Preparing for takeoff
This is now the third post about my childhood trip to North Carolina and Virginia. I debated whether there should be a cap on the number of posts I do from one vacation, but ultimately decided against it. Some trips just really pack a punch, and leave a legacy that lasts a lifetime.
The Outer Banks is long and narrow, with the Ocean only a short walk away from the Sound. As such, we spent most of our time at the beach frolicking in the water (Saltwater Washing Machine – Jolly Routes). However, no matter where you are, there’s a place to ramble.
One such location is Kitty Hawk, where the Wright Brothers first took flight (oh no, do I have start doing posts on Air Adventures, now?) It’s basically an open field with markers that call out the distances of each of the early flights. We walked around in the hot sun, trying to imagine what it must have been like to ride the first airplane. I wonder what worried them more, a plane that didn’t lift off or one that worked so well it took them higher than they could handle.
The Jockey’s make all the difference
It’s tough to top the Wright Brothers, but when it comes to rambling zones the best the Outer Banks has to offer is Jockey’s Ridge State Park. The park is composed of sand dunes, some over 100 feet tall. It’s been theorized that they formed as a result of storm surges, but who really knows. What I do know is the dunes are pristine, with beautiful white sand as far as the eye can see.
Jockey’s Ridge invites in a variety of hobbyists, from kite flyers to hang gliders to sand boarders. Yes, you read that right, sand boarders. Or maybe it’s sandboarders. Here’s a guy that can shows us all how it’s done.
For those of you who aren’t interested in wiping out on hard patches of sand, Jockey’s Ridge also boasts a series of nature trails. That’s what we did when we were there. In addition to the dunes, there are some small sections of shrubbery and trees. Of course, one can always go for the true rambling and just wander around on the dunes. There are great views of the ocean from up high.
These dunes could use a little water
As kids, myself and my three brothers got great delight in peeing outdoors. It was a liberating act to drop trousers and relieve ourselves, away from the confines of polite society. We made games out of it too, seeing who could go the longest and the farthest. I’d imagine this is not uncommon for young boys.
The dunes of Jockey’s Ridge presented a great opportunity for us to have our fun. After rambling around on the dunes for a while, we found a nice, secluded pile of sand with some shrubbery to cover us. Ensuring there was no one around, we proceeded to relieve ourselves on the pristine North Carolina dunes. If my memory serves me right, I fired off the strongest round.
That’s all I got. No sandboarding or hang gliding, just running around on the dunes and taking the occasion to water them. So far, I’ve been to some magnificent dunes in three different states: Oregon, Nevada, and North Carolina. Someday I’ll get on the sandboard, there are certainly a multitude of places to go in the USA Sandboarding in the United States – Surf the Sand (sand-boarding.com).
I’ve got no record of this event, but here’s a gorgeous picture of the area from Our State | Celebrating North Carolina.
