MinT Photography
Vici Amanti
Edinote
Fall is here! Some of you are already sipping on pumpkin spice coffee. Well to each his own but not for me. If you haven’t noticed, I’m switching up the format a little. We’ll see how it goes.
In this month’s issue you’ll see additional columns AND a new contributor to the magazine. I’m excited to welcome Kelly Ann Sunshine Pisano as a contributing writer.
Here’s this month’s offerings:
The Fire Ring. Here you’ll find my state park volunteer experiences. This month I focus on Saint Andrews State Park in Panama City Beach, FL.
Next up is this month’s Feature article. Having ridden the Tail of the
Dragon in NC / TN, it was a no brainer that I would ride the Back of the Dragon in VA.
Kelly Ann shares her travels to the Florida Keys with ‘The Traveling Sunshine’ column
Last but not least, I’ll be sharing my adventures along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Lot’s of things to share here. So be sure to check it out. You, might even be encouraged to make your own plans to visit
The Fire Ring
I’m still not sure what I want to call this magazine section, but I’m beginning with this. It will be about my experiences with volunteering for state parks. Recently I received a five-hundred-hour volunteer achievement award from the Florida State Parks system. For me, that was a pretty good accomplishment for someone who would prefer to move every month. But anyway, I enjoy doing it and will continue for as long as I’m able. I’ll be at Staunton River State Park in Virginia during October and November. If you happen to be in the vicinity, come on by and see me! Happy camping!!
Welcome to my account of my volunteer stay at Saint Andrews State Park. The history of this park is unique. Apparently, a gentleman named Theodore Tollofson shipwrecked on St. Andrews State Park during a 1929 hurricane. For the next 25 years, he would homestead in his derelict boat.
Fast forward, the state park is now a destination for visitors to experience what kept "Teddy the Hermit" at St. Andrews for 25 years sugar white sands, emerald green waters, and ever-changing winged creatures.
Now I'm not much of a bird watcher, but the park is also a popular
migratory stopover for numerous bird and butterfly species.
St Andrews offers a mileand-a-half of pristine beaches for fishing and swimming, the chance for visitors to stroll through pines and along dunes or stay overnight in the campground.
Hurricane Michael
St. Andrews Park suffered significant damage as a result of category five hurricane Michael. I didn't see the park directly after Michael, but I could see the hurt still evident from the storm. Nearly half of the parkcampsites were closed for a total renovation. The1st half of the campground renovation is due for a 2022 Spring completion. At which time, the remaining camping sites will be closed and renovated as well.
Volunteering at St Andrews
One of the things I have enjoyed most about volunteering at state parks is the variety each park has had to offer. One of my reasons for choosing SASP was my past experiences with Susan during the ’90s here. Every October, we would spend a week at Pelican Walk condominiums that her parents would rent and share with the family. Those were good times, and I thought in some way I could relive those moments with her there in spirit. Also, the park was an annual destination for her family. Each year her father and mother would load up the station wagon and head to the Florida park for some fun in the sun and relaxation. I would imagine what it was like during their time here, which campsite they would have reserved, and Susan walking
along the beach.
The volunteer responsibilities were the same. Some parks being a little more organized than others in how I would carry those duties. This park seems well organized in how the job was carried out with little do-
ing your own thing. However, I enjoyed that and knew what had to be done day to day.
The most demanding chore of the day was making sure the restrooms were clean for our campers.
I had sunshine on a cloudy day
No matter what the day brought me, I knew God would find a way to calm my soul.
I could count on each day having something a
little different to offer. Did I have a favorite time of day? I’m not sure. At first, I thought I enjoyed the lights that would reflect off the waters in the darkness of the lagoon. Other times I would see a sunset that could not possibly be matched! Each day would bring a little piece
of joy to my heart, and I thanked God for sharing them with me.
One of the perks of being a volunteer here, well at least for me, was having the use of this new cart to maintain the campsites.
