My photographer refused to set the alarm on Sunday July 19, 2020 because my cranky friend wanted to spend as much time as he could in the $500 room. When the cleaning service knocked on the door, he shouted and told them he had planned on staying in the room until we were legally forced to leave at 11:00am. In my mind, Tom was being a jerk; but at the same time, the five hundred bucks didn’t come from my wallet, and I understood why he was angry. Tom was in the midst of a full-fledged COBS flare-up because of the price gouging he and his wife had experienced.
When we finally had the Edge packed at precisely 11:00am, the three of us made the two-mile journey to the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Even though my photographer and I had visited the site in 2019 with Mongo, Tom wanted to snap a few images of me at the site where Orville and Wilbur Wright flew the first airplane in 1903. Although the NPS had kept the museum and Visitor Center closed due to the virus, the outdoor sites were open to the public. Even though there were a lot of vehicles in the parking lot, we didn’t see many tourists walking around the area where the Wright’s took flight – which was fine with us. A year earlier, during our 2019 visit to the Wright Memorial, I saw the site from the camera case because I only posed for photos at Presidential sites. But after that trip, Tom decided to start photographing me at all of the sites; Presidential or not.
Tom placed me on the replica monorail that was identical to the authentic 1903 version and I stood precisely where the Wright Brothers first became airborne on Thursday December 17, 1903. As I stood there and thought about the history that occurred on that spot in the sand, it was as though I could see Wilbur Wright running alongside The Flyer as Orville lifted off the ground for the first time. When we were finished at the launch site, my photographer carried me out to the white monument that marked the landing spot, or should I say “crashing spot”, of the first flight. When Orville Wright took to the air at exactly 10:35am on that cold December morning, his up and down flight of The Flyer lasted only 12 seconds and covered a total of 120 feet. Soon after we arrived at that historic site, however, it quickly became evident that Orville wasn’t the only one to crash there. Seconds after Tom carefully set me on the rough, uneven top of the white marker for a photo, a gust of wind blew me off and I fell to the concrete slab below. While my left eyebrow suffered a small scuff mark when my face hit the cement, most of the damage came at the expense of my left knee. Once again my stainless steel skeleton was exposed, this time just above the spot where my breeches met my stockings. Although it wasn’t my worst injury as I was able to still stand upright, I knew that another surgical procedure, this time to repair my damaged knee, was in my future. When Tom placed me back into the camera case, I could only smile. After all, for a split second, I flew through the air where the Wright’s had once flown. And even though my “flight” was accidental, and created by wind and gravity, it was still a special moment to me.
One of the greatest achievements in the history of mankind happened here on December 17, 1903 when Orville and Wilbur Wright’s ‘Flyer’ took to the air for the first time.
John Daniels, a local from the nearby lifesaving station, tripped the shutter of Orville Wright’s pre-set camera to capture one of the most famous images in American history. The photograph shows Orville leaving the ground while Wilbur ran alongside the plane.
It was an honor for me to stand on the exact spot where the Wright Brothers became airborne in their Flyer in 1903. In the distance were the four small monuments that marked the landing (or crashing) spots of their four flights on that historic December day.
From my position near the “runway”, I could see the four landing markers in the distance. Each flight lasted slightly longer than the previous and the Wright’s travelled a bit further with each as well. The four markers were 120, 175, 200, and 852 feet from the takeoff spot.
I’m standing 120 feet away from the launch area and where Orville came down to Earth in the Flyer after his historic first flight.
On December 17, 1903 Orville Wright crashed the Flyer into the sand on this spot. Nearly 117 years later, on July 19, 2020, I crashed there as well; but not into the sand. While Orville was uninjured in his crash landing; I suffered a broken right knee from my landing.
Our stay at the Wright Brothers National Memorial lasted less than 45 minutes, which was okay because I knew Tom had planned on returning to the historic site with his grandkids at some point during their weeklong stay. My photographer and his wife made a stop at Walmart to purchase some supplies for the week and I was extremely happy that Tom left me in the Edge during their shopping spree; primarily because I hate Walmart. During our 50-plus-mile drive south, we made two additional stops before we left the Nags Head area – one was at HomeGoods to pacify Vicki’s obsession with Rae Dunn pottery and the other was at the Sonic Drive-In to pacify my photographer’s obsession with food. Once Vicki had placed their small lunch order, it took over 20 minutes for their food to be delivered to the car. I laughed as my photographer grew impatient during the long wait. “Sonic is short for supersonic; but if they move any slower they’ll go backwards. I realize everything moves slow in the south, but this is ridiculous. Instead of ordering lunch, we should’ve placed a dinner request because it’ll be dinner-time by the time we get our food.”
Although my companions had been notified by Surf or Sound Realty that they would receive the passcode to their beach house in Avon after three o’clock, we arrived at 1:30pm to make sure we could find the place. Just as we were about to leave, Tom received the email he’d been waiting for – we were in. Our rental was like the other ocean-front homes on the Outer Banks as it had been built on elevated stilts or piling foundations, which meant it took some effort for my photographer and his wife to lug all of their belongings up the multi-level set of stairs.
