Travels with haRVy

Our first seasonal tour as “Snowbirds” has begun. We are wandering down the eastern seaboard visiting friends, old and new. Our first night was spent with Bob and Susan at their lovely home in Hamden, Connecticut. We arrived early enough to enjoy some lively conversation before a delicious vegetarian dinner prepared by our hosts. Thank you so much, it’s always good to see you both.

The drive we dreaded most, past New York City into New Jersey, was not as harrowing as anticipated (maybe because we did it on a Saturday). However, we were happy to get off Route 95 onto Route 206 to enter the Pine Barrens. This heavily forested area of coastal plain deserves more serious exploration in the future, but this time we were happy to appreciate the brilliant fall foliage as we negotiated the country roads. At the end of the day we settled in at Southwind Vineyard, a Harvest Host, near Millville, New Jersey.

Free campsite at Southwind Vineyard within easy walking distance to the tasting room.

One of the more curious Lipizzan residents.

The next morning we headed out to the coast.

Boardwalk at Wildwood, just north of Cape May, Closed for the season.

What else could you possibly need for a day at the beach?

Couldn’t quite figure out what this diorama had to do with the store below, but it’s mighty elaborate.

Cape May Lighthouse

Popular bird watching marsh area in Cape May

Grape vines at Jessie Creek Winery, another Harvest Host

We had to go to Newark, Delaware to have new house batteries installed in haRVy. We arranged to meet and stay with fellow Westy owners who lived nearby in Wilmington.

HaRVy camped out with another Westy.

Our extremely gracious hosts Mary and Mathew. Glad we met both of you and hope our paths cross again.

Back to the coast and another boardwalk. Rehoboth Beach, Delaware this time.

Quite a nice beach day for early November!

Lots of folks out enjoying the fine weather.

We came to this area primarily to visit Assateague Island, a a 37-mile long barrier island located off the eastern coast of Delmarva. The northern two-thirds of the island is in Maryland while the southern third is in Virginia. Most of it is designated a National Seashore.

Assateague is best known for its wild horses a couple of which visited our campsite.

Over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge…

… and Tunnel we go!

Memorial to the Wright Brothers in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

The Wright Brothers National Monument sits atop a hill where early 20th century pilots tested their experimental gliders. The Wrights chose this location not only for the steady wind, but also for the soft sand, high sand dunes, and isolation.

This incredible life-sized sculpture recreates the world’s first powered flight. It was erected on the Centennial (2003) of that historic event. Visitors are actually welcome to crawl around on it.

Orville Wright at the helm

The only known photograph taken during the momentous occasion

A volunteer from the local Life Saving Station manned the camera.

He supposedly didn’t know how to use the camera, but did manage to capture the epic moment.
You can read more about the first powered flight here.

Ferries crossing between Hatteras and Ocracoke Island.

Dunes at Ocracoke National Park Campground

A small example of the many piles of debris along the roadside.
Rain from Hurricane Matthew flooded Hatteras and Ocracoke in areas locals had never seen water before.

Typical Outer Banks vehicle

Ocracoke Lighthouse

Leaving Ocracoke on ferry to Cedar Island

We barely made it onto the Havelock ferry

A bit of a tight squeeze. Glad we didn’t have to wait another hour.

Sunset over Pamlico Sound, North Carolina from the ferry.

In case you lost count, the eight Eastern Seaboard states we traveled through in just seven days included: RI, CT, NY, NJ, DE, MD, VA, and NC. We are presently taking a bit of a breather with Dexter and Nancy at their beautiful new home in Oriental, NC. They recently moved here from Rhode Island.