Last stop for the trip at my brother and sister-in-law’s retreat in the beautiful mountains in western North Carolina. This will be our second visit. The Dead Horton’s Tour was timed around the Highlands Motoring Festival taking place in nearby Highlands.
Jake enjoying the sensational view!
This Excellent Adventure has had some great visits to museum. I have been coming to this area since the late 90s and one museum I never made it to was the famous Firefox Appalachian Village and home to the phenomenal series of books detailing early Appalachian life in the area.
Highland Motoring Festival
Highlands Motoring Festival Street Parade 2025
We first experienced the parade that occurs the night before the show. I was excellent and some of my favorite cars were on display. Good thing too since they were not on the festival grounds the next day.
The next day featured the cars on display. There was a special pre-WW2 section which had some unbelievable cars! A real treat to see some of this older engineering and style marvels in such good condition.
1925 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Piccadilly Roadster, once owned by Howard Hughes. This car is one of only 79 left-hand-drive Piccadilly Roadsters built in Springfield, Massachusetts, specifically for the US market. Hughes ordered the car in December 1924, paying $13,450. The vehicle is known for its unique features, including a golf club compartment.
The rest of the show featured several modern marquees: Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Porsche. BMWs were far and few. There were some interesting cars including a Shelby Cobra.
Shelby Ford Cobra at Highlands Motoring Festival
By far the most interesting marquee was Ferrari. The post war cars up to the $750K Green SF90 Spyder were on display. One guy told me they feature one marquee every year and this year it was Ferrari. I even saw a Ferrari F40 similar to the one I drove in Las Vegas all those years ago.
The Foxfire Museum
What is Firefox?
In high school, my girlfriend introduced me to the Firefox books. Her father was a mountain man from the Pacific Northwest, and her mother was a librarian. I didn’t really pay much attention to it, but it fit into the mood of the early 1970s.
The story is much more interesting now. Turns out it was about enabling the young people of this region to fit into a rapidly changing world of the 1960s. Educators and the students attending a local school came up with a project to interview their elderly forebears. In the process, they learned the skills necessary to survive in the wilds of Appalachia. It was right up my alley now.
The Firefox Museum: Nestled in the hills of Georgia, brings insight into the early Appalachian region through their successful life skills education programs for young people.
The museum showcases both work by the students as well as preserved homes, barns, and other structures. Signs gave you a basic understanding of what was being shown. I especially liked the woodworking and tools. I also appreciate the fact that the museum is still working with the local youth.
The Foxfire Museum: Every year, students come and experience the life skills of their forebears. It’s a proven success to help the children of this area lead more successful lives.
The feel was very similar to the experiences I had at the Wright Brothers Monument, Mystic Seaport, the museum in Lancaster County, and Monticello. A fitting end to two great learning experiences.
Ringing the church bell at the top of the hill
Back at the Ranch
We spent a few days hanging out with the family. Very relaxing at the ranch – a great end to a excellent adventure.
Hiking with the pups on Chestnut Mountain
Two days to get home with a stop back at our favorite spot south of Savannah.
Excellent Adventure 2025 wraps up with a final stop in Savannah Georgia
We journeyed along the coast, heading towards the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It had been over two decades since my last visit to this area, when I had crossed by ferry at Ocracoke. Instead, I chose to ascend the western side of Pimlico Sound.
New Bern
We spent an overnight here. New Bern is located on the southern end of Pimlico Sound, north of Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base. The campgrounds are situated on the north side of the Neuse River, across from New Bern. This area was founded by German-speaking Swiss in the early 1700s and named after the Swiss Caton of Bern. Bern is German for bear, which is why the coat of arms features a bear.
The campground was absolutely fantastic! We had a great time exploring the surrounding area on several walks. We also took a refreshing dip in the pool and indulged in a long, hot shower in the bathhouse.
The next morning we explored some of the nearby area, slowly making our way northwards towards our destination in Coinjock on Currituck Sound.
Currituck Sound
The campground was situated at the very northern tip of a peninsula, affectionately known as Church Island, nestled between Coinjock Bay and Currituck Sound. A canal was constructed to facilitate transit through the Intercostal Waterway. I had the pleasure of witnessing several breathtaking boats, including the one depicted below. Could it be a tax write-off?
Intercostal Waterway to Currituck Sound
This was our home port for exploring the Outer Banks. The facility was very nice, with many long-term campsites and cabin rentals. They had a supply of kayaks and plenty of kid-friendly activities. They’re also building a huge pool at the entrance, which is supposed to open this summer.
