Day 23-24 Three lighthouses

Day 23 and 24, Bodie Island, Hatteras and Ocracoke LightsDay 23 - 24 Three Lighthouses

North of where we are staying at Frisco, NC, are the Currituck Lighthouse (which we visited in the rain), and Bodie Island Light. The latter we did visit this day in sunshine. As a matter of fact it was a brilliant day with full sun all day and lots of stars at night. We even had a great sunset! (See). You folks that don’t get to see that can have that as a souvenir. We take the sunsets that God gives us and enjoy what they are. But back to the Lighthouses. The term “island’ should be used in a strict sense of interpretation as merely crossing a minimal bridge or a short causeway gets you to another island here along the Outer Banks. They are almost all (not quite) connected by a road. (Read below to see an example of non connected). There is one exception and that is the Bonner Bridge that connects Bodie Island to Pea Island.

The Bodie Island light has an ominous history, first erected in 1847 by a dubious fellow who had no experience building these. He placed brick as the foundation and in two years it was tilting so badly it had to be abandoned after two years of use. It was rebuilt and during the Civil War was a center of concern so the Confederates blew it up to avoid its falling into Union hands... This coast has a lot of traffic and a light is important to safety (There are shoals, sand bars and shallows). The builders were the same ones who built the Hatteras Lighthouse, so in 1872 it was completed. IT is 156 feet tall with 214 stairs, and the light ranges 19 miles. It’s light pattern (they are all different along the same waterway) is 2.4 seconds on, 2.5 off, 2.5 on, and 22.5 off (sic)
The Hatteras Lighthouse has also an interesting history but for a different reason. Authorized in 1799, and built in 1803, it was too short (90 feet) and its signal not strong enough to be seen soon enough. The original was gradually inundated by the changing water and sand even though starting out on shore, became located 1500 feet out in the ocean, eventually. Even though 60 feet was added to its height, it, too became too expensive to repair and so a new (the present) lighthouse was built in 1870. This one was on land and had a wooden plank base and was 198 feet to the pinnacle. Indeed, it was the tallest in the USA lighthouse system. But in time, this too was encroached by the sea and sand. And a storm destroyed the dunes in front of it. So,,(NOW THIS IS THE AMAZING PART), in 1999 the National park System approved the MOVING of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse some 2, 900 feet to its present position in 23 days . That is 4,200 tons and a 197 feet tall lighthouse. That is another story for another time. It is now 1500 feet from the seashore along with all the original buildings that were also moved. TRULY AMAZING FEAT. (Jim has a booklet on that if anyone wants to read it and see the pictures.). Its light pattern is a 7.5 second white flash, and can be seen 24 nautical miles.
The final light that we viewed on Wed was the Ocracoke Light on the Island of the same name. We did have to take a Ferry to see this lighthouse. (40 minute Free ride). And as we will be doing the same thing with the trailer tomorrow it was also a “Test Run” giving us a chance to see the Island and figure out the loading procedure as after 10:00 AM the lines get long. The Ferry can take only 24 cars at a time and less with trucks, There were four Ferries operating here from Hatteras Harbor to Ocracoke Island. (The far end from Ocracoke City). It is another ten miles to the Lighthouse and city where the Ferry to the Mainland is located. (Which we will take tomorrow. Review: we take two Ferries to get to the mainland.
The Ocracoke light is the second light and it is in the second different location. The first one was built on Seashell Island but the channel shifted one mile away from the lighthouse. A land battle ensued for a new site, and finally in 1822, for $50.00 the US Gov't purchased 2 acres and the present tower was built. It stands today and cost $11,000 when built. This included the keeper’s house. This lighthouse is painted all white and is unique in that respect compared to most lighthouses. The “paint” that is used, blends, lime, salt, Spanish whiting, rice, glue and boiling water. It is applied when still hot. Sounds like it would not wash off! The 4th Order Fresnel (Fray-nel) lens was dismantled by the Confederates, but relit by the Union with an oil burning type. Its beam can be seen 14 miles at sea. It is 77 feet high (Don’t ask me why it is so short …because it was built so early?)
During the day we lunched at the public Marina, and visited some stores (REALLY WE DID) to purchase some shells, and T-shirts. Jim always buys postcards at most every stop. “How many Jim?”
“Oh, I have sent out 40, and maybe there are 40 more to go”. Did you get one? J
So we pack up the trailer in the morning, beat the rain across Pamlico Sound to Swan Quarter on the mainland of North Caroline. We will be 4 days at Fairfield (try to find that!) and visit three NWR in that area. 1- Matamuskeet NWR, 2- Pocosin Lakes NWR and possibly 3- Alligator River NWR. There is a fourth at Swan Quarter NWR if time allows. All of these have lots of fresh water and we believe more warblers will be there. We will be “off the air” unless we find an internet connection nearby as the park (a small one) has none. See you next time possibly on the18th.or 19th.