On to the Outer Banks, North Carolina

This morning, we packed up and headed east, to spend three nights at the Outer Banks.  We booked a hotel room on the beach in Nags Head.  Since we have visited here before, and did all of the sight-seeing type things, such as Kitty Hawk, and the HUGE dunes, I think this time we will have more relaxing "down time" on the beach.

The weather is still cool, and I have kept my window up this morning because I'm actually still a bit cool traveling in a sleeveless top.  Yay for not traveling in a hot car today!

Since I spent the first part of this drive today getting the blog caught up, I am now blogging as things are happening.  And guess what?  We've seen four bald eagles so far on the drive from Durham to the Outer Banks!   The drive takes you through very forested areas - just a highway through pines for miles and miles.

As you approach the coast, it gets even more forested before you get into your typical coastal topography.

As we reached about 40 miles from the coast, we reached this great little town of Columbia, NC, and they had a really nice visitor center and rest area right on an inlet from the Sound, and had a nice boardwalk that went around part of it.  

We chatted with a really nice man who maintained the place, and I had to brag on what a great job he did.  This was another super clean rest area.  I just can't emphasize enough how much I appreciate coming across that when road tripping across the country!  Seriously, if you ever find yourself in Columbia, stop and use the restroom!

We left there and headed on to Nags Head, where we will stay three nights.

We hit the beach and walked up and down it quite a bit before we headed to town for some supper.  Nothing special, just pizza by the slice for Keith, and some salad for me.  Keith has been enjoying being able to get some authentic "New York" style pizza while being out east, and hates to pass up the opportunity.

The wind here is blowing about 20 miles per hour on the beach, and the waves are really crashing!  There are red flags everywhere to warn about swimming.  It will have to really calm down before we venture into the water.