Lighthouse Tour
Our first day’s adventure involved a 200-mile round trip to visit two of the southern lighthouses: Bodie Island and Cape Hatteras. The day was beautiful as we embarked on our journey to the beach. Our first stop, approximately halfway through the trip, was Bodie Island Lighthouse.
Jake wants to know if this damn thing is going to fall over on us 🫨 I told him it was all about perspective and wide angle lens. He just licked my face!
This lighthouse stands as the third to be constructed on this spot, following the initial lighthouse built in the late 1840s. Unfortunately, the first two lighthouses didn’t last long. This one, however, has been standing since 1872.
Everything you want to know about Bodie Island Lighthouse. Click it and it and like magic it will get bigger!
The grounds and boardwalks were in excellent condition. We thoroughly enjoyed a walk around the grounds, including the boardwalk that crossed the marshlands.
The next part of our drive led us to the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. There are several very impressive bridges and trestles that appeared remarkably new. In fact, they were so new that they were not visible on the map software built into Starship Excellent Adventure in 2016.
The late 2010s saw the construction of a 2.8-mile bridge spanning Oregon Inlet. This bridge replaced the original Bonner Bridge, which is now partially a fishing pier, and was designed to last for a century.
The final part of the drive led us to Buxton, the home of the renowned Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Standing at an impressive 210 feet tall, it holds the distinction of being the tallest lighthouse in the United States.
Detail showing the move of the lighthouse.
The lighthouse, originally built in the early 1800s, was tragically destroyed during the Civil War in 1862. A second lighthouse was constructed in the 1870s to replace the lost structure. However, by the late 1990s, this lighthouse was in dire condition, on the brink of collapse into the sea. Remarkably, an incredible engineering feat was undertaken to relocate the structure over half a mile to the southwest. This remarkable achievement earned the lighthouse widespread acclaim, as it was the largest masonry structure ever moved. Despite numerous lawsuits filed by skeptics who doubted the project’s success, the lighthouse was successfully relocated.
When I first laid eyes on the structure in the summer of 1999, I could already see the roadway that had been constructed. Over 25 years later, I was filled with immense excitement to finally see the final resting place!
Cape Hatteras lighthouse, hidden beneath all this scaffolding! It’s almost impossible to recognize it as a lighthouse!
WTF?
Imagine my surprise when I first saw it, driving down the coastal road—covered in fucking scaffolding! Indeed, it was being refurbished. And, boy howdy, did they ever do a good job of covering it up! You could barely tell there was a lighthouse behind all the hoo ha!
For some inexplicable reason, this always seems to occur whenever I revisit a place after experiencing a setback on my initial visit! This unfortunate incident has happened to me thrice while attempting to dive the renowned walls of Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, and every time I have tried to see the Statue of Liberty!
We did visit the beach nearby where the lighthouse was located before the move.
The following day was a rainy day. A strong southwest wind brought thunderstorms and wind in the morning. By afternoon, the wind had nearly 180 degrees of change and started blowing out of the northeast. We enjoyed walks around the campgrounds during our breaks. That evening, I treated myself to some crabcakes at the local marina. Many multi-million-dollar yachts were parked there, including this stunning wooden beauty!
Black Knight Superyacht at Coinjock Marina near the campground
Wright Brothers National Monument
This has been on my list for some time now. I visited here in 1999 but did not visit. The weather cleared nicely and we headed out to the beach again.
A 60 feet granite monument, dedicated in 1932, is perched atop 90-foot-tall Kill Devil Hill
While the Wright brothers were not the first to fly like a bird, but they were the first ones to do under power. They worked patiently in their shop in Dayton, Ohio but needed a place to test their designs and Kitty Hawk was the place. It offered them everything they needed including seclusion.
Wright Brothers National Memorial ~ Looking north to the area where the first powered flights took place.
One of the nicest things was the ability to see out over the built-up shoreline and see the ocean. The monument sits a top a 90 foot tall hill, formed and stabilized from the shifting sands the Wright brothers tested their glider designs on.
Wright Brother National Monument looking out to the ocean.
The site comprises a monument and a vast grass field where flight tests were conducted. Markers indicate the distances and times flown during the first four powered flights. The visitor’s center is situated at the far northern end of the field. Replicas of the buildings used for hangers and living quarters are displayed, reflecting the four years the brothers spent here from 1900 to 1903. Additionally, there are other exhibits, and on the eastern side of the monument, a small airstrip serves as a haven for private pilots.
Currituck Beach Lighthouse
Our final visit took us northward from the Monument, along the coast, through Southern Shores and Duck, to Corolla. The area is quite different from the lower part of the Outer Banks. A single-lane road winds slowly through million-dollar beachfront homes and low-key resorts.
