Loving the Outer Banks

Greetings,

Here I am preparing for my ferry ride to Hatteras Island on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

I wasn't sure we would fit on the ferry - but we did.

I was really excited about this trip because one of my favorite things to do is run on the beach, and there is nothing but beach here. 

We visited the famous Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

 and then went to the spot where it originally stood. 

Due to beach erosion, it was moved 2900 feet in 1999. 

On that beach I met my buddy, Bagel. He's a local so he showed me around the beach and I got to hang with him for a while. 

We also visited the Bodie Light house.

 One of the reasons we came here was to visit the Wright Brothers National Monument.
 
I got to walk on the field where the first flights took place. The stones below mark how far the first, second, and third flight lasted.

We walked to the top of a big hill to view the stone memorial.

On the Pamlico Sound side of the Outer Banks we stopped to watch the kite surfers.

I, of course was more interested in my fellow companions on the shore.

I had so much fun running around

that I turned somersaults.

Dad really liked the houses on Hatteras.

We had a great time (except for the night when we were tornado alert!)
Adios,
Yuki
p.s. dad said there were too many pictures of me, but hey, it's my blog!

Charleston Day Trips

Hi All,

Enjoying the day at Drayton Hall, considered the nation's finest example of unspoiled Palladian-inspired architecture. It is the only plantation house in the area to have survived the Civil War intact. I am actually sitting at the back of the house The painting below shows what the house looked like when it was first built.

Unlike more traditional plantations, this was built to remind John Drayton of his home in England.

The house has been left unfurnished to highlight the original plaster moldings, and other ornamental details.

You can just imagine looking out the window and seeing your guests arrive.

I had a great time!









On the way home, on the advice of our friend Jerry Bond,  we went to see Angel Oak. 

Now this was a tree that I could do some serious business with, if you get my drift. It was a truly spectacular sight.

The next day we took a boat to visit Fort Sumter.

Set on a man-made island in Charleston's harbor, this is the hallowed spot where the Civil War began.

 On April 12, 1861 the first shot of the war was fired at the fort, After a 14 hour battle, Union forces surrendered and Confederate troops occupied Sumter.

This is the flag 33-star flag that flew over Fort Sumter in 1861. When the Civil War began, the United States flag had 33 stars: one representing each state in the Union. After the  battle of Fort Sumter, President Abraham Lincoln had to  decide whether to leave all 33 stars on the flag or to remove  those of the secceeded states. Since Lincoln’s

mission was to preserve the Union, no stars were removed.  It was a moving sight.

I of course, was more interested in seeing the birds fly over our boat.

I couldn't resist adding a few more pictures of downtown Charleston that I just found on dad's camera.

The Old Exchange, the orginial custom house acclaimed as one of the grandest public buildings in America in 1767.

The US Post Office, built in 1896, exemplifies the Renaissance Revival style.

More of the beautiful and colorful row houses,

Look at the crosses on this house. 

These are earthquake bolts. Following the devastating 1886 earthquake, metal rods were inserted into floor joists of damaged homes. The exposed bolts were tightened, essentially straightening out the house. 

And of course,  just a few of the mansions south of Broad Street. Mom highly recommends reading any of Pat Conroy's books before visiting Charleston, especially South of Broad.

A final shot of the Charleston landscape. We enjoyed our visit!

Adios, 
Yuki