Our beach house was called Driftwood, and it was located along the shore of the Atlantic Ocean in Avon, North Carolina. Shortly after we moved in, the rest of the gang arrived – which meant my peace and quiet had ended. While I didn’t spend much time on the beach because I didn’t want to get sand in the spring around my neck, I did tag along during our other outings away from Avon. Now please sit back and take a look at the images my photographer captured during our stay in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
I laughed when my photographer and his wife had to lug all of their belongings up the steps of ‘Driftwood’, but I worried when it was my turn to get carried into the beach house. I thought Tom might drop me and I already had a broken knee.
Before the others arrived, Tom and Vicki walked down the sand pathway to get their first look at the beach. This view to the south was taken from the path.
Although he didn’t have a tripod, Tom did his best to capture an image of Comet Neowise as we saw it from the Outer Banks on July 19, 2020. Neowise is the white smudge at the bottom.
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On Monday morning July 20th, the family found their spot on the beach to set up camp.
It didn’t take long for Rory to lose one of his water shoes in the Atlantic Ocean.
Reese and Rory had fun in the surf; even though both worried about sharks.
One of Reese’s first missions was to build a “Princess Sand Castle”.
This Atlantic ghost crab scurried to a hole in the sand to escape the curiosity of Bo, Rory, and Reese. The crabs have stalked compound eyes that can swivel 360-degrees, which made it difficult for the kids to catch them.
A rare photo of Brooke on the beach as the two-year old hated the wind, surf, and sand of the Outer Banks.
“Nana” Vicki and Brooke watched Reese run from the giant wave.
Following lunch at Driftwood, the gang made their way back to the ocean along the rugged trail.
Birds of a feather sometimes don’t fly together as two gulls rode the breeze with a Catesby’s Tropicbird.
Doing their best to social distance from others, Bo and his father walked south along the beach.
Tom II and his son Bo did their “Clark and Rusty Griswold at Walley World” impression. The only thing missing was the ‘Chariots of Fire’ theme song.
Clark and Rusty Griswold race each other to the entrance of Walley World in the movie “Vacation”.
Rory, Reese, and Bo held hands as they wondered what creatures lurked beneath the waves.
Bo loved his first experience in the salt water of the Atlantic.
Rory and Reese help “Nana” put together a puzzle after a full day on the beach.
The kids couldn’t wait for their first attempt at “ghost crabbing” by flashlight.
The small Atlantic ghost crab was frozen in its tracks by Rory’s flashlight.
Anthony relaxed with Rory and Reese after the crabbing expedition.
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As he waited for sunrise over the ocean, my photographer unexpectedly found Rory’s water shoe that was deposited on the beach at high tide during the night.
Oh say can you see, by the dawn’s early light.
Tuesday July 21st greeted Tom with a view of the rising sun over the Atlantic Ocean.
At sunrise, this Atlantic ghost crab seemed to pose for a photograph.
While the others went back to the beach, Brooke spent the day with “Papa” as they ate cheese balls and watched The Andy Griffith Show inside Driftwood. Okay, Brooke watched ‘Baby Shark’ and other videos on Papa’s phone.
Rory listened for the sound of the ocean in the sea shell he found on the beach.
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Although it was a bit cloudier on the morning of July 22nd, Tom managed to capture an impressive image of the sunrise.
The famous monster truck “Grave Digger” sat in the garage in Poplar Branch, North Carolina; which was about 75 miles north of our beach house in Avon.
Before we ventured in to “The Digger’s Dungeon”, my photographer captured this image of an older “Grave Digger”.
Even though Brooke was only two-years old, she had no problem wearing her mask while indoors; unlike most adults we saw on the trip.
Reese and Brooke enjoyed a ride on a mini Grave Digger.
Bo was happy as he held a small lead over the other kids.
However, Bo became instantly peeved when he drove his Grave Digger into the side of a bridge. Rory stopped to let his brother “win” the race.
The four grandkids took a moment to pose in front of the scary prop.
The entire family, sans my photographer, took a ride on ‘Rip Tide’ during our visit.
From the left as they were seated on “Rip Tide” after their ride were Ashley, Anthony, Brooke, Vicki, Tom II, Meghan, Reese, Rory, and Bo. The only ones who didn’t go on the ride were my photographer and me.
Rory and Bo took a moment to pose on the wheel of “Grave Digger”.
Tom “threw me a bone” and let me stand on “Grave Digger” as well.
For lunch, we stopped at the Black Pelican in Kitty Hawk; a restaurant that was featured on a Season 16 episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
The entire gang entertained themselves as we waited for our food. This was the second and last time that we ate indoors on the trip, but the staff at the Black Pelican did a great job to keep everyone segregated.
My photographer filled his face with a shrimp po’ boy at the Black Pelican. Although Tom was happy to be at another Triple D restaurant, he thought the sandwich wasn’t as good as the one he ate in Florida earlier in the trip.
Guy Fieri was here – and his signature proved it!