Currituck Beach Lighthouse
The Currituck Beach lighthouse, situated in the charming village of Corolla, was constructed in 1875. Unlike other lighthouses, it was not painted.
Currituck Beach Lighthouse
Our tour of the Outer Banks was complete. We headed back to get ready for our trip to visit with our cousin Sandra and her family in Delaware.
Dave & Lisa’s own private Idaho nestled deep in the mountains of North Carolina.
It’s big fun this October as two monster hurricanes rip Florida up. I had planned to visit Brother Dave in mid-October. The timing couldn’t have been better!
Hurricane Season
Something about this Sunday It’s a most peculiar day Strollin’ down the avenue That’s known as A1A Feelin’ tired and then I got inspired I knew that it wouldn’t last long So all alone I walked back home Sat on the beach and then I made up this song
Jimmy Buffett ~ Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season
Florida hosted two terrifying hurricanes in the past couple of weeks. Helene stomped North Carolina just short of Scaly Mountian.
4 1/2 mile eyewall – 185 mph winds
Milton came out of nowhere – and became a terrifying Cat 5 that churned up the Gulf for a couple of days before scaring the death out of everybody in central Florida. Just to keep things saucy, some killer tornados were spawned. One took the roof off the bank a mere mile north of here. Big fun!
Wells Fargo Bank on A1A
I rode out the storm at Brother Ricks on the mainland and checked things out the next day.
My power pole in the condominium parking lot is due east of me. You can see my yellow shed to the left. The fence came down, too. I had been held up mainly by the bamboo for quite a while now.
The rotten power pole, the object of my scorn for eight years, finally bit the fucking dust and blew over. Good riddance. A new one was installed the day I left for The Ranch.
Scaly Mountain Redux
Dave’s Ranch
Lisa and Dave bought their first mountain home about 15 years ago in Scaly Mountian, North Carolina. They have spent much time there recently and were looking for something bigger. They found a lovely, modern house with a spectacular view!
Dave & Lisa’s Ranch on Scaly Mountian
It was initially a horse ranch with a stable and holding pens. Compared to their old place, it is way off the beaten path. It is simply stunning, with a killer west view for sunsets!
Burning palettes on the Ranch! It’s time for rural fun as we channel our inner pyromaniacs and hang with the pups.
The temperature dropped into the 30s. 🥶 We spent a day burning pallets in a fire pit and reminisced about our younger years as pyromaniacs!
I retold the story of the burning can of acetone and discovered Brother Rick had done nearly the same thing!
Hunters Moon in the pasture near the Ranch.
The full moon for October, the Hunters Moon, was stunning from the pasture near their house.
Comet C/2023 A3 on its way to a fiery end in the Sun
We were greeted by their neighbors, who invited us into their home with a breathtaking westward view. They had been stargazing and found the recently discovered comet C/2023 A3. What a fantastic sight!
The Beast 🧌
Dave bought the previous owner’s riding lawn mower. It was quite a beast! I took it for a quick spin—it was enormous fun!
Two Dudes at rest
It was a relaxing week. Dave and I built a shoe bench for the garage. Jake and I took some easy walks through the woods.
Smokey Mountain Color
We went on some drives to check out the Fall color. It was just starting to get good! We drove one day into Smokey Mountain National Park near Cherokee, North Carolina.
We also drove into Highlands. The main road between Highlands and Scaly Mountian was severely damaged and closed the day I left. A couple of fallen trees were also in the woods around their house.
We headed home a week later to our new power home. Praying to the almighty Spaghetti Monster for no more fucking hurricanes this year. Ramen!
Bonus!
Starship launch in Texas with spectacular catch of the first stage by giant chopsticks!
Brought to us by brother Dave’s Starlink connection. Lasers in the jungle, indeed!
Despite the heavy rain, we left Memphis and headed for Nashville. An overnight there, and we were on our way to North Carolina.
Smokey Mountains near Waynesville and the Blue Ridge Parkway
The drive from Knoxville to Scaly Mountains through the Smokey Mountains was very scenic. We probably stopped at the trip’s most excellent rest stop, near the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Scaly Mountian
Picken’s Nose
We enjoyed three nights with Dave, Lisa, and the Girls. We got a couple of great hikes in and enjoyed Lisa’s most excellent culinary delights! Jake got to say hi to his cousins Elly and Bonnie. And I finally made it up late enough to see the sunset!
Sunset from Easy Breezy – Dave and Lisa’s magnificent home in the mountains
We had a torrential downpour on the first afternoon! Lightning cracking all around! Poor Elly Mae was not a happy pupper!
The only thing left to do now is make it home. Wow. It’s hard to believe our nearly three months on the road are at an end. What a fantastic time it has been.
