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First night stop, we parked across from some folks who really dug Hallowe'en
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At Cape May NJ, a very nice ferry terminal . . we rode across the Delaware River
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Being a"big rig", we tend to get loaded early
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We saw some lighthouses from the ferry - that's the Harbor of Refuge light on the Delaware side . .
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The East End Breakwater Light at Lewes Delaware dates to 1886 . . .
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At Quimby VA, the entrance to the remote Virginia Landing RV Resort
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Crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnels - 17+ miles over and under the water
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The tunnels were pretty confining for our motorhome, but we made it
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Now we're at Kitty Hawk, NC - and a reproduction of the Wright Bros 1902 glider . . .
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First powered flyer reproduction - wingspan was 40ft. First flight was just 3 times that - 120ft
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It was fun to view the aeronautical hall of fame - lots of familiar faces and names
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This monument marks the takeoff point for each of the four flights made on Dec 17, 1903
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The flyer taxied on that rail. Touchdown points all have markers down the line . . .
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Kind of fitting that there's a small airport on the site
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A pavillion built for the first flight centennial in 2003 is now being demolished - no funds to operate it. The Wright Brothers Monument will remain
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The 60ft monument above the lone remaining dune was dedicated in 1932. The dune is the one used by the Wrights for their glider flights
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The panels on the stainless steel doors depict various events in "the conquest of air".
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Even though you can't climb the tower, the view from the terrace is pretty good
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That's a sculpture recreating the only photo taken of the launch of that first flight
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Titled "Conquest of the Air", the sculpture was dedicated in 2003, 100 years after the first flight
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Orville piloted the first flight, Wilbur stabilized the plane. Next flight, they swapped positions
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Some places in the outer banks, you can drive on the beach. We didn't.
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Even in late October, the beach was a very popular place
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There was even one surfer . . . we never saw him actually surf, though
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Most of the dunes have been stabilized with sea oats and snow fences
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There's not a lot left from the original settlement at Roanoke Island. This indian pot was found at the site of the original fort . . .
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This 15ft, 1,000lb Blue Marlin took pride of place at a local seafood restaurant . .
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We used our scooters to tour these gardens
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The garden gatehouse takes you back to 16th century England
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This little guy isn't that old
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The gardens are very decorative
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This statue of Queen Elizabeth I is believed to be the world's largest statue of her . . .
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Makes you want to talk like a Shakespeare play. Forsooth, varlet!
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The garden boasts one of the largest collections of Camillias in North America - over 125 varieties
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Can't go the Outer Banks and not see lighthouses. This is Bodie Island light, dating to 1872
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Lighthouses were given distinctive paint jobs so mariners could identify them in the daylight
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Originally houses were built tall to spot ships arriving. Today it's just a design thing . . .
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We stopped for lunch along the beach and found some kite surfers . . .
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It's a variation on wind surfing, but these guys can get seriously airborn
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This day, however, none of them actually flew.
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Might be the most iconic lighthouse in the country
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Like many coastal lights, this one was moved away from the crumbling bluff
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It's been decomissioned, but still works
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During the summer, you can climb to the top on these stairs
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At the southern tip of Cape Hatteras, a ferry takes you further south . . .
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The state of North Carolina runs these free ferries for a 90min ride to Ocracoke Island
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More of those elevated view houses adorn the point
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There used to be wild horses on Ocracoke Island. Now they're more domesticated . . .
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The Ocracoke Light was built in 1823, and is the second-oldest active lighthouse in the country
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Operated by the Coast Guard, there's no visitor center and no tours offered
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Always time for pretty flowers . .
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Sea Oats are protected plants that do a lot to stabilize the sand dunes
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Back on the ferry as we head back home
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Fishing is a very popular pastime along the Outer Banks . .
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At the Alligator River Wildlife Refuge, we only saw turtles.
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Lots of turtles
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In the visitor center, these stuffed Red Wolves. They were down to 17 individuals at one point. There are now about 100 in the wild
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We would have, but they were closed . . .
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This was the last lighthouse built on the Outer Banks - 1872
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It's the only privately owned historic lighthouse along the Outer Banks
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Lots of viewports as you climb to the top
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The view from the top - 162 ft - is awesome
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Judy said several folks had acrophobia attacks on the climb up and back down. She didn't. 214 steps to the top
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The original first order Fresnel remains in place - but no visitor access
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We did . . .
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Judy liked this beachside house with a precarious-looking view platform
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Everytime we looked online for good places to eat, this one topped the list. So we went. The lists were right . . .
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Headed south again, through cotton fields ready for picking
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We overnighted in Newport NC at a resort that was mostly permanent trailers.
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It was on the water, and folks were cleaning their catch and feeding the gulls
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Eight rods, two coolers - that seems about right
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This park even had a water slide . . .
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We were greeted at the Oak Plantation RV Resort in Charleston SC by this guy . . .
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This is the Charleston Tea Plantation, and we took the tour . . .
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They grow 7 varieties of tea here, and have space for many more plants
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Tea is made from just the fresh leaves at the tops of plants, thus the flat tops of harvested bushes
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In the hot house, young plants are toughened up before being transplanted outdoors
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It takes about 7 years for a tea bush to mature enough for harvest. The harvesting machine was idle this day
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Judy shares a bench with the plantation mascot
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Near the Tea Plantation is Angel Oak, a 400 year old live oak tree
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The canopy shades about 17,000 sq feet, and obviously attracts a lot of visitors
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Nearby, the picturesque St John's Parish Church - established 1734 "in the Anglican tradition".
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We went to the John's Island Presbyterian Church. It's the oldest Presbyterian Church we've attended (so far).
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Built in 1719 and "modernized" in 1792, the meeting house style sanctuary is much like it was almost 300 years ago.
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We took a Grayline bus tour of Historic Charleston . . .
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Drove by a lot of neat looking buildings
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Didn't absorb a lot of information about what we were seeing
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A replica of the first submarine warship - the Confederate's H.L Hunley. In its only mission, it sank one Union ship before itself sinking
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Neat church . . there are lots of them in Charleston
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There's another one . . .
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Many of these antebellum homes have been beautifully restored
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We did tour the Joseph Manigault House, built in 1803.
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It was the "city" house of a plantation owner, and used only during the 6 week social season in the spring
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The original gate house was being restored while we were there . . .
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Indoors, our guide explained about the decor and life back then
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In one corner, a harp and very nice music stand
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Gotta have a four-poster bed - and a bigger motor home!
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One last bit of touristing - the marvelous entrance to the Magnolia Plantation Gardens
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The gardens were created before the Civil War, and survived the battles and pillaging
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The gardens are all about beauty
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The "Garden Path" is about 1.5 miles and is a very enjoyable stroll
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The gardens were nearly destroyed by at least two hurricanes, but are still very beautiful
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That's the plantation house, rebuilt after the civil war on the foundations of the original house
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A lady who said she was 83 years old insisted on taking our picture . . . and had to lie down on the ground to get this shot
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The back of the house, as seen from the lawn that leads down to the river
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Back in the day, this was a popular place for young ladies to visit with young men . . .
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Butterflies love the garden, too.
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There weren't enough benches to sit and enjoy sights like this . . . a perfect place to end our show