{"id":22088,"date":"2017-06-01T17:49:22","date_gmt":"2017-06-01T21:49:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=22088"},"modified":"2017-06-01T17:49:22","modified_gmt":"2017-06-01T21:49:22","slug":"day-41-wednesday-may-31-rodanthe-to-grandywalnut-island-north-carolina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=22088","title":{"rendered":"Day 41. Wednesday, May 31. Rodanthe to Grandy\/Walnut Island, North Carolina"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nine years ago this month, we biked down (and back) to this area to stay with a bunch of crazy friends, as a training ride for our very first bike tour. \u00a0Seemed centuries ago, yet can remember it like yesterday. \u00a0You would think we would have learned with that first ride, yet here we are.<\/em> Today, we begin a re-trace of that very first ride.<\/p>\n

Early morning is such a lovey time to bike (just a shame you have to wake up to do it);\"\"<\/a>\u00a0 overcast skies offered relief from the sun on this humid morning. \u00a0No one was on the road as we biked past homes hanging to their waterfront perch.\"\"<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 Within a mile we were in the\u00a0Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and then Cape Hatteras National Seashore;\u00a020 miles of quiet, we could even hear the small waves on the other side of the dune.\"\"<\/a> \u00a0Even without homes being built on top of the dunes, \"\"<\/a>you could still see the wrath of past storms. \u00a0In places, no dune remained, but it gave us a chance to catch a glimpse of the serene\u00a0sea.\"\"<\/a> \u00a0At the end of Pea Island\"\"<\/a> is the Bonner Bridge over the Oregon Inlet. \"\"<\/a>\u00a0I remember seeing this from my bicycle for the very first time; talk about scared and intimidated. \u00a0This time, we were just happy to not have to climb the new and much taller<\/em> bridge \"\"<\/a>currently under construction.\u00a0 \"\"<\/a>This morning’s crossing was much more enjoyable and relaxing, but without shoulders on the bridge, pictures were not possible. \u00a0We did manage a picture\"\"<\/a> of the Bodie Island Lighthouse.<\/p>\n

Our first sign of civilization was South Nags Head and we immediately turned on to the beach road. \u00a0\"\"<\/a>There seemed to be a lot more homes here\"\"<\/a> than nine years ago, but some of the old classics still remained.\"\"<\/a>Also,\u00a0the road had\u00a0been freshly\u00a0paved with an added ample shoulder for bicycles.<\/p>\n

We reached our favorite Outer Banks breakfast stop just before ten. \u00a0The\u00a0forecast for today had been for a very light southwest breeze, but it was only west, a bit more than a breeze and becoming a tiring nuisance. \u00a0So after\u00a025+ miles, we needed a rest. \"\"<\/a>\u00a0We gobbled down breakfast, before the camera came out and a half an hour later, we are on the road again. \u00a0The wind was picking up, but the sky was still overcast\u00a0\"\"<\/a>and\u00a0the temperature had yet to reach\u00a080\u00b0. \u00a0With a nice shoulder to ride, the bike up the beach road was wonderful. \u00a0The size of the rental homes\"\"<\/a> were astounding\"\"<\/a> and based by the number of cars parked at many, offered at least ten bedrooms. \u00a0Also shocking, was how little sand dune was left in some areas of Kitty Hawk.\"\"<\/a> \u00a0Homes that had endured countless storms, hung precariously\"\"<\/a> to what was left of the remaining sandy terrafirma.\"\"<\/a> \u00a0By 11:00 and 40 miles pedaled, we reached our original destination for this evening, but since we added 20 miles to yesterday, we wanted to pay it forward today as well; luckily we had found a place to stay further up the road. \u00a0A left turn\"\"<\/a> and two miles later, we headed over the Currituck Sound into a direct headwind. \u00a0Though it was not a high bridge, it was a brutal two mile pedal into the strong wind. \u00a0Once on the mainland, the road turned north, so there was relief from the wind. \u00a0We biked past the new waterpark,\"\"<\/a> “supposedly” set to open on June 21 (our bets it is not going to happen), as well as several other interesting businesses.\"\"<\/a> \u00a0We went past a vineyard,\"\"<\/a> but with a deep gravel driveway and tired legs, a tasting was out of the question. \u00a0However, just short of our hotel, we did manage to stop for our daily ice tea, plus an additional chocolate milk shake. \u00a0We did not linger, as we really wanted a shower. \u00a0However, when we arrived at our “lodge” no one was anywhere to be found. \u00a0An hour earlier, we had talked about heading all the way home with the tailwind we had finally<\/em> gotten. \u00a0Now that we actually might have to do it, it really did not sound that good. \u00a0While we waited to check in, we enjoyed the waterfront view and perching Osprey.\"\"<\/a> \u00a0It did not take us long to shower and return to socialize\u00a0with the owner, Barry,\"\"<\/a> and other characters around the bar.\"\"<\/a> \u00a0Barry’s Lodge and Restaurant is a colorful place\"\"<\/a> on the Currituck Sound, offering fabulous food\"\"<\/a> and a picture perfect sunset.\"\"<\/a>Sixty two miles closer to home tonight and we are ready!<\/p>\n\n\t\t