Even though this is the Sunshine State, Panama City experienced a wetter than typical summer.
But the volunteer, like the USPS, doesn’t let a little rain keep them from doing their job!
Yes I still have to do my laundry. Lucky for me, this park had a great laundry facility that shared the garage with the golf carts
See what I did here?
Wild Life!
I can’t think of a better way to end the day than sitting around the fire ring with my fellow volunteers sharing stories and beverages!
(evening a game of horseshoes)
I could only imagine how Theodore ‘Teddy the Hermit’ Tollofson felt as he first laid eyes on the beach that would become Saint Andrews State Park.
Even though Hurricane Michael had ravaged the bountiful resources St Andrews had to offer, I could still see the potential this park would have to share in the future.
On the following pages, I’ll be sharing some of the potential SASP will have to share.
There were many sunsets I could show here. Each one offering something different. Each one just as beautiful as the other. I’ll share a couple of them.
As the sun closes its eyes and the night sky comes to life, fear not the darkness.
Embrace the calm of the evening and the lights reflecting from the lagoon reminding me that I’m not alone.
Even so, I can’t help but think of what beauty will greet me as dawn brings me a new day.
Needles Highway, Tail of the Dragon, Blue Ridge Parkway, Beartooth Pass, and the Million Dollar highway are only a few of the roads motorcycle enthusiasts dream of riding. I sought out the new kid on the block, Back of the Dragon
Usatoday.com
Staying true to my nature of not planning for a motorcycle trip, this one was no different.
A trip to Lover’s Leap Wayside near Fairy Stone State Park turned into a trip to Peaks of
Otter on the Blue Ridge Parkway above Roanoke, Va, followed by a trip to Marion / Tazwell to ride the Back of the Dragon. After staying the night at the Peaks of Otter Lodge, I was ready for the 2-hour ride to Marion, Va. Here I would enter the Back of the Dragon from the tailbone. Hahaha, so to speak.
Lover’s Leap
As I mentioned earlier, my Lover's Leap trip turned into a two-day adventure of southwestern Va. But, first, I had to look up the story of Lover's Leap. Here's what I learned.
Lover's Leap, located in Patrick County, Virginia, is a wayside stop on route 58, where it is believed to be the location of two lovers who jumped to their death. In the 1600's, the Indians inhabited the Blue Ridge Mountains. As White settlers started arriving and clearing land to farm, a conflict arose between the Indians and the settlers. The son of a settler saw the twinkle in the eyes of the Chief's daughter,
Morning Flower, and immediately became lovestruck, as legend has it. While secretly meeting, their love began to grow. Like most classic love stories gone wrong, the young man and Indian maiden were threatened and shunned. So rather than being forced to end their love for one another, they jumped to their death, ensuring they would be together
forever. I could almost feel their love in the cool morning breeze.
Peak’s of Otter
I had not planned on staying the night here. The attraction was the Blue Ridge Parkway. However, even more than that was riding through the little town of Bedford, Va. If you’re ever in the vicinity, be sure to go by there and visit the National D-Day Memorial.
In 1834, the first lodge was opened to guests hoping to relax and recharge in the mountains. So you want things to do while you rejuvenate?
Smallmouth bass, catfish, golden shiners, sunfish, and bluegill will make a fisherman’s dream come true. Like walking? You’ll enjoy the mile loop around the 24 acres of Abbott Lake located behind the lodge.
So you like nature? Enjoy a trek along Sharp Top, Elk Run, Harkening Hill, or Johnson Farm
trails to fill your need of hiking Mother Nature’s domain.
Oh, you need a snack for the trail? No problem! Snacks or camping supplies can be found at the camp store near the campground at the start of the Sharp Top trail.
I could go on about this area, but hey, this is a column about the ‘Back of the Dragon.’
So let’s get to it!
Tale of the Dragon
Have you ever wondered how certain mountain roads obtain their names? Like 'Back of the Dragon'?
