Yes, after our wedding, we left for our honeymoon. (30th. April 2003 - Koninginnedag!!) Initially we planned to go to Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea for some snorkling and surfing. Unfortunately my paperwork with the Immigration Services did not come through soon enough. (Actually I am still waiting on it, and it is now half July!) So we had to make alternative travel plans. We decided to stay nearby and visit the beautiful Outerbanks. A little like the "Wadden Eilanden" but a lot more natural, and a lot more wild: Swamps, Cyprus trees, Marshes and ocean. The trip started up with a BANG! The marines were giving their annual Airshow at Cherry Point.
US Marines stunt team: Blue Angels
Blue Angels in Diamond formation
Blue Angels with full afterburners on
Corsair Stunt team. Was really cool during the Friday Night show with fireworks and flares on their wings. (Sorry no pics)
F15 fighter jet
Fat Albert - A regular C-130 supply plane from the Blue Angels but equipped with solid rocket boosters!!
Marines combat show
BANG! Napalm bombs! AWESOME!!!
After the airshow we rented a canoe and loaded it with our camping gear for a trip through the swamps. We saw ospreys, turtles and all kinds of other wildlife.
Do you see the alligator? (Just kidding.) Unfortunately we did not see any during this trip, but they were there for sure!
Jeroen in the back of the canoe
Anna stuck in the bushes.
Salt water marsh
The Morehead City bridge in setting sun.
We traveled the Outerbanks from South to North
And encountered all but the top left lighthouse. Cape Lookout (left bottom) Cape Hatteras (Center) Bodie Island (right top) and Ocrakoke Island (right bottom)
The first island we arrived at by ferry is also the most beautiful: Ocrakcoke Island
Ocrakcoke Island lighthouse.
"Silver Lake" - The Ocracoke Island harbor and possibly the old harbor of Black Beard, the famous pirate.
Harbor by sunset.
Sand dunes on Ocracoke, a few miles from the campground.
More dunes. (Don't know these people)
Wild horses used to roam this island. Now the island is split in half by a road. The few "wild" horses that are left are now kept on a farm. The horses were probably survivors from Spanish ships.
The famous Cape Hatteras lighthouse. Recently moved and renovated. YES. They put it on wheels and moved it about 400 meters inland to protect it from the sea! Quite an engineering feat.
Our campground was directly in the dunes. A few yards from our tent, and this was the view!
The next morning we spend on the beach in the sun.
What a nice ocean this is. And for miles, not a person in sight!
OK, except for these few tourists then.
The next island over was a lot more busy. Tourism is booming and new houses are being built everywhere.
Back on the road home. Another 5 hours and we are in Raleigh!