The family out-voted my photographer and we went to a candy store rather than to the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Outside of the Sugar Kingdom, Tom captured an amazing image of a dragon fly that he sarcastically dubbed “Orville”.
At 210 feet tall, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States and second tallest in the world.
The view from the base of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse that was first lit on December 16, 1871. This structure was the second Hatteras light and was relocated from its original position near the ocean in 1999.
With my left knee heavily bandaged from my fall at the Wright Brothers National Memorial, I posed for a photo near the historic lighthouse.
It appeared this female Brewer’s Blackbird was looking for dinner near the deck of ‘Driftwood’.
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Our entire group, except for my photographer, sported Outer Banks attire for their family photo on the top deck of ‘Driftwood’.
Then their “real” personas came out for a final family portrait.
My photographer and his wife posed with their grandkids Bo, Reese, Brooke, and Rory.
Ashley and Bo engaged in a crab leg “sword fight”.
“Let me perform a COVID test on you!”
A feast fit for the seafood lover in you! My photographer and his wife ate leftover spaghetti with their grandkids.
Tom II, Meghan, Anthony, and Ashley did their best impression of Guy Fieri as they tried to eat the entire seafood feast.
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Once the kids and grandkids headed for home, Tom and Vicki had two days to explore the Outer Banks alone. My photographer captured this image over Pamlico Sound an hour or so before sunset on July 24th.
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On Saturday afternoon July 25th, Tom snapped this photo of a green anole lizard on the deck of their beach house.
“Driftwood” as seen from the trail to the beach.
The well-defined and rugged trail that our family used to walk to the beach.
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A lone gull searched for crabs before sunrise on Sunday July 26th; our last day in the Outer Banks.
Too cloudy to see the sun, my photographer captured this image from the top of the coastal sand dune that was located between the beach and ‘Driftwood’.
I was hoping that an Atlantic ghost crab would scamper past me as I stood on the beach, but that never happened.
It took six days before Tom let me dig my toes into the sand. Shortly after I posed for this photo, the two of us headed to ‘Driftwood’ where we packed and headed towards Raleigh.
My photographer and his wife had ‘Driftwood’ cleaned and all of their gear safely stowed aboard the Edge by 8:15am on Sunday July 26, 2020. Even though I was glad to leave the Outer Banks, I knew that Tom and Vicki enjoyed the week with their family. My companions figured the memories that were made, especially for the three older grandkids, were priceless and were something they would talk about and rehash for the rest of their lives.
There were only five days left on the trip and I was excited because those days were scheduled to be filled with Presidential, NASCAR, and Andy Griffith sites. In other words, it was a smorgasbord for all three of us. As I stood alone in my camera case for the 230-mile ride to Raleigh, I couldn’t get my fall at the Wright Brothers’ “First Flight” site out of my mind. Even though it was a gust of wind and gravity that gave me flight (or made me fall) for a micro-second, it was still cool to know that I had flown and crash-landed at the same place Orville Wright did in 1903. Now that’s what I call making history come to life!
My name is Thomas Watson and I've been a U.S. history fanatic since I was 9 years old. In 2013, I decided to take my passion to the next level when I purchased a Thomas Jefferson bobble head with the sole intention of photographing that bobble head at Presidential sites. From that first day on July 10, 2013 at Spiegel Grove in Fremont, Ohio, this journey has taken on a life of its own. Now, nearly 40,000 miles later, I thought it was time to share the experiences, stories, and photos of Jefferson's travels. Keep in mind, this entire venture has been done with the deepest respect for the men who held the office as our President; no matter what their political affiliations, personal ambitions, or public scandals may have been. This blog is intended to be a true tribute to the Presidents of the United States and this story will be told Through the Eyes of Jefferson. I hope you enjoy the ride!
2 thoughts on “131: SUN, SURF, SAND, AND SURGERY IN THE OBX”
I enjoyed seeing the Wright Brothers site again. TJ is sure a tough SOB. I guess the kids/grandkids didn’t want to visit the site.
Your beach house looked great. Nothing like watching a sunrise over the ocean.
Great family photo!
You are correct, Bob, the bobble head and I were the only ones who wanted to go to the Wright Brothers site. All the others said it was too hot, so they opted for a dang candy store instead. LOL The beach house on the ocean was nice, although it was an uphill hike on a rugged path to get to the actual water and we could barely see the ocean from the house. The sunrises and sunsets on the OBX are spectacular, but everything is pretty pricey to stay out there.
I enjoyed seeing the Wright Brothers site again. TJ is sure a tough SOB. I guess the kids/grandkids didn’t want to visit the site.
Your beach house looked great. Nothing like watching a sunrise over the ocean.
Great family photo!
You are correct, Bob, the bobble head and I were the only ones who wanted to go to the Wright Brothers site. All the others said it was too hot, so they opted for a dang candy store instead. LOL The beach house on the ocean was nice, although it was an uphill hike on a rugged path to get to the actual water and we could barely see the ocean from the house. The sunrises and sunsets on the OBX are spectacular, but everything is pretty pricey to stay out there.