Since I had ridden the “Tail of the Dragon:, it made sense that I would have to ride the 'Back of the Dragon'. (sidebar - I don't know if there are any other dragon parts to be ridden, but I'm go-
ing to leave that here for now)
Being I turn out a somewhat monthly magazine, I needed to research how this name came about. So, here goes.
A little history on Tazwell, Va. During the 1800's, Tazwell was a thriving coal-mining town. The town enjoyed prosperity for nearly 90 years. But as coal slowly
became less relevant as a source of energy, main street Tazwell slowly began declining.
Enter Larry Davidson. Larry, the son of a coal miner from Canebreak, West Virginia, became despondent watching his community die out.
He soon enlisted in the military from 1967 through 1999. While he was in Germany, he
would ride the extensive and breathtaking mountain roads of Bavaria, Austria, and Germany. "I would ride the roads to get away. Take a weekend excursion or spend a week on country leave," Larry reminisces. Then he realized that people didn't need to travel to Europe to enjoy the peace and tranquility riding the mountain roads gave him. These roads existed in Tazwell, Va, but no one knew about them.
So, Larry began researching how to let the world know about route 16.
The construction of route 16 began in 1928 and continued until the 1940's. It is a 32 mile stretch of road between Tazwell and Marion that runs north/south over three mountain ranges, Big Walker, Bushy, and Clinch, with 438 curves. Larry recruited help from his artistic son, John, to create a logo and print 12 t-shirts.
Then, with the encouragement and resources of Tazewell County Tourism Director Margie Douglass, Larry met with Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell. "I met him, gave him a shirt, we talked…and he helped push legislation through that officially named Route 16 Back of the Dragon."
Now that we know a bit of the origin of the name, I'll tell my story of riding the “Back of the Dragon.” I arrived in Marion around noon. Stopping at a convenience store, I bought a Dr. Pepper. Then, sitting on a bench outside, I noticed a mural on the wall. It's so cool to see murals on town buildings.
Anyway, while sitting there, I began mentally visualizing what adventure the Back of the Dragon would provide. I had chosen to ride the BOTD backward to enjoy the visitor center AFTER the ride instead of BEFORE it.
The early ride on rte 16 was pretty tame. A sign for Hungry Mother State Park caught my attention. However, I resisted
the temptation to visit, but I made a mental note as a possible park to volunteer for in the future.
The first wayside appeared on the left, and I decided to pull off and check out the view. Another rider was there, and during our conversation, he mentioned he had ridden from Maine to experience this ride. As we were talking, an-
other rider on a dualpurpose motorcycle pulled in and joined the conversation.
After a time, I bid them farewell and continued on my mission. (ok, so I’m overboard here).
However, true to form, I HAD to get a selfie of the view and me. Ya know, gotta prove I was there. Soon the mountain turns were tighter and more frequent. My safety
first impulse kicked in, and I rode within my comfort zone as a guy riding a dual sport bike whizzed by me. My 900pound bike took a little more effort to control in the turns than the 400pound bike he was riding. Anyway, I was enjoying a nice comfortable ride in the mountains, enjoying the turns and scenery.
Larry knew he was on to something when he shared this great road
with the world. It was getting to be midafternoon, and more riders were present on the winding mountain road. However, because I was riding it backward, most of them came from the North, allowing me a more stress-free ride. Another wayside was approaching, so I pulled into it, and I can’t even describe the beauty of
the valley and surrounding mountain ranges. Oh my goodness! I began thinking I could live here! I’ll share that view in the center fold following this article.
I spent a considerable amount of time at this wayside. Being the last stop on this majestic highway, I wanted to take in as much of the view as I could. Although I'm in Virginia, the “Mountain Road” song popped into my head. Oh my. Get my RV! I'm parking it here! Ok, so onward I go. There's a big switch-back below me, and I knew I would be there soon.
