Two Days / Two Ways
May 9
Yesterday’s ride was punctuated by a severe weather system moving through the southern outer banks. The 13 mile ride from Jerniman’s campground to the Ocracoke — Hatteras ferry featured diminished visibility rain squalls that forced me to lean degrees to the right to stay upright to avoid being blown off the bike. Crew on the ferry said the gusts were approaching 25 mph. It was memorable, taxing, and beautiful all at once. The flashes of the angry steel gray ocean and sky frosted with roiling surf was astonishing.
Outer Banks dunes after the rain, Hatteras, NC
The 70 minute ferry ride made us shiver in our drenched clothes, as hanging out in the air conditioned passenger lounge was more hospitable that out in the driving wind and rain. At one point on the Ocracoke leg of the ride the rain was sonpointedly flying sideways into our right flanks, that it felt like hail.
Later in the day Ashley and Scott lead the drier, sunnier riding near Buxton, NC
But a hot lunch at Isola Pizzeria in Hatteras, NC helped to set us right again. And so did the sorely needed partly sunny afternoon that followed. It was a 35 mile ride to a very nicely appointed KOA and a fairly spectacular sunset that topped off a tale of a Janus-faced weather day.
Outer Banks sunset from the Cape Hatteras – Avon, NC KOA.
May 10
Started the morning with a brisk pedal across the NC 12 causeway bridge over Pamlico Sound, NC.
Scott and Ashley ahead approaching the dunes of the Pea island National Wildlife Refuge.
The view of the dredging from the Marc Basnight Bridge over Pamlico Sound at South Point, NC.
We…
Arrive…
In…
Nags Head, NC.
The Outer Banks route connoisseur “Big Bite Combo” lunch at 7-11. Nags Head, NC.
Big Foot over Roanoke Sound, because … why not? Nags Head, NC.
Scott fulfilling a lifelong ambition of hang gliding at Kitty Hawk Kites Headquarters at Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Kill Devil Hills, NC.
The intrepid pilots after hang gliding second thoughts, proximity will suffice at Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Kill Devil Hills, NC.
Birthplace of American aviation at the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Kill Devil Hills, NC.
The origination point of the Kitty Hawk flight at the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Kill Devil Hills,
A replica of the Kitty Hawk at the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Kill Devil Hills, NC.
Hashing out logistics…
… Ashley takes control and gets it done. Kill Devil Hills, NC.
The gang’s all here version 1 — (l-r): Jorge, Lois, Richard, Jeff, Ashley, Scott — after first group dinner, 2026, at Noosa Beach Grille, Kill Devil Hills, NC.
Day 4:
Start: Hatteras-Avon, NC
Finish: Kill Devil Hills, NC
Miles: 36.82
First time the group will ride together today will take us just shy of the North Carolina / Virginia border — 25 mph sustained headwinds are forecast. Time to get the quads & calves ready for heavy duty.
What I’m Reading:
Something in me watches me from foreign dimensions. Something in me walks barefoot. Something in me thuds like tactical boots heard by neighbors down the street. And then something in me stays, inaudibly staring at no one. In every state, I hope to be understood. “Wait, what?” My needs, my errors, my missteps, my love, my extended giving nibble like besotted puppies with immature teeth.
— Anita Nahal / “The Quiet Shift”
thee istsfor manity reader 