OEBC Road Trips

First Annual Tour de Pamlico

The following was posted by Sue Henry, who also rode the entire tour:

Seven adventurous cyclists recently endured a circumnavigation of the Pamlico Sound. Starting from Oriental and heading clockwise to Belhaven, Nags Head, Buxton, Hatteras, Ocracoke, Cedar Island, Beaufort, and finishing in Oriental, the group covered a 300 mile loop in a six day excursion. We endured sore muscles riding 50 mile days, ate mega quantities of food, slept deeply, laughed, and built friendships.

Day one consisted of a 48 mile ride via Aurora ferry to Belhaven, ending at the fine River Forest Manor Inn. Day two was the century day where the three men (Doug, Charles, Enrique) completed a 100 mile ride via Highway 264, with a finish over the new Virginia Dare Bridge into Nags Head. Three of the women (Mary Ann, Kathryn, Susan) rode 100 kilometers (62 miles). All were expertly supported by Ellen Kraus' ever dependable sag wagon with food, water and encouragement.

Day three was an easy 46 miles down Highway 12 along the Outer Banks villages of Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo. We experienced an abundance of traffic from a fishing tournament, but also took in the sights of sea oats, sand dunes, stilted beach settlements, and that outer banks salt air, only to be rewarded with beach front accommodations that included a dip in the breaking surf complements of the Lighthouse View Motel in Buxton.

Perfect sunny fall weather accompanied us until day four when we rode a mere 12 miles or so to the Hatteras ferry in a cold refreshing nor'easter rain. The reward was a quiet, almost auto free cycle on Ocracoke Island listening to the surf close by as sea grass waved in the soft breeze and wild ponies grazed. All spent the rest of the day in the quaintness of Ocracoke Village, stuffing our faces at Howard's Pub, watching an occasional lightning show, only to sleep once again very deeply, wake up, coffee, and a Sunday morning serenade of bagpipes playing Amazing Grace as we waited for our 3-hour ferry ride in the now upon us north east wind. Can it get much better?

Yes it can! Yes the muscles are tired and sore, but you pull it together, and as luck would have it the nor'easter was in our favor as we ROCKETED west out of Cedar Island. Even Ellen, our sag wagon pro, clocked 23 miles an hour on her new Trek bicycle. The other women averaged 20 mph and even clocked 32 on the down side of the Gaskell Bridge. The guys clocked over 40 mph on the same bridge, hit 34 on the flats, averting a very close call by a local driver.

Beaufort rewarded us with a fabulous accommodation at the Manson House, and a celebratory evening at Beaufort Grocery. The storm finally caught up with the group as Monday morning greeted us with pouring rain. The last leg of the cycling trip was assisted with a sag wagon lift to the Cherry Point ferry. The last leg into Oriental was victory ride of 12 miles into a headwind as the trip ended with a sigh of relief and seven happy athletes topping off the end zone with a toast and a glass of crystal cool Champagne after a crystal coast adventure.



Charles, Doug and Enrique about to start the
second 50 miles of their century ride


Ellen, Doug, and Charles coming into Davis, NC



The bikes' ride on the ferry from
Ocracoke was less than glamorous



Champagne toasts were enjoyed at the end

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