Off I go. A few twisties, and here came the big switch-back. Nice steady lean around the turn, look through the turn, approach the switchback's end, slight bend to the right and….OMG, a cow is standing in the middle of the road! It was ok, though; she was in her lane. Oh, I so wanted a picture of this, but there was no shoulder. So I continued on. Next stop, the BOTD visitor center.
As I pulled into the visitor center parking lot, I could see there were sev-
eral riders there. I remembered reading this center was once a 400 sq ft mobile home. What a difference the new 5000 sq ft building makes. Inside the visitor center, you'll find a brewery,
specialty coffee, yogurt, merchandise, open seating, a patio, and an opportunity for sports car and motorcycle enthusiasts to sit back, relax and talk about their ride.
You will often find food trucks outside the center to satisfy that 'growling' stomach!
I took pictures inside the center, but they didn't take on my phone as 'Murphy's Law' kicked
Note to self, Canon Rebel camera for Christmas!
Honestly, I did take pictures. Oh well, more reasons to go visit the Back of the Dragon! See ya on the road!
Special thanks to Spencer Thomason, Produce Southwest Project for the use of his video ‘Take a Drive’.
Enjoy his video and subscribe to his channel!
https://
www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ds9XC_87e0o
Back of the Dragon
First Dragon Slolam Hwy 16
Tazwell - Marion, VA
Introducing Kelly Ann
Sunshine Pisano
I remember meeting Kelly Ann in Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. Another camp host and I were chatting next to my RV. Kelly Ann was walking up the camp road when she spotted us. Without a word, she turns and walks up to me and hands me this rock that had been painted white and blue. It says Kelley Ann Sunshine on the front, and on the flip-side, it says “Smile You Are Loved.” We chatted for almost an hour and have been friends since.
Welcome to Stories From the Road Kelly Ann!
I was always a wanderer at heart. My earliest travel dream was Australia in elementary school, which I joyously accomplished in college. I was never quite content with just living in Pennsylvania for the rest of my days and waiting around for my 1 week a year of vacation… which probably was a huge contributor to my divorce and abrupt move to Florida in 2018. Moving to Florida with just my clothes and Honda Civic was one of the most
exhilarating experiences of my life… and then I met my now fiancé, Derek 4 days after the big move. We have been making epic memories ever since. In August of 2020, during one of the craziest years of our life, we decided to buy an RV! At first the idea of such a huge purchase at the age of 35 made me cringe… but then I remembered my grandparents. When I was a little girl, they always had the big, beautiful class A that they would drive down to Florida every year. They took me along for little trips to the Poconos and I just remembered the feeling that little home on wheels gave me. I thought I would be in my 70’s by the time I would ever get to experience such joy... I was wrong!! In the past year we have managed to visit about 45 places and put on a hefty 11,000 miles on our beloved 2021 Jayco Alante 29s. I have had the privilege of meeting some of the most amazing people and seeing spectacular sites. RV’ing is no longer for retirees and I am proof of that. My theory in life is to live now… not later and to spread as much love and joy as humanely possible in the short time we get to grace this planet. I also have a love for writing all about my travel experiences. I met Rick Hood on one of our trips to Kissimmee Prairie Preserve in January of 2021. I am so very excited that he has asked me to write a little column about my journeys for all of you. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed experiencing them.
Why everyone needs to drive the Keys once or twice in their lives
Kelly Ann Sunshine
So as you already may have noticed, Florida has a lot to offer in terms of pure, natural beauty. There seems to be something for just about everyone down here and no shortage of sunshine. It makes for a brilliant combination. I had always heard of Key West but what you may not have been told was how fascinating the entire 125-mile span and 42 breathtaking bridges are. It starts kind of slow in Key Largo, and then BAM, you are smacked in the face with the bluest water your eyes have ever seen. It's so beautiful, and you may cry and question how in the world something so truly breathtaking was put here for our enjoyment. I feel like people who never had the opportunity to travel the length of the Keys haven't truly lived yet. I'm primarily a one-anddone girl. I visit, and I mark it off my list and then move on to the next place. The Keys will scream at you to come back time and time again. I can promise you that!!
