Monday, February 8, 2010

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Bux·ton [ búkstən ]......Home of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Entering Buxton from the north, it's the second left that will put you on Lighthouse Road. The lighthouse is 208 feet tall and made from brick, the tallest in America. You will want to set aside enough time to go to the on-site museum and visitors center as well as climb to the top of the lighthouse.  If you climb the 248 steps to the top the view is fantastic. There is a nominal fee for admission based on age. It was moved to it's current location about 10 years ago as an effort to save it from the Atlantic Ocean. There is just so much history associated with this lighthouse starting in the 1800's.




The video below courtesy of Lighthouses of North Carolina's Outer Banks.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Deep Sea Fishing for Tuna

Earlier this summer I took the opportunity to do something I have put off for years, namely going out to the gulf stream and fishing. My youngest son and I took a charter from Oregon Inlet early in the morning, and when I say early, that's what I mean. We had to be there at o'crack of dawn for the 3 hour trip out to the warmer gulf stream. Our charter was the Trophy Hunter, one of the Offshore Fleet boats. Since we were part of a make-up group, we did not know the other four people on the boat with us, but getting to know them was part of the trip. We had the highest hopes of a wonderful trip, which indeed it was. The trip out was a bit bumpy but fine with me. My son on the other hand had difficulties with the boat pitching and rolling which seemed to bother his stomach a bit. Once we got out everything changed.

As we approached the gulf stream, the more populated it became, not with people, but with boats. It seemed like a small fishing city out there with about 20 boats in sight and more silhouetted on the horizon. The boat's mate was fantastic and started getting all the equipment ready for us. All of the rods and reels were brought out and the process of baiting the lines began one at a time until we all had wet lines, trolling around. The trick to actually not tangling the lines was to keep a substantial distance between the lines. Again, the mate was wonderful and assisted everyone.

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