Go and Stop and Go

This morning we woke up and hit the ground running. Well, not literally running, but how about climbing?

We started by climbing 248 steps (12 stories) to the top of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse. My latest health and fitness push paid off. I made it without the need for oxygen! : ) And I must say, the view from the top was spectacular. It took Tim a while to acclimate to the open-air heights of the deck, but he did it like a champ! (Oh, and this would be a good time to plug the pictures. If you want to see more of today's activities, click on the photo album for today's date--7-15-10.) This lighthouse is the tallest in North America. We found out that in 1999, the lighthouse was moved to its current location because land it previously occupied was eroding. It took only 23 days to move. it. When you stand and look at it, it's amazing to think that they picked the whole thing up and moved it!

After the lighthouse, we quickly drove to catch our first ferry. It was only a 40 minute trip, but the line and wait was long. After this ferry, we had to drive 20 minutes to catch another ferry from Okracoke to Cedar Island. (Okracoke, I know, right?) This trip was 2 hours and 20 minutes. On Cedar Island, we took another ferry (this one was a fun little speedboat, though) to Shackleford Island, known for its wild horses, (Are you happy, Craig?) and seashells. We really weren't interested in the shells, but more so in the horses. Once we got there, we were able to quickly locate 3 of the horses. (See pics.) These horses were actually wild (as opposed to the "Okracoke pony pens," where horses have been tamed and are fed hay).

After we left Shackleford, we tried to make some time so that we could be closer to tomorrow's destination, Charleston. Sorry to disappoint, but we ate at Buffalo Wild Wings in Wilmington, NC, where we stopped for the night. : )