Walking OBX, April 2021

Our jumping off point for Hatteras has always been Hatteras Landing by Kees Vacations. The small “resort” is a series of small condos, each individually owned and decorated. Our most recent accommodation was completely updated. The resort is a quick walk across the road to a public access beach. If you have a more sandworthy vehicle than our Subaru Forester, you can drive to almost the southern point of Hatteras Island. Alex gave up driving so I walked south as far as possible, then reversed and walked north to the Frisco Beach Public Access.

Despite my best efforts to make it to Cape Point from Frisco, I was thwarted by “American Oyster Catchers exhibiting pre-mating behaviors.” I hadn’t thoroughly researched the mating rituals and geographic range of this particular species, so I was surprised to not have access to this stretch of the beach. I had to retreat to the vehicle access road. The forecast for the day was 65 degrees max, but as temperatures climbed to 80 degrees I found myself trekking a breezeless, soft, sandy interior desert-like dune road for 1.5 miles.

We returned to Pea Island for a three mile walk in the National Wildlife Refuge. This stretch doesn’t allow fishing or ORV. It was a relief to not have to weave in and out of fishing lines after the Hatteras portion. I was alone for the entire walk, with the exception of one crab that was very adamant that I not pass.

To access Bodie Island Spit north of Pea Island, we parked on the beach near the ORV Ramp 4. At low tide this stretch of the beach was filled with tide pools, so Alice could splash in the water in April without risk of a cold crashing wave. They still have yet to remove the wrecked Ocean Pursuit, and it’s become a tourist destination in itself. From there, I continued north until I reached the populated southern end of Nags Head.
After the walk we checked into First Colony Inn, just in time for their Evening Social.