The first time I was graced with her beauty was Christmas of 2018. We were just little old tent campers back then, and we only stayed five days. After three nights in a tent, rest assured I was ready for our bed and breakfast in downtown Key West. Camping is the way to go all along the Keys, especially during the cooler months of the year. When we got the RV in August, I was determined to
plan a Key West trip. I figured Spring Break was a prime time considering my lengthy 9-day hiatus from work. I was kind of afraid I would not be able to get in anywhere, especially considering I was booking this trip a mere month and a half before departure. As
luck would have it, I lucked out!! I got two nights each at four different parks. We had to move around often, but honestly, in the Class A, when you only brought your bikes and a scooter, it's pretty easy to pack up and unpack quickly. I enjoyed getting to see different areas of the keys and the different parks. I would have to say our favorite RV resort was Sunshine Key. There was just something lovely about the place. It was clean, close to Bahia Honda State Park and my favorite place, Big Pine Key. Why is this my favorite place, you might ask? First off, it's the only place in the world you will find the Key Deer. These beautiful animals are endangered and are the smallest of the North American Deer.
Adult males usually only reach 30
It starts kind of slow in Key Largo, and then BAM, you are smacked in the face with the bluest water your eyes have ever seen.
inches tall. They are super friendly, from what I believe is illegal feeding. Please don't feed them, and DO NOT speed in Big Pine Key. You do not want to be the person that kills an endangered deer because you have a lead foot. Reason number 2 why I love Big Pine Key is the No Name Pub. The place is in the middle of nowhere, and without GPS may be kind of tricky to find. The place kind of resembles a cool biker bar. It is full of dollar bills and friendly faces. Make sure you get a take-home glass with your drink to remember the great time you had. Next on our trip was Boyd’s RV resort in Key West. This place is pricy, but the location is incredible if you want to enjoy a day or 2 in the midst of all the action. It's a quick 10-minute scooter ride to Duval Street. Uber is
also a great choice if you plan on drinking. Key West gets fun, and a DUI will quickly turn those good memories into shit. We were fortu-
nate to get a waterfront site, which quite frankly is the only way I would do it. The interior sites are tight. I would rather pay a little more for my space and a superb view out my bedroom window every morning. You gotta figure what you would pay for a hotel room on the water in that area… trust me, it's nearly triple what I paid for this site. The pool was fabulous, but honestly, this place is excellent for its superb location. When you go to Key West, make sure to enjoy Duval Street and Mallory Square. Back in 2018, we did a sunset cruise, and it was delightful. I would recommend this if you never had. If you are looking for Key West's only beach, you will want to make your way over to Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. It's swimmable, and it's beautiful!! Key West is on the expensive side, so a day here is more than enough for me. Once you get into the vibe, your wallet seems to deplete very quickly. The nightlife is a blast, and it doesn't matter what day or time of the year you visit because this is truly a place that does not sleep. Our next stop, and least favorite, was Fiesta Key RV Resort in Long Key. They have some excellent water sites, but the chances of you getting one are slim to none. However, we got a site that made me feel like I was parked in a desert parking lot. For what we paid, I was thoroughly disappointed. There isn't much nearby other than Robbie's. If you're looking for a nice place to eat with one of the most spectacular views, this would be a great stop. I will say we had fun at the pool and the beach area. They
First off, it's the only place in the world you will find the Key Deer.
have food and a bar with some awesome Pina Coladas, but it's still a place I have permanently put on my list of do not return.
I would rather pay a little more for my space and a superb view out my bedroom window every morning.
