Walking on the Beach at Pea Island

On our morning and evening walks we exercise the gogs and pick up many interesting shells. The beaches are covered with shells. Many are broken and many millions have been ground down by tidal action making a very course sand. The entire process is really interesting to observe.




A lone shell sits in the detritus of many 100s of shells that have been ground down to a rough sand.







There are literally miles of sea shells stacked one upon another in a thin band on the refuge beach.





This ghost crab was caught out of his nest in broad daylight and caught the attention of Junior, who immediately had to go and check him out. I am pleased to announce that the encounter ended in a draw. Junior and the crab both went on their own way.

Pea Island NWR

Upon arrival at Pea Island, our first reaction was "Wow". It has been five years since we have been to the ocean so we had forgotten just how gorgeous it can be. We are parked next to another volunteer couple in a fifth wheel. They are full-timers and travel from National Wildlife Refuge to National Wildlife refuge. They seem to be really neat people.
Our spot is about 50 yards from the ocean with low dunes between us and the ocean. The picture on the left was taken at day break on the first day we were here.

About 50 yards behind our rig is a building which houses three interns, two guys and one young woman. All three are sharp and entertaining. I think it will be an interesting summer.

Best Bar B Que in North Carolina?

One Saturday while listening to "The Splendid Table" on NPR there was a recommendation for North Carolina's best Bar B Que in Ayden, North Carolina. Since we were going in that direction, Patty dutifully noted the information, pulled out her atlas, and assured herself we could in fact visit this place enroute to Pea Island. The pitch was that the whole hog with skin at the Skylight Inn Bar B Que was slow cooked for eighteen hours and served without sauce. The commentator went on to say that the BBQ was served "on" unleavened cornbread. The pork was pulled and the crispy skin was chopped small giving a different texture sensation as you chewed.

Patty called ahead to make sure there was a parking lot big enough to hold our rig or if there was parking within walking distance. The response was "We have a big parking lot, you can park in". Well,. they do have a parking lot that we could park in, but to get out, we had to disconnect the towed and back out and then re- hook everything back together. Notice the unique dome type structure on the roof. I guess it isn't really unique since there is a similar structure in Washington DC.

According to "The Splendid Table" the BBQ was served "on" the unleavened cornbread with the coleslaw served as a side on the plate. As you can see the BBQ was put into a cardboard container and the cornbread was slapped on top of that. Obviously the coleslaw (pretty good) was put into another cardboard container. Note the piece of pie was made somewhere world and came replete with plastic wrapping dutifully listing all of the ingredients.

Recommendations for future diners: Have the BBQ since it was in fact interesting but hopefully not the best in North Carolina, and have the cornbread with the coleslaw. Whatever you do, leave the pie alone. By the way, refills on the drinks will set you back fifty cents.

Our rating on the 1-5 scale with 5 being fantastic and 1 being edible was a solid 3 on the rotund scale.

Chattanooga Ohio

In Chattanooga Ohio there is an 100 year old restaurant that everyone calls the Chatt Bar. Its a must stop on our trips North for several reasons. First we get to visit some of our favorite people the Gilliland clan. Secondly, we get to eat some good bar food from fried pizza to fried chicken gizzards, and beer fries.

Coney Island Restaurant Fort Wayne Indiana

In Fort Wayne there is a 94 year old restaurant which has a specialty of hot dogs, and no visit is complete until we have made the sojourn for dogs. Cooney Island has a different brand of hot dogs from what I grew up with in Mobile but I have been known to make a pig of myself on these things. They have a thin chili sauce and some of the best tasting wieners that I have ever had plus fresh rolls. We order them with extra onions.

Until the last year, or so, Coney Island has only had male waiters, but now they also have women. It is one of those place that the waiters don't write down your order but remember it. The menu isn't long with just hot dogs and hamburgers with sodas and bagged chips.

Here' the three muskateers after eating our fill of hot dogs and here is a picture of everyone's favorite Aunt Jean.

The National Model Aviation Museum

Keeping with our aviation theme for the day, we went to the National Model Aviation Museum. Here is a chance for adults to revert back to their childhood. I don't know why I said that since a very large number of adults fly model aircraft with battery operated "parkflyer" being a really hot movement.

The tour guide that we had flies the very small rubber band powered aircraft. If you think this is for kids think again because some of these guys get phenomenal flightsout of small ultralight aircraft. There is even an international flight competition for these very light rubber powered planes.

One area that is getting a lot of  attention is the ultra small battery powered aircraft that can be flown in your living room. 

If small models don't interest you, check out the scale model jet that Pat is standing next to below.There are model aircraft for every one from very large to very small and rubber band powered, electric powered and of course gas powered.

This is an actual model aircraft that flies. I'd be scared to death to fly something this big and expensive. It is pretty bad when you crash an electric powered park flyer but something like this jet could be really dangerous to someone on the ground.

One of the interesting displays was a 50s era model shop both an exterior and interior

The interior was replete with models that most boys that grew up in the 50s would recognize. All in all this was a fun way to spend a morning.

Even the model of the shuttle and 747 was an actual flying model. Note the props on the 747.

Wilbur Wright Birthplace

When we turned off to go to the campground, we saw a sign for Wilbur Wright's birthplace so the next morning we went to check it out. This place is better visited in the towed since it is back in the farm area with narrow roads, and there really isn't a good parking area for RVs. The place is manned by local volunteers so the chance to garner some local color is great.

Patty found a friendly pup while sitting on the front porch of Wilbur Wright's birthplace. Behind the house is a model of a WWII control tower and some guys were flying gas model aircraft the day we were there. Looked like a lot of fun and my fingers got itchy. This dog had a ball chasing a rabbit before we left and fortunately the rabbit escaped under the back porch. Rabbit 1- Dog 0 but I have a feeling the rabbit shouldn't push his luck.