{"id":1497,"date":"2016-04-27T20:19:58","date_gmt":"2016-04-27T20:19:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/?p=1497"},"modified":"2016-05-03T11:28:17","modified_gmt":"2016-05-03T11:28:17","slug":"lights-and-flights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/2016\/04\/27\/lights-and-flights\/","title":{"rendered":"Lights and Flights"},"content":{"rendered":"

We had to say goodbye to Ocracoke as we moved on northward. \u00a0We arrived at the ferry terminal just as one ferry was leaving which gave us an almost assured spot on the next one. \u00a0This ferry will take us to Hatteras, does not take reservations and is free! \u00a0While we waited for the ferry we did a little more beach combing where we found a dead puffer fish (we think) and a dead jelly fish (we think). \u00a0We boarded the ferry and set sail. \u00a0I took my computer into the passenger lounge to do some work while the rest of the fam stayed in the vehicle and….uh, I don’t know what they did. \u00a0We arrived at the Hatteras ferry terminal and made a beeline to the famous Hatteras lighthouse.
\n\"Hatteras<\/a><\/p>\n

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We paid the fee to climb the stairs. \u00a0I think the ticket price is much too high for what you get especially on a windy day like we had because you cannot go out on the deck. \u00a0However, it is the tallest brick lighthouse in the US and it was right in front of us so we felt obliged to climb. \u00a0The three things that struck me are:<\/p>\n

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  1. Day mark – I’m a land lubber so I know nothing about lighthouses. \u00a0I guess I just always figured the fancy pattern on the outside was to make it look interesting and artsy. \u00a0But thanks to the Jr. Ranger program I learned that the different patterns,\u00a0called\u00a0“day markings”, are so that ships can visually determine their location during the day just like they can by interpreting the unique light flashing pattern they observe at night<\/li>\n
  2. Weights – Before the lighthouse had electricity I never even thought about what might make the light\/lens move to produce the unique flashing pattern. \u00a0I don’t know how common it is but in the Hatteras lighthouse they used giant 150lb weights that would slowly lower through the center of the house due to gravity and would turn a clockwork mechanism. \u00a0The lighthouse keeper had to crank these up by hand every day or 2. \u00a0I grew up with a cuckoo clock in our house that had weights disguised as pine cones on a chain that operated on the same principle. \u00a0Pretty clever!<\/li>\n
  3. Relocation – They moved this lighthouse! \u00a0They did not disassemble and reassemble in a new location, no, they picked it up and moved it in one piece to its new location!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    We enjoyed our visit. \u00a0I was disappointed that they did not have a better exhibit describing a Fresnel lens but other than that it was a nice stop and perfectly situated on our route to make for a lunch break as well.<\/p>\n

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    Some shelling while waiting for ferry<\/p><\/div>

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    Puffer fish?<\/p><\/div>

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    Jelly fish<\/p><\/div>

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    Lighthouse<\/p><\/div>

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    Steph and Brielle<\/p><\/div>

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    Taking in the view<\/p><\/div>

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    Lots of stairs<\/p><\/div>

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    Panorama<\/p><\/div>

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    Going down<\/p><\/div>

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    Hateras steps<\/p><\/div>

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    King Kong<\/p><\/div>

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    Bridge<\/p><\/div>

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    Hatteras lighthouse<\/p><\/div><\/div>