Outer Banks top to bottom in April 2012

[blackandtandisco]

Finally getting around to sharing some pics. This was a great trip and i hope to do it again.
I was planning on taking my '99D1 down, so over last winter i had pulled the motor to do headgaskets, oil leaks, lower end knock, check engine light,ect. After working on the truck for 2 weeks, getting it back together, and still being able to hear a slight knock i wasn't confident enough to take the disco.


So with a week before my trip, i put my 2000 cherokee back on the road. Went thru it as it was sitting for 6 months. Had some tires mounted one morning before work.

 

[blackandtandisco]

Packed up the dog and set out.

Headed south from NY, This is the chesapeake bay bridge




The first night i camped outside of Corolla. Nice campground but it rained during the night and i ended up sleeping in the back of the jeep. The mosquitoes were biting all night. When i was driving the next morning i kept squishing mosquitoes on the windshield and blood would smear on the glass... i actually had to stop and get windex.


Stopped at the Gravedigger Shop, There are a couple of older Gravedigger trucks out front.



Finally made it to the Beach! Drove north as far as i could and had a great time. I have been wheeling before but this was my first time driving on the beach so i was a little uneasy. I only aired down to 18psi, the tires are really skinny and i didnt want to get stuck or pop a bead.

 

[blackandtandisco]

Stopped by the Currituck Beach Lighthouse.





Stopped for lunch and had to park next to the willys wagon.

I think this is south of Kill Devil Hills, water on both sodes of Route 12 with a large berm of sand. Next time i will stop and see the Wright Brothers Memorial.


Found a place to camp in Hatteras

 

[blackandtandisco]

Woke up the next morning and took a ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke.




My plan was to drive thru Ocracoke, catch the next ferry, and make my way to Cape Lookout... that didn't happen. The second ferry was not running due to high winds. They may or may not be running in 6 hours. So i figured there was no way i could make it to cape lookout, i would be spending the night at Ocracoke. It was on and off rainy all morning, i decided not to camp. I got a hotel room, got my beach access pass and decided to explore Ocracoke.

This was probably the most enjoyable day out of the trip. The sand was pretty compact as it had rained the night before. The wind was blowing the dry (light colored) sand across the beach. I drove from one end to the other a few times... It's difficult to explain it, and most people dont get it. Even though at some point there is a fence across the beach and you have to turn around, this was the most relaxing thing i had done in a long time. Relaxing with the a little bit of exploration... it was just perfect. I think i saw one other vehicle on the beach. Growing up in NY and having never been out west, i can only imagine its a similar feeling to wheel and just be in the middle of nowhere.

 

[blackandtandisco]

 

[blackandtandisco]

This is looks like a nice vacation... nice camper pulling a jeep.

This was a long ferry... i wish i had taken dramamine before we started.



I made my way inland, picked my wife up at a small airport in Richlands NC, and spent a week on Topsail Island, hanging out with my side of the family. this is my brother in law and my nephews out on the beach.


After a week, dropped my wife off at the airport, my co-pilot jumped in the front seat, and we headed home.This may have been the best vaca ever.

 

[suntinez]

Looks like fun! Thanks for sharing your pics.

 

[4x4x4doors]

I think this is south of Kill Devil Hills, water on both sodes of Route 12 with a large berm of sand. Next time i will stop and see the Wright Brothers Memorial.
View attachment 122843
View attachment 122844

Correct. Looks to be South of Nags Head, south of the Bonner Bridge over Oregon Inlet.
This is Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Absolutely agree on the special feel of being the only one on a long stretch of beach.

 

[hikingff77]

I like the Scott cylinder. But where did you get it from? Nice trip, love the area, been there twice. Drove on the beach in my TJ, never lowered the pressure in the tires and never got stuck. Beautiful area.

 

[97tjguzzy]

really great pics of the area, looks like you made the best of the wet weather, thanks for sharing

 

[vegasjeepguy]

My mom lives on North Topsail Island...it is beautiful. Makes me want to go visit.

 

[katuah]

Nice pics! Looks like a fun trip. Next time you are down, I highly recommend stopping by Beaufort, and going out to Cape Lookout.