Last but not least was the cherry on top. I literally scored this site at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park 2 days before we left for our trip. I had been here before, not to camp, and I was not impressed, but I figured I'd give it a second chance and see it through the eyes of the RV life. It indeed did not disappoint!! Key Largo is probably my least favorite part of the Keys. It just feels super touristy and city-like since it's your first stop as you enter from the mainland. This State Park has so much to do, though. We chose to take the snorkel trip out to sea. First off, it's not as expensive as you may think, and second, it's freakin awesome!!! The color of the water at the shore is not what you would expect from the Keys. It's kind of murky. Go out a couple of miles, and you remember where you are!! The color is a deep blue, and the sea creatures are otherworldly. What got me crying in my goggles was the site of Christ of the Abyss. The Under-
water Society of America donated this statue in 1965. I realize it's just a statue, but the way the sun shines on him and the fish that surround him make you feel like you are about to enter the gates of Heaven. I'm tearing up just thinking about how beautiful of an experience it was. This state park also has a boat dock, jet ski rentals, and a glass-bottom boat. There are also snorkeling opportunities close to shore if you prefer. The Spanish shipwreck is sure to delight and is easy to get to from the beach area. If you can get a spot in here, grab it and thank the heavens up above! You are indeed in for a treat. Many people have never seen the entirety of the keys since there are planes that can fly you in and even a boat rightfully named the Key West Express that sets sail in Ft Myers. Yes, those ways are convenient, but I promise you, take the drive, sit back in your seat, and prepare to be elevated to a new scenic level. It's totally worth the gas money and the time spent on the road. Even though I have plenty more places to see, the Keys will be a revisit for me in the future. The vibe that place throws off is unlike anything you have ever experienced. Prepare to be taken away to a place far from this reality!!
No Name Pub
The place kind of resembles a cool biker bar.
Riding America
Courtesy of MinT Photography Victoria Amanti
Outer Banks
Outer Banks
The Outer Banks is one of those places that I didn’t visit as a child. Well, as an adult, either for that matter. It just never appealed to me as a place to visit. Recently, I had plans to visit my best friend in Charleston, SC, for several days. However, I was getting antsy to get on my bike a couple of days early and see the Outer Banks. A friend of mine from MANY YEARS back lives in Corolla, NC. So, I gave him a call to ask if I could crash on his couch as I was passing through. He was more than happy to oblige me. So, the following day I load up my bike with my usual long-distance luggage and head out! As I customarily do, I bring up one of my favorite weather apps to determine if it would be a
dry riding day. It was a little sketchy, but what the heck. I’d been wet while riding more than once, and anyway, I take my rain gear with me at all times. LET”S ROLL! It was a perfect morning, partly cloudy and in the low 80’s. God is good! I use google maps for my GPS, and I know it can be questionable at times. However, the route it showed me seemed decent, so I head down route 58 east, a route I used as a teenager to go
to Virginia Beach. I’m a nostalgic kind of guy, even if this is just a road. Everything is going well.
The weather was cooperating, made a quick stop at Taco Bell for lunch at the I-95 and Hwy 58 crossroads. It was a welcomed riding break. So, continuing east on 58, I’m getting pretty close to the point I will turn and head south to NC and the Outer Banks. Low and behold, I see a dark cloud approaching from the southeast. Ok, my day seemed as though it was going to take a turn for the worst. Fifteen minutes later, I run into the first wave of rain. The moderate shower didn’t look like it was going to last long. So I opt out of putting on my rain gear wrong decision. For the next 30 minutes, I’m riding nearly blind in the rain. Long story short, I got wet twice and dried twice while riding. I arrive in Corolla around 4:30 pm. My friend Bruce is waiting for me to get me settled in and heads back to work. So I’m in search of a good locals seafood res-
taurant. Mama Easley’s fit the bill. Bruce’s recommendation was to get there early to beat ‘the crowd’ Good advice, as
the restaurant was not crowded.
The décor was casual, with interesting murals and artifacts hanging on the wall. Shrimp and scallops were my choices. I was not disappointed.
