We drove south from Nags Head to Rodanthe, about half-way down the length of the Outer Banks. The Outer Banks is composed of several islands each about a mile wide and many miles long. Some are connected by bridges, others by ferry. Because the Banks and bridges exist at the mercy and fury of the Atlantic Ocean and unending wind, they are in a constant state of flux. The single two-lane highway that runs the length of the Banks is constantly assaulted by blowing sand.
And bridges need to be improved.
Four lighthouses, each 41 miles apart, line the length of the Outer Banks. All built between between 1823 and 1875, their lights can be seen by passing ships as far as 19 nautical miles away. We stopped to visit Bodie Lighthouse.
After leaving the Outer Banks we headed to New Bern, the colonial capital of North Carolina. The city was founded in 1710 and Tryon Palace, the state capitol and governor's residence, was built in 1770.
The palace grounds contain extensive gardens.
The hedges in the above formal garden are yaupon holly, a flowering shrub native to the southeastern United States.
Native Americans brewed yaupon stems and leaves into a tea called black drink. Participants in religious ceremonies requiring purification fasted, then consumed the tea in great quantities with the desired result of vomiting. Such a ceremony on Roanoke Island was illustrated by Theodor de Bry in 1591.
The grounds of the Tryon Palace contain a large rookery for pigeons.
The birds fly into and out of the interior of the rookery through the large opening in the top and the smaller square openings underneath. The inside of the rookery is lined with indentations for nesting.
New Bern is located in bear territory, and residents celebrate their furry neighbors by erecting colorful statues of bears.
Some neighbors, however, are not so friendly.
New Bern also has a long history with carbonated cola drinks because it is the...
Pharmacist Caleb Bradham invented Pepsi in 1893 and sold "Brad's drink" at his soda fountain for five cents.
Although the original formula for Pepsi contained alcohol, it did not contain cocaine like its competitor Coca-Cola.
We left New Bern and headed toward Charlotte. A few miles north of Charlotte is the city of High Point, famed for textile manufacturing. It also bills itself as the furniture capitol of the world. Whether it is or isn't, it does have a sense of humor.
Great dressers! Is there anything besides socks in those drawers?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteIn reality, that dresser--unlike the other larger one--is actually the facade of a small building that extends behind the dresser. So, to answer your question, besides two socks there are people in those drawers, although by now they may have suffocated.
Delete