wright bros: still crazy after 112 years

Orville checks the sunset. Photo by Pia Bell Ford.

112 years after two bike mechanics from Dayton, Ohio took off from a sand dune in what was then Kitty Hawk and proved that we could indeed fly, we’re still celebrating that remarkable feat and we are still captivated by Wilbur and Orville Wright. Mental Floss marks the anniversary of their flight with this whimsical list of things… Continue reading wright bros: still crazy after 112 years

surfline rocks new web cams for the obx

For all of us that live on the OBX, knowing what the ocean is doing is part of our everyday: we all keep an eye on the weather, and lately live webcams have made keeping an eye on the ocean as easy as going online. Surfline has a well-deserved reputation for being one of the… Continue reading surfline rocks new web cams for the obx

‘lego’ bridge reconstruction begins

Hurricane Irene's impact in on N.C. Highway 12. Photo by Donny Bowers

Known fondly as the “Lego bridge” due to it’s piecemeal appearance, the New Inlet bridge is getting a much needed makeover. Moving quickly following their historic agreement with the SELC, NCDOT has already begun work to replace the metal plate span at New Inlet on Hatteras Island. As reported in the Outer Banks Voice, the new bridge will be… Continue reading ‘lego’ bridge reconstruction begins

nicholas sparks + corolla wild horses = love

Corolla’s wild horses have captured many hearts, and it seems that celebrities are not exempt! Nicholas Sparks (yes, that Nicholas Sparks!), no stranger to the OBX, visited Corolla and was so enamored with the wild mustangs that he wrote this piece on his personal blog. Of course, the author of too many bestsellers to list (including Nights in… Continue reading nicholas sparks + corolla wild horses = love

2nd time’s the charm for beach road?

Hoping that a foundation of massive sandbags under the road will keep the Beach Road open, NCDOT has just completed the second round of repairs on the road this year. Sam Walker gives the background writing for the Outer Banks Voice.   “Repairs have been completed to N.C. 12 near milepost 4 in Kitty Hawk,… Continue reading 2nd time’s the charm for beach road?

more summer ferry runs for obx

Noticing changes in when riders take ferries on and off Ocracoke Island, the Ferry Division of NCDOT has increased peak runs for some riders and extended the summer schedule to Columbus Day weekend for the Hatteras/Ocracoke Ferry. “Summer travel season is getting a little longer on the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Ferry System. The North Carolina… Continue reading more summer ferry runs for obx

could the gulf stream power the OBX?

Powerful and inexorable as it flows to the north, the Gulf Stream comes closest to the continental US at Cape Hatteras. It’s movement creates energy and has potential to become a power source for the Outer Banks and North Carolina. Writing for the Coastal Review Online, Kip Tabb notes the first steps in understanding how the Gulf Stream’s energy… Continue reading could the gulf stream power the OBX?

the spirit of thanksgiving

Kip Tabb, writing for the North Beach Sun, tells the story of Liberty Fellowship Church on the Outer Banks that has been feeding 300+ people every Thanksgiving for the past five years. A remarkable achievement of volunteer effort and community generosity. “Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday, a perfect combination of family, food and tradition. It… Continue reading the spirit of thanksgiving

bonner bridge replacement inches forward

Behind the scenes there has been considerable effort to move the Bonner Bridge replacement project forward. Finally . . . the first concrete proof! New power lines are being put into place, a necessary first step to keep Hatteras Island on the power grid, as Sam Walker writes in his article for the Outer Banks… Continue reading bonner bridge replacement inches forward

hooray! the state is dredging hatteras inlet

As the main channel of Hatteras Inlet shoaled, the Ocracoke/Hatteras ferry had to take an alternate route that added precious time to its trip; commercial and charter fishermen had to pick their way through what passed for a channel to the sea. As Catherine Kozak reports in the Island Free Press, relief is on the way as the North… Continue reading hooray! the state is dredging hatteras inlet