that  they are all unique and interesting characters and it's my great pleasure to still be their friend 40 years later.  I hope to see it continue. 

Now to relax, rest, reconnect with my old friends until the next big adventure.