Sunset Grill and Raw Bar Duck, NC
After a fine seafood dinner at Mama Easley’s, my next mission (I like using the word mission) was to find a place to capture that perfect sunset. I could not leave this area without a sunset(s) on my telephone. What a better place to
capture said task, oops, I mean mission, than at the Sunset Grill in Duck, North Carolina. My timing was impecca-
ble, even if I say so myself. But you be the judge. I’ve posted a couple of sunset shots here.
Wright Brothers National Memorial
Being a full-time RVer, it became apparent that I would be visiting many national and state parks. So, while visiting a friend in Virginia, I bought a lifetime national park pass while visiting the Shenandoah National Park. There are no regrets about that decision! So when I saw that I could use my national park pass to enter this park, it was a no-brainer that I would visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial. I like free. Yes, I can say free because the cost of the pass has been offset by four visits to the Shenandoah National Park!
So as I was writing this portion of ‘Riding America,’ I was struggling with handling the mass amount of information on this park. So, as a compromise, I’m only going to show pictures of
the replica model of the First Flight airplane. But I will say this. The Wright Brothers National Memorial is a MUST SEE bucket list location!
There is SO much information in the onsite museum that I can’t possi-
bly talk about it all in this story. But I did think it would be great
to see the replica model of the First Flight plane. .
Now on to the ‘Big Kill Devil Hill’ that Wilbur
and Orville Wright used to launch their experimental plane. After each launch, sev-
eral men would lift the aircraft and physically TOTE it back up the dune! I don’t know about that for myself. I walked up the hill and had to
rest three different times before I reached the top. Even bystanders felt sorry for me as a lady volunteered to take a picture of me in front of the memorial. She figured such an accomplishment on my part had to be documented to prove I did.
Ok, stop with the jokes. I can hear you.
There’s even a replica plane for kids and adults alike to climb on and imagine themselves flying on the plane. I like to call it ‘Imagination Station
Hatteras - Ocracoke Ferry
Now before you begin yelling about the lack of all the neat things to do here, keep in mind that during this point of the trip, I had one mission in mind, to get to Charleston, SC, AND to ride a ferry. I'm a simple man with simple desires, well,
in this case, anyway. The only disappointment here was the wait. I waited for an hour or more for the next ferry to arrive, and it was HOT! This is one of the most popular coastal ferry routes managed by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT.) The ferry is
available daily, 365 days a year. Although the travel time is advertised as a short 40-45 minute island-hopping ferry, take that with a grain of salt and be sure to have water or other things to drink. Once on the ferry, it's about a 60-minute voyage to Okracoke Island.
So if you're looking to combine a day trip to Ocracoke Island via car, truck, bike, or even just on foot, then hop on the free ferry ride and '...discover a scenic boat ride that's just as thrilling as discovering the island of Ocracoke itself. '
Visit https:// www.ncdot.gov/travelmaps/ferry-ticketsservices/routes/Pages/ default.aspx to obtain a free downloadable ferry schedule!
Okracode Island and
Ferry
Ocracoke is separated from the rest of the world by the 20+ mile wide Pamlico Sound (take snacks for the voyage). Unfortunately, it also means that the only way to access the island is via your boat (I wouldn't advise crossing on a paddle boat), or a more sensible way, by a North Carolina State Ferry.
Three NC state-run ferry routes provide access to Ocracoke Island. The Cedar Island and Swanquarter ferries are located at the island's southern end, adjacent to Ocracoke Village and Silver Lake Harbor. These two ferry routes cross the Pamlico Sound to the mainland. The Hatteras Island Ferry is located on the desolate northern end of the island and provides a relatively
quick shuttle to neighboring Hatteras Island. All three ferries are managed by the North Carolina Ferry System, a North Carolina Department of Transportation division, and offer year-round crossings for visitors and locals alike. A reservation is not required for motorcycles. However, there is a ten-dollar fee to board the ferry.
I’ll be back!
I’ll see ya on the road!
